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The Wu-Luo River located in the Ping-Tong County of southern Taiwan has long been polluted by untreated domestic and partially treated poultry wastewaters and is among the most polluted rivers in Taiwan. A full-scale constructed wetland (CW) has been in operation since January of 2005 for cleaning a part of the polluted river water. The purpose of this study was to investigate the specifications of the CW and its performance for removing both organic and inorganic pollutants form the influent water. Results indicate that during the investigation period of April 2006 to February 2007, the CW had channel widths of 86-112 m (average 100 m) and a zone-type length of 1,600 m. It occupied a total area of 18 hectares in which around 9 hectares were wetted by the introduced river water. Around 4.7 hectares of the CW was flooded by the river water and 1.9 hectares were occupied by emergent and floating plants such as cattail, water lettuce, reed, water celery, and bara grass. A total water volume of around 6,800 m3 was estimated. In the period, 10,000-20,000 m3/day (CMD) (average 10,800 CMD) of the polluted river water was introduced to the CW and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 0.63 day was estimated for the flowing water in the through the water body. Results also indicated that the influent water has the following qualities (unit in mg/L except pH and number in parentheses indicates the average value): total COD (CODt) 10-121 (52), BOD 6-36 (21), suspended solids (SS) 10-165 (70), pH 5.4-8.1 (7.4), ammonia-N 2-22 V (13), nitrate-N 0-9.4 (2.5), nitrite-N 0-1.8 (0.2), total-N (TN) 9.9-41.3 (22.6), phosphate-P 0-3.1 (0.9), total-P (TP) 1.2-36.7 (5.2), Cu 0.022-0.60 (0.071), and Zn 0.01-0.36 (0.13). It was found that water sampled from nearly the middle point of the CW got better clarification results than that from the effluent end. Pollutant removal efficacies were 60, 60, and 67%, respectively, for CODt, BOD, and SS at the middle point, while 56, 54, and 45%, respectively, for CODt, BOD, and SS at the effluent end. Organics, N, and P released from rotten plants were responsible for the poor water qualities at the end. The CW had only a TN removal efficacy of around 18% and no TP removal effect.

The efficiency of a best management practice (BMP) is defined simply as a measure of how well the practice or series of practices removes targeted pollutants. While this concept is relatively simple, mathematical attempts to quantify BMP efficiency are numerous and complex. Intuitively, the pollutant removal capability of a BMP should be fundamental to the BMP selection process. However, as evidenced by the absence of removal efficiency as an influential criterion in many BMP selection procedures, it is typically not at the forefront of the BMP selection and design process. Additionally, of particular interest to any developer or municipal agency is the financial impact of implementing a BMP. Not only does the implementation cost exist, but there are long-term maintenance costs associated with almost any BMP. Much like pollutant removal efficiency, implementation and maintenance costs seem as though they should be integral considerations in the BMP selection process. However, selection flow charts and matrices employed by many localities neglect these considerations. Among the categories of criteria to consider in selecting a BMP for a particular site or objective are site-specific characteristics; local, state, and federal ordinances; and implementation and long-term maintenance costs. A consideration such as long-term maintenance cost may manifest itself in a very subjective fashion during the selection process. For example, a BMPs cost may be of very limited interest to the reviewing locality, whereas cost may be the dominant selection criterion in the eyes of a developer. By contrast, the pollutant removal efficiency of a BMP may be necessarily prioritized in the selection process because of the required adherence to governing legislation. These are merely two possible criteria influencing selection. As more and more selection criteria are considered, the task of objectively and optimally selecting a BMP becomes increasingly complex. One mathematical approach for optimization in the face of multiple influential criteria is the Analytic Hierarchy Process. "The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) provides the objective mathematics to process the inescapably subjective and personal preferences of an individual or a group in making a decision" (Schmoldt, 2001, pg. 15). This paper details the development of two categories of comprehensive BMP selection matrices expressing long-term pollutant removal performance and annual maintenance and operations cost respectively. Additionally, the AHP is applied in multiple scenarios to demonstrate the optimized selection of a single BMP among multiple competing BMP alternatives. Pairwise rankings of competing BMP alternatives are founded on a detailed literature review of the most popular BMPs presently implemented throughout the United States. / Master of Science

