Reed bed purification of domestic sewage using Canna generalis plant with gravel and pebble filter media

  • Pushparaj A. Naik , Udayakumar Gaddale , Vaman Rao and Samson O. Ojoawo

Abstract

A reed bed is a shallow man made basin that is saturated with water, filled with suitable filter media in order to purify treat domestic, agricultural or industrial wastewater. These basins are constructed with different flow regimes like batch or continuous flow type systems with suitable aquatic plants with a view to providing most efficient treatment processes. Canna generalis is a species of flowering plants which is recommended for nitrogen bioremediation in domestic wastewater. The experimental model for this pilot study has  been  constructed near Boys’ Hostel of NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte in Udupi District, Karnataka of India. Objective of the present study is to purify he domestic effluent from primary sedimentation tank of conventional wastewater treatment plant through reed bed systems. The method consists of construction of two reed bed structures with gravel and pebble as prime filter media having incorporated the basic components. Analysis of effluents from primary sedimentation tank, treated water from conventional wastewater treatment plant and from reed bed systems were carried out on temperature, pH, turbidity, acidity, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), phosphate, chloride, lead, mercury, cadmium, within a detention period of 5 days using standard methods. The results of the treatment were compared with the EPA effluent Standards. Findings show that the use of gravel and pebble beds of Canna generalis wetland is more efficient in treating the physico-chemical parameters of the domestic wastewater that the conventional sewage treatment plants. The gravel bed wetland is capable of remediating lead, arsenic and mercury while the pebble bed material attenuated the dissolved oxygen, biological and chemical oxygen demand, phosphate and chloride concentrations after the treatment. Combination of both gravel and pebble reed beds in successive batch treatment to complement each other would therefore be desirable. The treated effluents from both gravel and pebble Canna generalis reed beds largely met the wastewater effluent standards, and are therefore considered acceptable for recycling into flushing the urinals and water closets, water fountains, horticultural gardening and other non-drinking purposes.

 

Published
2020-06-01
How to Cite
Pushparaj A. Naik , Udayakumar Gaddale , Vaman Rao and Samson O. Ojoawo. (2020). Reed bed purification of domestic sewage using Canna generalis plant with gravel and pebble filter media. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(7), 11058-11072. Retrieved from http://sersc.org/journals/index.php/IJAST/article/view/27522
Section
Articles