Advanced nitrogen removal by rotating biological contactors, recycle and constructed wetlands

The sewage treatment facility at Himley comprises Rotating Biological Contactors (RBCs) and subsurface flow constructed reed beds in series. A recycle facility returns RBC effluent to the influent flow. Effluent total nitrogen (TN) has always been low since commissioning and the reasons were investigated. Denitrification was observed to occur in the primary settlement tank. High hydraulic loadings in the RBC biozone deteriorated BOD(5) and TSS removal, but good nitrification was obtained. The relatively poor effluent from the RBC gave a carbon source allowing further denitrification through the reed beds. Ammonification caused an increase in ammoniacal nitrogen across the primary reed bed in summer. At this time strongly reducing conditions occurred within the reed beds which, in the absence of dissolved oxygen and oxidised nitrogen compounds, led to sulphate reduction and sulphide formation with odour generation. These problems were not observed at low winter temperature conditions. Effluent TN was always below 10 mg/l. (C) 1999 IAWQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.