Regnvatten, smältvatten och spolvatten som rinner av från hårdgjorda ytor kallas dagvatten. Dagvatten är ofta förorenat av tungmetaller eller svårnedbrytbara organiska ämnen, som kan göra stor skada om vattnet inte renas innan det når recipienten. I dagsläget finns det inga nationellt fastslagna riktvärden för föroreningshalter i dagvatten. Dagvattengruppen på Vattenfall AB Värme Uppsala har tillsammans med miljökontoret i Uppsala tagit fram riktvärden för föroreningshalter från kvarteret Brännugnen, som området som studerats i detta examensarbete kallas. Vattenfall har idag problem med att klara dessa riktvärden för bland annat metaller i en del av kvarterets dagvattenbrunnar. För att reducera utsläppet av föroreningar till dagvattennätet från kvarteret Brännugnen har därför denna dagvattenutredning genomförts. Genom platsundersökningar och provtagning på dagvattnet i sex punkter har källor till föroreningar identifierats. Förslag på åtgärder har tagits fram genom litteraturstudier, platsundersökningar och samtal och diskussioner med erfaren personal. Studien har också resulterat i förslag på en förbättrad provtagningsstrategi som ger en mer korrekt bild av utsläppta mängder föroreningar per år. Målsättningen var att den nya provtagningsstrategin skulle vara mer kostnadseffektiv vilket uppnåddes. I dagvattenstudien undersöktes också om rening sker i det underjordiska magasin som dagvattnet från halva kvarteret Brännugnen leds till. Resultatet visade att ingen rening sker i magasinet, då uppehållstiden är för kort för att partiklar ska hinna sedimentera. Förutom vatten från regn- och snösmältning kommer även kondensat och processvatten till dagvattennätet från kvarteret Brännugnen. Ett av målen i utredningen var att undersöka hur mycket kondensatet bidrar till den utsläppta mängden metaller. Provtagning av kondensat och dagvatten visade tillsammans med flödesberäkningar att kondensatet har en stor påverkan på hur stor mängd förorening som släpps ut per år. Riktvärden studerades också i denna dagvattenutredning, slutsatsen är att de riktvärden som Vattenfall förhåller sig till i dag är låga. Både schablonhalterna för värmeverk och vägdagvatten samt analysresultat av dagvatten från vägen utanför området överskrider Vattenfalls riktvärden för dagvatten. Slutligen skulle dagvattenstudien resultera i förslag på framtida åtgärder för rening av dagvattnet från kvarteret Brännugnen i form av tekniska lösningar. Avsättningsmagasin under mark och filteranläggning är två lösningar som är lämpliga för rening av dagvattnet med hänsyn till föroreningar och flöden. Kostnaden beror mycket på vilket flöde som blir dimensionerande. / Stormwater is rain and snow melt that runs off from hard surfaces. Stormwater is often polluted with heavy metals and organic pollutants, which can cause great damage if the water is not treated before it reaches the recipient. There are no national guidelines for threshold values of pollutants in stormwater. The stormwater group at Vattenfall AB Heat Uppsala and the environmental department at Uppsala municipality have together established threshold values for pollutants in the stormwater from the area Brännugnen, which is the name of the investigated area. Vattenfall has difficulties to keep the concentration of pollutants in the stormwater below the threshold values. To reduce the content of contaminants in the stormwater from the area Brännugnen this study was therefore carried out. Through site investigations and sampling of stormwater in six measuring points, sources of the contaminants were identified. Through literature studies, site investigations and discussions with experienced personnel, propositions of actions to avoid contamination of the stormwater have been developed. The stormwater study has also led to suggestion of an improved sampling strategy which better represents the amount of contaminants in the stormwater and is more cost-effective. The study included an investigation with the purpose to find out if the magazine that the stormwater from half of the area runs to have the capacity to reduce the contaminants. The results showed no reduction of contaminants. The reason is that the residence time is too short for the particles to have time to settle. In the study the contribution from condensate to the total amount of emitted metals in the stormwater was investigated. The condensate passes a treatment plant for purification before being discharged to the stormwater pipes. The result shows that the condensate has a large impact on the amount of emitted metals per year. Threshold values and standard values for stormwater was also studied, the conclusion is that the threshold values for the stormwater from the area Brännugnen are low. Both standard values for stormwater from thermal power stations and roads are higher than the threshold values. The results from the analyses of stormwater from the road outside the area Brännugnen also show higher concentrations of metals than the threshold values. Finally the stormwater study resulted in suggestions of technical solutions for future treatment of the stormwater from the area Brännugnen. An underground sedimentation magazine and a filter system are two treatment processes that can be used for removal of pollutants in the stormwater from the area Brännugnen.