This thesis proposes a way in which architecture and the built environment might work to integrate human consciousness and natural process. A theoretical design entitled Landscope is presented as a responsive, sustainable landscape that offers understanding of nature through active observation, interpretation and transformation of the environment. The design proposal is situated at the edge of Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, Canada, adjacent to the existing facilities of the National Water Research Institute. Two extended studies accompany the design proposal. The first, Water, presents a poetic exploration of cosmic, responsive, and connective qualities of water relating to nature and technology. The second study, Connected Fields, focuses on the visionary American engineer Buckminster Fuller and his ‘Geoscope’ project, a geodesic dome designed to act as a monitoring and control centre for global material and resource flows. This section also includes a discussion of general conceptions of the world, focusing on key twentieth-century conceptions of the Biosphere, Gaia, and the Noösphere. Historical theories of environmental perception are discussed including Gestalt psychology and technical systems of observation. Drawing upon this cultural material, the thesis attempts to open boundaries that separate nature and technology, encouraging a complex, mutually dependent relationship between these traditionally separate realms. The general pursuit is a cybernetic and virtual model for environmental and ontological hybridity, involving an evolution of consciousness at both individual and global scales.

The purpose of this study is to use vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VFCW) microcosm systems to investragte the removal efficiencies of sulfate. The system was located on the campus sewage treatment plant. nn National Sun Yat-sen University. In this study, two media, gravel and peat, were installed in four different systems. The two system with same media were separated into vegetated and non-vegetated (control) ones respectively. In the test runs, the operation methods included batch type filled with water, continuous flow and integrated vertical flow constructed wetland (IVCW) with continuous flow. In batch type test, it was run under an initial concentrations of SO42--S about 500 mg/L. The experimental results showed that the removal efficiencies were increased with increasing COD concentrations. Under the same conditions but with continuous flow operation, the removal efficiencies of SO42--S were lower than the batch type one, which 80% could be reached. The best system for operation was P1 (peat with vegetated), in which the removal effciency reached 90%. The experimental results also showed that the vegetated systems presented higher removal efficiencies of sulfate than the non-vegetated ones. In addition, this research were increased the concentrations of SO42--S and COD to about 1200 mg/L and 4000 mg/L respectively. The experimental results showed that the IVCW treatment system could achived greater efficiency than VFCW treatment system. The experimental in depth research test run indicated that the anaerobic condition did not affect the removal efficiencies of ammonia by using batch type. However, nitrification was the main reaction of ammonia to nitrate in the continuous flow type systems. When ORP values were found below the -300 mV, the sulfate began to be drcreased. It was believed that if the anaerobic condition were well be established, while the organic carbon could be contented in this system, the sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) might live, and then sulfate could be removed. The effect of temperature on sulfate removal was generally established in this study. According to the experimental results, it was found that the activity of SRB motility was higher in higher temperature (35¢J) than that in lower temperature (25¢J).

In this research, we dealt with the original landfill leachate, and put the flowing water by a traditional second one that has dealt with of sewage factory directly with the constructed wetland systems in lab-scale. The purpose the study is to compare the experimental results after dealing the leachate by different constructed wetland process systems which was judge at if the, can reach the water quality standard. The constructed wetland systems in the study were set up in a greenhouse on campus, which were operated between May 2004 and July 2003. Constructed wetland systematic attitude, include Free Water Surface System (FWS) and Subsurface Flow System (SSF) contact but two type constructed wetland system that become mainly. In the test use different waste water sources to feet the systems, and we planted different species of plants, and add extra carbon source. Thus, we can divide the experiment into two stages: (1) From July of 2003 to December of 2003. (2) From February of 2004 to May of 2004. In each stage, we tested three experiment group P1, P2 and total nitrogen of P3 except that the rate is 37¡Ó20%, 50¡Ó11% respectively and -6.1¡Ó37.8%. The removal efficiencies of ammonia nitrogen were estimated equal to 84¡Ó11%, 94¡Ó4% and 60¡Ó24% respectively. For total phosphorus and phosphate, P1 , P2 and P3 system were measured equal to 37¡Ó14%, 68¡Ó16% and 77¡Ó16%and 44¡Ó16%, 75¡Ó8% and 80¡Ó17% respectively . The ammonia nitrogen temperature correction coefficient (£c value) were calculated to be 0.921, 0.949, 0.926, 1.043 and 0.785 for P1, P2, P3, U1 and U2 system, respectively. The phosphate temperature correction coefficients (£c values ) were measured to be 1.006, 0.981, 1.070, 1.235 and 0.843 respectively for P1, P2, P3, U1 and U2 system. In order to increase the removal efficiencies of total nitrogen, it was always by adding carbon source. The experimental result showed, that it is add carbon source wait by system to SSF , its President nitrogen is it flow water pollution load leave 2g/m2/day nearly to put to have, and has not added water pollution load has flowed in the putting of the carbon source nearly has 6g/m2/day left, And nearly remain under 1g/m2/day in the putting and flowing water pollution load of TON, and not added the putting of the carbon source water pollution load has flowed nearly has 2-3g/m2/day left. This result showed that high total nitrogen removal efficiencies were by adding carbon source.

