Municipal Municipal wastewater wastewater

purification by purification by phytotreatment and phytotreatment and

water recoverywater recoveryby prof. Paolo Broglio ( M.Sc. Ph.D )

Scientific Director of Ecologia Applicata Company and Environmental Director of ESAE

PHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONPHYTOWATERPURIFICATION

The PHYTOWATERPURIFICATION is:The PHYTOWATERPURIFICATION is:

A broad and natural method realised by A broad and natural method realised by

designing specific systems in order to designing specific systems in order to reproduce a natural auto-depurative reproduce a natural auto-depurative

processes in a monitored environmentprocesses in a monitored environment

Ideal application: up to 100 peopleIdeal application: up to 100 people Possible application: up to 500 peoplePossible application: up to 500 people

PHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONPHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONAdvantages

Low management and maintenance costsDepurative performances compatible with

traditional plantsLow visual impact

Disadvantages

Require considerable space per inhabitantDepend upon environmental conditions

(temperature, pH)

PHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONPHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONFields of applicationFields of application

Secondary waste water treatment (biological)Secondary waste water treatment (biological)“…“…For all settlements with a population ranging between 50 For all settlements with a population ranging between 50

and 2000 people, it is recommended the application of and 2000 people, it is recommended the application of natural depuration technologies, such as aerobic lagoon or natural depuration technologies, such as aerobic lagoon or phytopurification…”phytopurification…”

Tertiary waste water treatment ( water improvement) Tertiary waste water treatment ( water improvement) “… “… such treatments are suitable for settlement with a such treatments are suitable for settlement with a

population ranging between 2000 and 25000 people., even population ranging between 2000 and 25000 people., even when combined with actived sludge or adhesive biomass when combined with actived sludge or adhesive biomass plants because, after the treatment, they refine the final plants because, after the treatment, they refine the final outcome”.outcome”.

Legislative reference: Italian Water Legislative Decree 152/06Legislative reference: Italian Water Legislative Decree 152/06

PHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONPHYTOWATERPURIFICATION Fields of applicationFields of application

Secondary treatment (biological) Secondary treatment (biological)

for very small and small plants ( from 5 to 100 people )for very small and small plants ( from 5 to 100 people )

Treatment Tertiary (water improvement) Treatment Tertiary (water improvement)

to reduce impact of medium size plants to reduce impact of medium size plants

( max 20000 people).( max 20000 people).

RainwaterRainwater

Legislative reference: Italian Water Legislative Decree 152/99Legislative reference: Italian Water Legislative Decree 152/99

PHYTOWATERPURIFICATIONPHYTOWATERPURIFICATION The different plants availableThe different plants available

1 Systems based on surface flux1 Systems based on surface flux

For tertiary sector and rainwater treatmentsFor tertiary sector and rainwater treatments

2 Systems based on horizontal subsurface flux2 Systems based on horizontal subsurface flux

3 Systems based on vertical subsurface flux3 Systems based on vertical subsurface flux

For secondary sector treatmentsFor secondary sector treatments

Tertiary water treatment: specific surface needed: 1-2 m2/peopleTertiary water treatment: specific surface needed: 1-2 m2/peopleSecondary water treatment: specific surface needed: 3-5 m2/peopleSecondary water treatment: specific surface needed: 3-5 m2/people

Horizontal subsurface flux water basin

The different kinds of plants

Secondary wastewater treatment : specific surface needed: 3-5 m2/people

Example of a small bi-stadium phytodepuration plant (100 people)

The different kinds of plants

Surface flux water bed (FWS): macrofite emerging

Tertiary treatment (water improvement ): specific surface needed: 1-2 m2/people

PHYTOWATERPURIFICATION BASED ON A HORIZONTAL SUBSURFACE FLUX (SFS – H)

It is a biologic treatment that employs saturated soil water beds which are contained in tanks or absorbent trays where aquatic plants develop. The alimentation is continuous and the level of the liquid in the tank is regulated by the siphon system contained in the exit pit. This system does not allow removal of nitrogen substances (ammonia).

The depuration process is due to:direct action of the plants that are able to maintain oxygenized the substrate, absorbing nutrients (nitrites, phosphates, etc.) They support bacteria and have also a evapo-transpirant function.Bio-demolisher bacteria colonise the roots

FITODEPURAZIONE A FLUSSO SUB-SUPERFICIALE ORIZZONTALE SFS - h

PHYTODEPURATION BASED ON A HORIZONTAL SUBSURFACE FLUX

(SFS – H)

PHYTODEPURATION BASED ON A VERTICAL SUBSURFACE FLUX (SFS – V)

Wastewaters to be treated flow vertically in the absorbent bed and are directed in tanks with uneven alternate load (through pumps or siphon systems). The wastewaters flow impulsively from the surface passing through a gravel bed (unsaturated zone) and store up at the bottom of the bed (saturated zone) preventing this latter zone from being oxygenized, therefore enabling the denitrification process. Also in this case, the water level in the tank is determined by the siphon system installed in the exit pit.

FITODEPURAZIONE A FLUSSO SUB-SUPERFICIALE VERTICALE SFS - v

PHYTODEPURATION BASED ON A VERTICAL SUBSURFACE FLUX

(SFS – V)

Associated Phyto Depurative Associated Phyto Depurative MechanismsMechanisms

The removal of pollutants results from The removal of pollutants results from biological, physical and chemical processesbiological, physical and chemical processes

Biological processes: cooperation between Biological processes: cooperation between aquatic macrophyte and bacterial colonies aquatic macrophyte and bacterial colonies dispersed in the surrounding environmentdispersed in the surrounding environment

Chemical-physical processes: absorbency, Chemical-physical processes: absorbency, precipitation, sedimentation, filtration…precipitation, sedimentation, filtration…

Sub-irrigation scheme

Septic pit

Sub-irrigation pipes

Sub-irrigation: length of pipes around 10 m people -1

Subsurface horizontal phytodepuration

Absorbent tray used for treating civilian wastewater coming from isolated houses

Subsurface phytowaterpurification (200 people)Imhoff + 2 parallel phytos + terminal phyto

Tertiary wastewater treatment

surface flux

Section of a phytowaterpurification basin (example)

Phytowaterpurification in closed rooms

Si tratta di un microambiente artificiale formato da una serie di vasche riempite con acqua, ognuna con una combinazione diversa di piante di palude, pesci, lumache, fito e zooplankton. La luce del sole giunge attraverso il tetto della serra.

This is an artificial micro-environment made out of several tanks filled with water, each with a different combination of swamp plants, fishes, snails, fito and zooplankton. The sunlight filters through the greenhouse’s roof.

Municipal wastewater purification Municipal wastewater purification by phytotreatment and water by phytotreatment and water

recoveryrecovery

Thank you very much for your attention !Thank you very much for your attention !

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