• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.111-122
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• 2009

Abatements of TN and ${NO_3}^-$-N in a horizontal subsurface-flow wetland with litter layer on its surface were compared with those without one. The wetland was constructed in 2001 on floodplain of the Gwangju Stream which flows through Gwangju City in Korea. Its dimensions were 29m in length, 9m in width and 0.65m in depth. A bottom layer of 45cm was filled with crushed granites (15~40mm in diameter) and a middle layer of 10cm had pea pebbles. An upper layer of 5cm contained coarse sands. Reeds (Phragmites australis) growing in natural wetlands were transplanted on its surface. Water of the stream was channelled into the wetland by gravity flow and its effluent was discharged back into the stream. Average Litter layer of 12.2cm was formed on its surface in 2007. The layer and above-ground parts of reeds were eliminated in April 2008. Volumes and water quality of influent and effluent of the wetland were analyzed from May to November in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Inflow into the wetland both in 2007 and 2008 averaged approximately 40$m^3$/day and hydraulic residence time both in 2007 and 2008 was about 1.5days. Influent TN concentration in 2007 and 2008 averaged 3.96 and 3.89mg/L, respectively and average influent ${NO_3}^-$-N concentration in 2007 and 2008 was 2.11 and 2.05mg/L, respectively. With a 0.05 significance level, influent concentrations of TN and ${NO_3}^-$-N, temperatures and pH of effluent, and heights and stem numbers of reeds showed no difference between the wetland with litter layer and without one. TN retention in the wetland with litter layer and without one averaged 64,76 and 54.69%, respectively and ${NO_3}^-$-N removal averaged 60.83 and 50.61%, respectively. Both TN and ${NO_3}^-$-N abatement rates in the wetland with litter layer were significantly high (TN abatement: p<0,001, ${NO_3}^-$-N abatement: p=0.001) when compared with those without one. The subsurface-flow wetland having litter layer on its surface was more efficient for TN and ${NO_3}^-$-N removal.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.546-556
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to improve the polluted stream water quality by pilot-scale five different constructed wetlands (CWs). Cell 1 to 3 are newly designed 2SFCW (Surface-subsurface flow CW) with 1 to 3 flow shifters (FS) in the middle of the wetland system. Cell 4 and 5 are control CW (CCW), but Cell 5 is the same type as Cell 3. The FS, which converts the route of surface and subsurface flow between two wetlands connected in series, was able to enhance the treatability of TN via nitrification and denitrification and of SS due to filtration and sedimentation. The void fraction and dispersion number of Cell 1, 2 and 3 obtained from the RTD analysis were found to be 0.73 and 0.17, respectively. COD and TP removal efficiencies of Cell 1 to 3 were similar to that of Cell 4 and 5. SS removal efficiencies of Cell 1 to 3 and 5 with FS were 5-10% higher than that of Cell 4 without FS. TN removal efficiencies of Cell 1 to 3 were 3-14% higher than that of Cell 4 and 5. The average $R^2$ values of COD, SS, TN and TP obtained from nonlinear regression analysis were similar to the results of other researchers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.49-55
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• 2003

Total phosphorous removal rate was examined of a subsurface-flow treatment wetland system which was constructed on floodplain in the down reach of the Kwangju Stream in Korea from May to June 2001. Its dimensions were 29 meter in length, 9 meter in width and 0.65 meter in depth. A bottom layer of 45 cm in depth was filled with crushed granite with about 15~30 mm in diameter and a middle layer of 10 cm in depth had pea pebbles with about 10 mm in diameter. An upper layer of 5 cm in depth contained course sand. Reeds(Phragmites australis) were transplanted on the surface of the system. They were dug out of natural wetlands and stems were cut at about 40 cm height from their bottom ends. Water of the Kwangju Stream flowed from a submerged dam into it via a pipe by gravity flow and treated effluent was funneled back into the Stream. The number of reed stems increased from 80 stems/$m^2$ in July 2001 to 136 stems/$m^2$ in September 2001. The hight of stems was 44.2 cm in July 2001 and 75.3 cm in September 2001. The establishment of reeds at early operating stage of the system was good. Volume and water quality of inflow and outflow were investigated from July 2001 through December 2001. The average inflow was 40 $m^3$/day and hydraulic detention time was about 1.5 days. The concentration of total phosphorous n influent and effluent was 0.83 and 0.33 mg/L, respectively. The removal rate of total phosphorous averaged about 60%. The removal efficiency was slightly higher, compared with that of subsurface-flow wetlands operating in North America, whose retention rate of total phosphorous was reported to be about 56%. The good abatement rate could be attributed to sedimentation of particle phosphorous in pores of the media and adsorption of phosphorous to the biofilm developed on the surface of them. Increase of standing density of reeds within a few years will develop root zones which may lead to increment in the phosphorous retention rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.56-63
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• 2001