In Taiwan, swine wastewater has become one of the major causes of the deterioration of surface water quality. To minimize the operational and maintenance cost of the conventional wastewater treatment utilities, less expensive natural treatment systems (e.g., aquatic plant treatment system) have been proposed to enhance the efficacy of existing three-stage treatment system (solid separation followed by anaerobic and aerobic treatment). Using the natural treatment system is an appropriate technology for treating livestock wastewater in tropical or subtropical regions or developing countries because it is inexpensive, easily maintained, and has environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. The main objectives of this study were to (1) examine the efficacy and capacity of using aquatic plant treatment system to polish the treated wastewater to meet the discharge standards in Taiwan (COD = 600 mg/L, BOD = 80 mg/L, and SS = 150 mg/L), (2) evaluate the potential of reusing the treated wastewater, (3) evaluate the feasibility of replacing the aerobic treatment process contained in the three-stage system with the aquatic plant system, and (4) improve the efficiency of sludge (obtained from the three-stage treatment system) composting process. In this study, a hog farm was selected as the case study site. An aquatic plant unit [13.5 (L) ¡Ñ 4 (W) ¡Ñ 3 (D)] planted with Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) was placed after the aerobic system for wastewater polishment. Influent and effluent sa mples from each unit were collected and analyzed for water quality parameters including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and suspended solids (SS). Water samples were collected monthly during the 15-month investigation period. Results show that the averaged COD, BOD, and SS concentrations were approximately 708, 83, and 123 mg/L, respectively after the three-stage treatment scheme. The observed COD, BOD, and SS concentrations dropped to 518, 56, and 48 mg/L, respectively which could meet the discharge standards. Thus, the aquatic plant treatment system played an important role in meeting the discharge standards for swine wastewater. More than 99% of all pollutants were removed by the three-stage system followed by the aquatic plant system. The effluent from the treatment system has been used for hog farm cleaning. Thus, the aquatic plant system has the potential to be applied as the final polishment process to enhance the treatment efficacy of swine wastewater. Results also show that it is feasible to replace the aerobic treatment process with the aquatic plant system from the cost and regulation compliance point of view. Results from the composting study show that rice straws could enhance the activity of microorganisms and also cause the increase the quantity of potassium in the compost pile. Moreover, mixing the water hyacinth in the compost pile could increase the quantity of nitrogen and phosphorous. Results also reveal that using ceramic bioballs as the filling materials could minimize the composting time due to the increase of permeability in the piles.

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Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) produce aquaculture products on land with minimal discharge of waste products and minimal water loss. High costs associated with waste treatment for RAS have triggered the growth of integrated aquaculture systems (IAS) which incorporate macrophytes (aquatic plants) into the treatment train. The objective of this research was to examine a pilot scale inland marine IAS with three different methods for solids treatment: a sand filter followed by a plant bed, only a plant bed, and geotextile bags. Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) were grown along with Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), Black Needle Rush (Juncus romerianus), and Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle). Between May 2011 and April 2012, water quality was tested at seven points located throughout the IAS for total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), total phosphorus (TP), and orthophosphate (PO43-) concentrations every 4 to 6 weeks. Plant and soil samples were collected three times and analyzed for total nitrogen and total phosphorus. A statistically significant difference in the effluent concentrations for the three treatments was not found; however, due to the recombination of effluent from the solid treatments and the variability inherent in a pilot scale system it was difficult to isolate the individual efficiencies of each treatment. Therefore, on average the complete system achieved COD and TSS removal efficiency of 59% and 88%, respectively and TN and TP removal efficiency of 48% and 19%, respectively. Nutrient uptake by plants did not vary significantly between the plant beds. In general, the system provided sufficient nutrient removal for safe fish production, and the fish provided enough nutrients for ample plant growth.

