GRAVEL MEDIA FILTRATION AS A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND COMPONENT FOR THE REDUCTION OF SUSPENDED-SOLIDS FROM MATURATION POND EFFLUENT

Experiments were carried out in a horizontal gravel media filter (GMF) with media size ranging from 5-40 mm. Such gravel-based, sub-surface flow units have been used in both planted and unplanted formats in a range of constructed wetland systems. This GMF was subjected to various hydraulic application rates ranging from 1 m3/(m2.d) to 36 m3/(m2.d) over a two-year period. The range of suspended solids (SS) concentration was 2-36 mg/l and that of turbidity (NTU) was 3-44 during the experimental period. The average removal of suspended solids varied from 30-86%. It was observed that SS was reduced by a maximum of 86% at an application rate of 13m3/(m2.d), within the above noted SS range. An additional laboratory scale experiment was carried out with artificially grown algae in a vertical perspex tube of 190 mm inner diameter (I.D.) in upward flow condition. Results from the laboratory scale and pilot scale experiments are presented and discussed. The study demonstrates that a constructed wetland format with a subsurface flow and horizontal gravel media component could be used as an alternative method for reducing suspended solids from maturation pond effluent.