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
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/185778 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Smith, Timothy R. |
| Contributors | Ball State University. Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Management., Siewert, Horst F. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | viii, 53 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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