Design and construction of a vertical flow wetland at pilot scale

Abstract

Natural treatment systems are characterized by their low cost of construction, operation and maintenance, as well as no use of fossil energy, being used for the removal of pollutant loads in wastewater. The knowledge we have today for proposing new designs, with the combination of different types of wetlands in this case vertical flow to treat wastewater from the Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro (UAAAN). Used three barrels of 0.80 m tall with 0.60 m of diameter and 0.20 m³ of capacity per barrel, for the treatment of wastewater UAAAN, to which valves are installed for sampling throttles expense, spreaders for uniform distribution of water inside each barrel thus have the same flow conditions, to improve the hydrodynamic water and helping the environment with reduced pollutants. The theoretical residence time expected by the system for BOD at 20 mg L^-1 is 5 d, considering an efficiency of 80 percent and a flow rate of 67 L d^-1, whereas the expected value SST at 20 mg L^-1 is 11 d, an efficiency of 96 percent and a flow rate of 30 L d^-1. In making the proposed project will reach a great benefit to the ecosystem and a valuable contribution to the development of the institution by the importance of the treatment and reuse of wastewater. Broadly speaking, the construction and design of a natural system of treatment is very feasible, due at the materials used are very common and easy to acquire.