The reuse of domestic greywater for toilet flushing has the potential to reduce both water consumption and wastewater production, but there is a need for low-cost, low-maintenance greywater treatment systems that can meet reclaimed water quality standards. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a horizontal subsurface flow wetland design that can be sited in a greenhouse, to document the initial performance of the design treating real greywater, to determine the effect of plants, and to provide recommendations for design. Pilot wetlands (planted and unplanted replicates) were constructed in a passively heated greenhouse and fed real domestic greywater. Effluent quality was compared to national reclaimed water quality guidelines. After the first five months of the study, operational changes (reduced loading, aeration of influent, fill and drain) were tested to determine their effect on effluent quality. The results show that the original design basis, 7.5 gBOD m-2d-1, is not appropriate for greywater wetland design under the conditions of this study due to insufficient removal of BOD and turbidity (although suspended solids removal was acceptable). Anoxic conditions within the wetlands led to reduction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide, which demands oxygen and leads to odour and turbidity problems. Plants did not affect treatment during the first five months. Aerating influent and operation in fill and drain mode may improve BOD removal at relatively high hydraulic loading rates, but effluent disinfection is required to completely remove E.coli. Design recommendations were developed, including tentative loading rates and plant species. / Ontario Centres of Excellence, NSERC

A subsurface flow constructed wetland planted with the common reed (Phragmites australis) and softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus) was built in East Central Indiana. The objective of this study was to determine if temperature had an effect on nitrogen (N) removal from the wetland. The research was conducted from the first week of October 3, 1995 to the first week in December 5, 1995 why the wetland froze. Water samples were taken from 5 samplings sites in the system. Each sample was analyzed for organic-N, ammonia, nitrate, and total-N. In the system statistically significant amounts of organic-N, nitrate, and total-N were removed. Ammonia lever reductions, however, were not significant. Organic-N had a mean removal of 37% (8 mg/1) 'Nitrate had a mean removal of 96% (2.3 mg/1). Total-N removal over the sampling period averaged 30% (12 mg/1). The N results were regressed against air and wastewater temperatures. Wastewater temperature was more important because it had a direct impact can the plants and microbes in the system. Warmer temperatures sustained a higher metabolism for the biota in the system. Air temperature had an indirect impact on efficiency of N removal from the wastewater flowing through the wetland. The primary impact .: f the air temperature was on water temperature which then affected the metabolism of or a nc ns in the wetland cell. Greater removal efficiencies were seen during high temperature periods and lower removal efficiencies were noted when the temperatures were low. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

This research was conducted to determine the effects of commercially available nitrifying bacteria in a constructed wetland. The study was conducted at Paws, Inc., near Desoto, Indiana during the summer of 1995. The wetland, called Solar Aquatics Treatment System (SAS), was developed by Ecological Engineering Associates and constructed in a, greenhouse. The commercial nitrifying bacteria (Bacta-Pur), contained Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter Spp. and have been added to the wetland for the past five years to aid in the removal of nitrogen.Water samples were taken from the wetland and analyzed for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, hydrogen ion concentrations and water temperature from Monday through Friday for three weeks. A baseline was established from these samples. After three weeks of testing the addition of Bacta-Pur to the wetland was discontinued.To determine whether these additional bacteria were needed, testing without the Bacta-Pur was conducted for three weeks. These samples were collected and analyzed for the same parameters as those used to establish baseline information.Ammonia concentrations were significantly lower without the addition of Bacta-Pur bacteria. There were no significant differences for concentrations of nitrite and nitrate. The water temperature was higher in the three weeks when no Bacta-Pur was added. This was due to the increase in ambient temperature which caused the water temperature in the SAS to increase. Since the nitrogen compounds either remained the same or decreased in concentration at the effluent without the addition of bacteria, the addition of Bacta-Pur is not needed in order to remain in compliance with EPA regulations for effluent standards.A container experiment was conducted to provide an' environment that had no introduced bacteria before the addition of Bacta-Pur. There were no significant differences for the nitrogen compounds between wastewater samples with addition and without addition of Bacta-Pur bacteria. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Access to abstract restricted until December 2014. / Review of relevant literature -- Efficiency of constructed wetlands to remove an antimicrobial agent triclosan from wastewater -- The removal of triclosan from laboratory scale constructed wetlands with four species of wetland plants -- Additional research : determination of the hydraulic retention time in an operational subsurface constructed wetland -- Additional research methods : the evaluation of the subsurface constructed wetland for the treatment of iron, phosphorus, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, pH and E. coli. / Access to thesis restricted until December 2014 / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management