This paper presents treatment efficiency and plant growth of a subsurface-flow constructed wetland system (23 m in length, 6.5 m in width, 0.65 m in depth) over one year after its establishment on floodplain of a stream in June 2000. An upper layer of 10 cm in depth was filled with course sand and the main biological layer of 50 cm depth with crushed stone with 8 - 15 mm in diameter. The system was planted with common reeds (Phragmites australis) grown on pots. Effluent discharged from a secondary-level treatment plant was funneled into it. Reed stems emerging in April 2001 grew up to 145.9cm until July 2001. The number of reed stems in July 2001 increased by about 11 times compared with that just after planting. The system was inundated seven times by storms over the monitoring period. Reeds were slightly bent after flooding, however they returned to almost upright standing in a couple of weeks. Small portion of inside slope of berm was eroded and the system surface had a sedimentation of 2 - 3 mm in depth. The average removal rates for SS, $BOD_5$, T-N and T-P was 73%, 70%, 53%, and 72%, respectively. The purification efficiencies for SS and $BOD_5$ were fairly good. The reduction rates for T-N was relatively low for the period of late fall through winter until early spring due to lower water temperature which retarded microbial nitrification and denitrification mechanisms. Reduction in the concentration of T-P during fall and winter was relatively higher than that during spring. Leach of phosphorous from plant litters lying on system surface and slight resuspension of precipitated phosphorous in substrates resulted in lower reduction for T-P in spring.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-392
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• 2010

In these days, constructed wetlands are applied in Korea for various purposes ; post-treatment of effluent in wastewater treatment, management of stormwater and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. However, the removal mechanisms for water pollutant in constructed wetlands are not clearly understood because they are affected by climate, influent characteristics and local constraints. Therefore, this paper is focused on the process that the pollutant, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, of the wetland is removed by. In this study, the main nitrogen removal is performed by nitrification/denitrification mechanism in the rhizosphere of constructed wetlands. And the majority of the phosphorus is removed by adsorption on the substrate of wetland. However the fate of phosphorus in wetlands can be diverse depending on the Oxidation Reduction Potential(ORP), adsorption/desorption, precipitation/dissolution, microbial effect, etc.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.456-461
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• 2006

The facility of constructed wet land combined with filter media was examined in order to improve the water quality of a polluted stream, which has been performed as a part of national projects. Throughout 2 years of operation for a stream, it can provide the design and operating parameters for the purpose of future construction. The influent flow rate was about 50% against the design capacity. The removal efficiencies of BOD, $COD_{Mn}$, SS, T-N and T-P were 62.9%, 47.1%, 74.8%, 22.4% and 33.5%, respectively. In order to keep this facility stable, the removal of surface filter media and supplement should be periodically conducted. In addition, the proper selection of sites is recommended not to be flooded.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2006

The growth and biomass of reeds(Phragmites australis) growing in a subsurface treatment wetland system were investigated from April 2003 to October 2003. Nitrogen(N) and phosphorous(P) concentrations in above-ground(AG) and below-ground(BG) tissues of reeds were examined and the removal rate of N and P by reeds were analyzed. The system, 29 m in length, 9 m in width and 0.65 m in depth, was constructed in June 2001 on a floodplain in the down reach of the Kwangju Stream in Korea in order to purify polluted water of the stream. A bottom layer of 45 cm in depth was filled with crushed granites(15~30 mm in diameter) and a middle layer of 10 cm in depth was filled with pea pebbles(10 mm in diameter). An upper layer of 5 cm contained course sand. Reeds were transplanted on the surface of the system, which were dug out of natural wetlands, and their shoots were trimmed 40 cm in height. The height and density of the shoots averaged 237.7 cm and 244.0 shoot/$m^2$, respectively, when the reeds grew fully. The maximum biomass of AG and BG tissues were 1,964 and 1,577 g/$m^2$, respectively, and the AG : BG ratio of biomass was 1.26. Mean AG and BG dry weights were recorded as 1,355 and 748 g/$m^2$, respectively. The AG and BG tissue concentrations of N averaged 12.37 and 10.01 mg/g, respectively, and those of P 2.37 and 2.03 mg/g, respectively. Inflow to the system averaged 40 $m^3$/day. The concentrations of total nitrogen(T-N) in influent and effluent were 8.4 mg/L and 3.2 mg/L, respectively, and those of total phosphorous(T-P) were 0.73 and 0.38 mg/L, respectively. The total removal of T-N and T-P by the system during the investigation period averaged 140.2 and 9.7 g/$m^2$, respectively, and the total uptake of N and P by the reeds were calculated as 24.39 and 4.73 g/$m^2$, respectively. Average removals of about 17% of N and about 49% of P by reeds were recorded. The N and P concentrations in AG tissues were significantly different among the three zones of the system:near to inflow(St1), in the middle of system(St2), and near to outflow(St3). The N and P concentrations in BG tissues were also significantly different among St1, St2 and St3. N and P concentrations in AG and BG tissues of reeds growing in St1 were higher than those in St2 and St3. The height and density of shoots of reeds in St1 were larger than those in St2 and St3. Significant amounts of N and P in the influent were taken up by reeds in St1.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.242-251
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• 2021