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The fermentation of pig slurry into anaerobic digesters has been a recommended practice for the energetic utilization of the produced methane (CH4), thus reducing the emission of this greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. However, the wastewater (effluent of the digester), if dumped in the current water, can cause pollution because it has Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and ammoniacal N levels higher than the slurries in natura, besides the phosphorus, presence of odor and pathogens. This study had as objective to evaluate the efficiency of a sequential batch reactor (SBR) of aerobic biogranules in the treatment of anaerobic digester effluents fed with pigs slurry. For that, a study was done in the Soil and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, in Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria RS, Brazil. The SBR was operated for 88 days, with three daily cycles of 8 h, with different sequential stages: without air supply, with air supply and without air supply. During this period the efficiency of the process in the removal of the COD, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), nitric N and ammoniacal N, total Phosphorus (total P), Total Solids (TS), pH and odor were evaluated. The removal efficiency was of 52% for COD, 37% for total P and approximately 72% for TKN, ammoniacal N and TS. The effluent of the reactor did not show noticeable odor. The nitrification was the major process in the removal of the ammoniacal N during the treatment in aerobic granules reactor of the wastewater from anaerobic digestion of pigs slurries. Although the resulting effluent still needs a post-treatment to be dumped in the environmental, the use of aerobic biogranules in SBR showed to be a promising biotechnology for the pollutant removal of the evaluated wastewater. / A fermentação dos dejetos de suínos em biodigestores vem sendo recomendada para o aproveitamento energético do metano (CH4) produzido, diminuindo assim a emissão desse gás de efeito estufa para a atmosfera. Entretanto, a água residual (efluente de biodigestor), se despejada em cursos d água, pode causar poluição pois apresenta, ainda, Demanda Química de Oxigênio (DQO) e teores de N amoniacal mais elevados do que os dejetos in natura, além da concentração residual de fósforo e presença de odores e patógenos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de um reator seqüencial em batelada (RSB), de biogrânulos aeróbicos, no tratamento de efluente de biodigestor anaeróbico alimentado com dejetos de suínos. Para isso, foi conduzido um experimento no Laboratório de Microbiologia do Solo e do Ambiente, na Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria RS, Brasil. O RSB foi operado por 88 dias, com três ciclos diários de oito horas, sendo que em cada ciclo havia fases seqüenciais distintas: sem aeração, com aeração e sem aeração. Durante esse período avaliou-se a eficiência do processo na remoção de DQO, Nitrogênio Total Kjeldahl (NTK), N amoniacal e N nítrico, Fósforo Total (P total), Sólidos Totais (ST) e odor. A eficiência de remoção foi de 52% para DQO, 37% para P total e próxima a 72% para NTK, N amoniacal e ST. O efluente do reator não apresentou odor perceptível. A nitrificação constituiu-se no principal processo de remoção de N amoniacal durante o tratamento, em reator aeróbico de biogrânulos, da água residual proveniente da biodigestão anaeróbica de dejetos de suínos. Embora o efluente resultante ainda necessite de tratamento complementar para ser despejado no ambiente, o uso de biogrânulos aeróbicos em RSB mostrou ser uma biotecnologia promissora para a remoção de poluentes da água residual avaliada.

Organic contaminants from industrial and/or domestic effluents may be harmful to humans directly or indirectly by degrading the quality of the aquatic environment. Consequently these contaminants must be reduced to levels that are not harmful to humans and the environment before disposal. Chemical, physical and biological methods exist for the removal of these pollutants from effluents. Among the available chemical methods, heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation has been found particularly effective in removing a large number of persistent organics in water. In this study, photocatalytic degradation was explored for the removal of reactive azo-dye (textile dye), triclocarban (disinfectant), clopyralid (herbicide) and three endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) (estrone, 17ß-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol) from synthetic effluents. The major factors affecting the photocatalytic processes including the initial concentration of the target compounds, the amount of catalyst, the light intensity, the type of catalyst, the electron acceptor, the irradiation time and the pH were studied. Other oxidation techniques including (O3, H2O2, UV) were also studied. Generally UV light is used in combination with titanium dioxide, as photocatalyst, to generate photoinduced charge separation leading to the creation of electron-hole pairs. The holes act as electron acceptors hence the oxidation of organics occur at these sites. These holes can also lead to the formation of hydroxyl radicals which are also effective oxidants capable of degrading the organics. The results obtained in this study indicated that photolysis (i.e. UV only) was found to have no effect on the degradation of reactive azo-dye (RO16). However, complete photocatalytic degradation of 20 mg/L (3.24×10-2 mM) RO16 was achieved in 20 minutes in the presence of 1g/L TiO2 Degussa P25 at pH 5.5. Comparison