Removal of micropollutants and biological effects by conventional and intensified constructed wetlands treating municipal wastewater

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Nadine A. Sossalla - , Chair of Urban Water Management, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Jaime Nivala - , INRAE - National Institute of Agricultural Research (Author)
  • Thorsten Reemtsma - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig University (Author)
  • Rita Schlichting - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Maria König - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Nicolas Forquet - , INRAE - National Institute of Agricultural Research (Author)
  • Manfred van Afferden - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Roland A. Müller - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Beate I. Escher - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, University of Tübingen (Author)

Abstract

Seven treatment wetlands and a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were weekly monitored over the course of one year for removal of conventional wastewater parameters, selected micropollutants (caffeine, ibuprofen, naproxen, benzotriazole, diclofenac, acesulfame, and carbamazepine) and biological effects. The treatment wetland designs investigated include a horizontal subsurface flow (HF) wetland and a variety of wetlands with intensification (aeration, two-stages, or reciprocating flow). Complementary to the common approach of analyzing individual chemicals, in vitro bioassays can detect the toxicity of a mixture of known and unknown components given in a water sample. A panel of five in vitro cell-based reporter gene bioassays was selected to cover environmentally relevant endpoints (AhR: indicative of activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor; PPARγ: binding to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma; ERα: activation of the estrogen receptor alpha; GR: activation of the glucocorticoid receptor; oxidative stress response). While carbamazepine was persistent in the intensified treatment wetlands, mean monthly mass removal of up to 51% was achieved in the HF wetland. The two-stage wetland system showed highest removal efficacy for all biological effects (91% to >99%). The removal efficacy for biological effects ranged from 56% to 77% for the HF wetland and 60% to 99% for the WWTP. Bioanalytical equivalent concentrations (BEQs) for AhR, PPARγ, and oxidative stress response were often below the recommended effect-based trigger (EBT) values for surface water, indicating the great benefit for using nature-based solutions for water treatment. Intensified treatment wetlands remove both individual micropollutants and mixture effects more efficiently than conventional (non-aerated) HF wetlands, and in some cases, the WWTP.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number117349
JournalWater research
Volume201
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 34171643

Keywords

Keywords

  • Effect-based method, Effect-based trigger values, Emerging organic contaminant, In vitro bioassay, Nature-based solution, Treatment wetland