Surface water pollution is a serious environmental problem in developing countries, like India, due to the unregulated discharge of untreated wastewater. To overcome this, the constructed wetlands (CWs) have been proven to be an efficient technology for wastewater treatment. In this study, different existing and experimental facilities were reviewed to be able to determine the current status of constructed wetlands in India. Based on the collected data from published literature, industrial wastewater contained the highest average chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). In terms of total nitrogen (TN), Total phosphorous (TP), the lowest concentration was found on domestic wastewater. Vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCW) and Horizontal flow constructed wetland (HFCW) were more effective in removing TSS, BOD, TP in domestic and industrial wastewater, whereas hybrid constructed wetlands (HCW) showed the highest removal for COD. The use of constructed wetlands as advanced wastewater treatment facilities in India yielded better water quality. The treatment of wastewater using constructed wetlands also enabled further reuse of wastewater for irrigation and other agricultural purposes. Overall, this study can be beneficial in evaluating and promoting the use of constructed wetlands in India.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2018

Nutrients generated from various land uses lead to eutrophication during the influx of water, and it is necessary to apply the LID techniques to reduce nutrients from nonpoint sources in order to mitigate the occurrence of the algal bloom. This study was carried out to derive the design factors of hybrid artificial wetland (HCW) to increase the removal efficiency of nutrients. HCW system was constructed in the year 2010 for the treatment of rainfall runoffs from parking lots and roads composed of 100% impervious floors in the Cheonan campus of Kongju University. The average nutrients removal efficiency of TN and TP was 74% and 72%, respectively. Both TN and TP removal efficiencies were higher than those of free surface wetlands and subsurface flow wetlands due to activated physical and ecological mechanisms. The critical design parameters for the efficient nutrients removal in the artificial wetlands were the ratio of the surface area to the catchment area (SA/CA), land use, the rainfall runoff, and the rainfall intensity. The optimal carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio was estimated at 5: 1 to 10.3: 1. The results of this study can be applied to the efficient design of hybrid artificial wetlands to treat nutrients in urban runoff with high efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.278-283
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• 2003

This study was carried out to examine the nitrogen removal rate of a subsurface-flow treatment wetland system which was constructed on floodplain of the Kwangju River from May to June 2001. Its dimensions were 29m in length, 9m in width and 0.65m in depth. A bottom layer of 45cm in depth was filled with crushed granite with about $15{\sim}30\;mm$ in diameter and a middle layer of 10cm in depth had pea pebbles with about 10 mm in diameter. An upper layer of 5 cm in depth contained course sand. Reeds (Phragmites australis) were transplanted on the surface of the system. They were dug out of natural wetlands and stems were cut at about 40 cm height from their bottom ends. Water of the Kwangju River flowed into it via a pipe by gravity flow and its effluent was funneled back into the river. The height of reed stems was 44.2 cm in July 2001 and 75.3cm in September 2001. The number of stems was increased from $80\;stems/m^2$ in July 2001 to $136\;stems/m^2$ in September 2001. Volume and water quality of inflow and outflow were analyzed from July 2001 through December 2001. Inflow and outflow averaged 40.0 and $39.2\;m^3/day$, respectively. Hydraulic detention time was about 1.5 days. Average nitrogen uptake by reeds was $69.31\;N\;mg/m^2/day$. Removal rate of $NO_3-N$, $NH_3-N$, T-N averaged 195.58, 53.65, and $628.44\;mg/m^2/day$, respectively. Changes of $NO_3-N$ and $NH_3-N$ abatement rates were closely related to those of wetland temperatures. The lower removal rate of nitrogen species compared with that of subsurface-flow wetlands operating in North America could be attributed to the initial stage of the system and inclusion of two cold months into the six-month monitoring period. Increase of standing density of reeds within a few years will develop both root zones suitable for the nitrification of ammonia and surface layer substrates beneficial to the denitrification of nitrates into nitrogen gases, which may lead to increment in the nitrogen retention rate.