between various types of catalysts (i.e. Degussa P25, VP Aeroperl, Hombifine N) gave varied results but Degussa P25 was the most effective photocatalyst hence it was selected for this study. For RO16 the optimum catalyst concentration was 0.5 g/L TiO2 with initial concentration of 20 mg/L RO16. It was found that the disappearance of RO16 satisfactorily followed the pseudo first-order kinetics according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. The rate constant was k= 0.0928 mol/min. Photodegradation of TCC was studied in 70%v acetonitrile: 30%v water solutions. UV light degraded TCC effectively and the reaction rates increased with decreasing initial concentration of TCC. UV/TiO2 gave unsatisfactory degradation of triclocarban (TCC) since only 36% were removed in 60 minutes with initial concentration of TCC 20 mg/L. The degradation of clopyralid and the EDCs was studied using three oxidation systems UV/TiO2, UV/H2O2 and O3. Complete degradation of clopyralid (3,6-DCP) was achieved with UV/TiO2 in about 90 minutes at an optimum catalyst concentration of 1g/L. Zero-order kinetics was found to describe the first stage of the photocatalytic reaction in the concentration range 0.078-0.521 mM. At pH 5 the rate constant was 2.09×10-6-4.32×10-7 M.s-1.Complete degradation of all the three EDCs was achieved with UV/H2O2 in 60 minutes at catalyst concentration of (2.94×10-2 M). On the other hand complete degradation of the EDCs was achieved in just 2 minutes with ozonation. For high concentration EDCs, TiO2/UV gave low efficiency of degradation as compared with ozone and H2O2/UV. First-order kinetics was found to describe the photocatalytic reaction of the EDCs. / Education Service Department of the Libyan Government

Organic contaminants from industrial and/or domestic effluents may be harmful to humans directly or indirectly by degrading the quality of the aquatic environment. Consequently these contaminants must be reduced to levels that are not harmful to humans and the environment before disposal. Chemical, physical and biological methods exist for the removal of these pollutants from effluents. Among the available chemical methods, heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation has been found particularly effective in removing a large number of persistent organics in water. In this study, photocatalytic degradation was explored for the removal of reactive azo-dye (textile dye), triclocarban (disinfectant), clopyralid (herbicide) and three endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) (estrone, 17ß-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol) from synthetic effluents. The major factors affecting the photocatalytic processes including the initial concentration of the target compounds, the amount of catalyst, the light intensity, the type of catalyst, the electron acceptor, the irradiation time and the pH were studied. Other oxidation techniques including (O3, H2O2, UV) were also studied. Generally UV light is used in combination with titanium dioxide, as photocatalyst, to generate photoinduced charge separation leading to the creation of electron-hole pairs. The holes act as electron acceptors hence the oxidation of organics occur at these sites. These holes can also lead to the formation of hydroxyl radicals which are also effective oxidants capable of degrading the organics. The results obtained in this study indicated that photolysis (i.e. UV only) was found to have no effect on the degradation of reactive azo-dye (RO16). However, complete photocatalytic degradation of 20 mg/L (3.24×10-2 mM) RO16 was achieved in 20 minutes in the presence of 1g/L TiO2 Degussa P25 at pH 5.5. Comparison between various types of catalysts (i.e. Degussa P25, VP Aeroperl, Hombifine N) gave varied results but Degussa P25 was the most effective photocatalyst hence it was selected for this study. For RO16 the optimum catalyst concentration was 0.5 g/L TiO2 with initial concentration of 20 mg/L RO16. It was found that the disappearance of RO16 satisfactorily followed the pseudo first-order kinetics according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) model. The rate constant was k= 0.0928 mol/min. Photodegradation of TCC was studied in 70%v acetonitrile: 30%v water solutions. UV light degraded TCC effectively and the reaction rates increased with decreasing initial concentration of TCC. UV/TiO2 gave unsatisfactory degradation of triclocarban (TCC) since only 36% were removed in 60 minutes with initial concentration of TCC 20 mg/L. The degradation of clopyralid and the EDCs was studied using three oxidation systems UV/TiO2, UV/H2O2 and O3. Complete degradation of clopyralid (3,6-DCP) was achieved with UV/TiO2 in about 90 minutes at an optimum catalyst concentration of 1g/L. Zero-order kinetics was found to describe the first stage of the photocatalytic reaction in the concentration range 0.078-0.521 mM. At pH 5 the rate constant was 2.09×10⁻⁶ ± 4.32×10⁻⁷ M.s⁻¹. Complete degradation of all the three EDCs was achieved with UV/H₂O₂ in 60 minutes at catalyst concentration of (2.94×10⁻² M). On the other hand complete degradation of the EDCs was achieved in just 2 minutes with ozonation. For high concentration EDCs, TiO₂/UV gave low efficiency of degradation as compared with ozone and H2O2/UV. First-order kinetics was found to describe the photocatalytic reaction of the EDCs.

