Abstract

Evaluation a field-scale of constructed wetland (CW) for the treatment of rural wastewater (WW), in resource-scarce semi-arid tropic (SAT) villages, to provide improved wastewater management and increased water use efficiency, was the main objective of this study. A CW was commissioned in Kothapally village of Telangana to treat the wastewater generated from 100 households. The CW was vegetated with Typha latifolia and Canna indica. Average COD, sulfate and inorganic nitrogen removal efficiencies observed were 65%, 60% and 67% respectively, for the study period (one year). Removal efficiency for total coliform was consistently above 80%. The treated wastewater was stored in a farm pond and was utilized for irrigation in the nearby agricultural fields (0.6 ha). This perennial source of water, helped the nearby farmers to cultivate two additional crops, chickpea during rabi and sweetcorn during summer. The assured availability of water reduced their vulnerability to dry spells during the kharif by providing means for lifesaving irrigation. The biomass harvested from the constructed wetland was used as fodder for the livestock. A net additional income of Rs.70,000 (∼US$1,000) was realized by the farmers using the treated wastewater for cultivation. Similar constructed wetland-based wastewater management system can be scaled up across water scarce semi-arid tropics.

Novelty statement

Field-scale performance evaluation of constructed wetland based wastewater treatment in a semi-arid tropic village is scarce in the literature. The work presented gives a feasibility assessment for this technology critical for its wide-scale application to augment rural wastewater management in resource poor villages.

摘要

在资源稀缺的半干旱热带 (SAT) 村庄评估用于处理农村废水 (WW) 的人工湿地 (CW) 的实地规模，以改善废水管理和提高用水效率，是这项研究。一台 CW 被委托在 Telangana 的 Kothapally 村处理 100 户家庭产生的废水。CW 种植了香蒲和美人蕉。在研究期间（一年），观察到的平均 COD、硫酸盐和无机氮去除效率分别为 65%、60% 和 67%。总大肠菌群的去除效率始终高于 80%。处理后的废水储存在农场池塘中，用于附近农田（0.6 公顷）的灌溉。这种多年生水源帮助附近的农民种植了另外两种作物，狂犬病时期的鹰嘴豆和夏季的甜玉米。在哈里夫期间，有保证的水供应减少了他们对干旱的脆弱性通过提供挽救生命的灌溉手段。从人工湿地收获的生物质用作牲畜的饲料。农民使用处理过的废水进行种植，实现了 70,000 卢比（约 1,000 美元）的净额外收入。类似的人工湿地废水管理系统可以在缺水的半干旱热带地区扩大规模。

新颖性声明

文献中很少有关于半干旱热带村庄人工湿地废水处理的现场规模性能评估。所提出的工作对这项技术进行了可行性评估，这对其广泛应用以加强资源贫乏村庄的农村废水管理至关重要。