<p>Stormwater run-off from surfaces such as roads or rooftops is often polluted with heavy metals and nutrients. Many of these substances can cause great damage in biota if they end up in the recipient. In Sweden constructed wetlands and ponds for treatment of stormwater are frequently used, since research has shown that these treatment ponds are reducing stormwater pollution considerably to a low cost. The knowledge of these pollutant removal mechanisms and how follow-up and assessment of the ponds should be performed is still limited.</p><p>To determine the pollutant removal efficiency of the stormwater ponds it is recommended that flow-weighted water samples are collected from both the inflow and the outflow of the pond. This method demands considerable resources of time and money for installations and analysis. Alternative methods for assessing pollutant removal are requested, methods with lower costs but relevant results. This thesis is investigating whether sediment sampling could be such an alternative.</p><p>Sediment core samples were taken in four stormwater ponds where flow-weighted water sampling has been performed as well. This makes it possible to compare the two methods. A method of sampling recently sedimented material was also tried out by constructing and placing sediment traps on the pond floor. Analysis of concentration of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and phosphorus were carried out.</p><p>The results show i.e. that the concentrations of heavy metals and phosphorus in the pond sediments decrease as the distance from the pond inlet increase. Comparing the two methods shows that the results from the sediment sampling are in the same order of magnitude as the results from the water sampling. Consequently, the conclusion states that a well executed sediment sampling may be an alternative to flow-weighted water sampling.</p> / NOS dagvatten

Stormwater run-off from surfaces such as roads or rooftops is often polluted with heavy metals and nutrients. Many of these substances can cause great damage in biota if they end up in the recipient. In Sweden constructed wetlands and ponds for treatment of stormwater are frequently used, since research has shown that these treatment ponds are reducing stormwater pollution considerably to a low cost. The knowledge of these pollutant removal mechanisms and how follow-up and assessment of the ponds should be performed is still limited. To determine the pollutant removal efficiency of the stormwater ponds it is recommended that flow-weighted water samples are collected from both the inflow and the outflow of the pond. This method demands considerable resources of time and money for installations and analysis. Alternative methods for assessing pollutant removal are requested, methods with lower costs but relevant results. This thesis is investigating whether sediment sampling could be such an alternative. Sediment core samples were taken in four stormwater ponds where flow-weighted water sampling has been performed as well. This makes it possible to compare the two methods. A method of sampling recently sedimented material was also tried out by constructing and placing sediment traps on the pond floor. Analysis of concentration of six heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) and phosphorus were carried out. The results show i.e. that the concentrations of heavy metals and phosphorus in the pond sediments decrease as the distance from the pond inlet increase. Comparing the two methods shows that the results from the sediment sampling are in the same order of magnitude as the results from the water sampling. Consequently, the conclusion states that a well executed sediment sampling may be an alternative to flow-weighted water sampling. / NOS dagvatten

Vertical flow constructed wetlands (VF CWs) are becoming increasingly popular for onsite wastewater treatment due to their high oxygen transfer capacity and high nitrification rates. However, there are still some question marks regarding (1) how the treatment performance of VF CWs is affected by design and operational parameters, and (2) the treatment processes happening inside the wetland bed as the wastewater percolates through. In this study, we investigated the effects of filter media (coarse sand or fine gravel), dosing regime (hourly with 4 mm or bi-hourly with 8 mm) and plant presence (with or without Phragmites australis) on the  treatment performance and concentration depth profiles of pollutant removal in six pilot-scale VF CWs treating primary treated domestic wastewater. Grab samples of wastewater were collected every 2-3 weeks during 5 months and analyzed for organic matter, suspended solids, nitrogen and E. coli. We found that sand beds performed better than gravel beds for removal of all pollutants except total nitrogen, although for long term operation gravel may be less susceptible to clogging. The overall treatment performance was not affected by different dosing regimes, but the concentration depth profiles showed that smaller and more frequent doses led to more pollutant removal in the upper part of the beds. The presence of plants was moderately important for the removal of ammonium, but had no effect on other pollutants.