Pascal Molle

Sludge drying reed beds for septage treatment: Towards design and operation recommendations

This paper focuses on the feasibility of septage treatment by sludge drying reed beds (SDRB). Different designs and operation conditions of SRDB pilot-scales were tested on system efficiencies such as the top filtration layer (sand or compost) and the organic load (30 and 50 kg SSm(-2)y(-1)). Results focus on the obtained performances considering sludge characteristics, filtration efficiencies, percolate qualities, and sludge deposit properties. Although results show better filtration efficiency for activated sludge (e.g. SS removal around 98.4%) than for septage (e.g. SS removal around 87.5%), the feasibility of septage treatment with SDRB has been demonstrated with, at 50 kg SSm(-2)y(-1) sludge accumulation, and dry matter about 7.9 cm y(-1) and 70% (summer period), respectively. Further design and operation condition recommendations for SDRB treating septage are proposed.

French vertical flow constructed wetlands: a need of a better understanding of the role of the deposit layer

French vertical flow constructed wetlands, treating directly raw wastewater, have become the main systems implemented for communities under 2,000 population equivalent in France. Like in sludge drying reed beds, an organic deposit layer is formed over time at the top surface of the filter. This deposit layer is a key factor in the performance of the system as it impacts hydraulic, gas transfers, filtration efficiency and water retention time. The paper discusses the role of this deposit layer on the hydraulic and biological behaviour of the system. It presents results from different studies to highlight the positive role of the layer but, as well, the difficulties in modelling this organic layer. As hydraulic, oxygen transfers, and biological activity are interlinked and impacted by the deposit layer, it seems essential to focus on its role (and its quantification) to find new developments of vertical flow constructed wetlands fed with raw wastewater.

Treatment of septage in sludge drying reed beds: a case study on pilot-scale beds

French legislation requires the control of private on-site sanitation systems by local authorities. This will result in a large increase of the quantity of sludge from septic tanks to be treated. Nevertheless, large wastewater treatment plants are not systematically able to treat this sludge because they may have reached their nominal load or they are not so numerous in rural zone to avoid too long transportation. The study concerns both the feasibility of sludge reed beds devoted to the treatment of septage and the assessment of a simultaneous treatment with aerated sludge. The experiments have been carried out on eight pilot-scale drying reed beds (2 m(2)) planted with Phragmites australis. Two filtration layers of either vegetal compost or sand were tested. The study is focused on the commissioning period (first vegetative year) with a loading rate of 30 kg SS m(-2) yr(-1). According to these operational conditions, dewatering efficiencies reached approx. 30% DM during summer but less than 20% DM in winter for each filtration layer and sludge. High removal efficiencies, with an average of 96%, 92% and 89% for SS, COD and TKN respectively, were achieved with septage whereas they were lower for the mixture of aerated sludge and septage. The dewaterability of septage and its filtration behaviour were assessed by several parameters (Capillary Suction Time, bound water) which may be some interesting tools for an optimised loading strategy.

Sludge drying reed beds : full and pilot scale study for activated sludge treatment

Sludge drying reed beds have been used for dewatering and mineralization of sludge since the beginning of the 90s, but their insufficient performances in terms of Dry Matter [DM] content and mineralization of the sludge have made necessary new studies. Therefore, 8 pilots of 2 m2 each and a full-scale plant (13,000 p.e, 8 beds of 470 m2 in operation for 4 years) have been monitored to examine the influence of the sludge loading rate, the sludge quality and the loading frequency on the dewatering and mineralization efficiencies. Two filtration layers and two loading rhythms were tested on pilots which were fed at a loading rate of 25-30 kg DM m(-2) yr(-1) during the first year of operation (commissioning period). Hydraulic behaviour (infiltration rate, outflow), O2 and CO2 relative concentrations in the filtration media, redox potential, pollutants removal and dry matter content were assessed during all the study. The rheological quality of the extracted sludge from full scale beds was assessed and showed that its mechanical behaviour exceed those of sludge of comparable dry matter content, making its spreading easier. Therefore, this sludge could easily claim the status of solid and stabilized sludge according to the French regulation. Design and management recommendations (number of beds, loading rates, feeding/rest period) gained from the experiments results are suggested.

Modelling bioclogging in variably saturated porous media and the interactions between surface/subsurface flows: Application to Constructed Wetlands.

Horizontal subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands (HF CWs) are biofilters planted with aquatic macrophytes within which wastewater is treated mostly through contact with bacterial biofilms. The high concentrations of organic carbon and nutrients being transported leads to high bacterial biomass production, which decreases the flow capacity of the porous material (bioclogging). In severe bioclogging scenarios, overland flow may take place, reducing overall treatment performance. In this work we developed a mathematical model using COMSOL Multiphysics™ and MATLAB(®) to simulate bioclogging effects in HF CWs. Variably saturated subsurface flow and overland flow were described using the Richards equation. To simplify the inherent complexity of the processes involved in bioclogging development, only one bacterial group was considered, and its growth was described using a Monod equation. Bioclogging effects on the hydrodynamics were taken into account by using a conceptual model that affects the value of Mualems unsaturated relative permeability. Simulation results with and without bioclogging were compared to showcase the impact of this process on the overall functioning of CWs. The two scenarios rendered visually different bacteria distributions, flow and transport patterns, showing the necessity of including bioclogging effects on CWs models. This work represents one of the few studies available on bioclogging in variably saturated conditions, and the presented model allows simulating the interaction between overland and subsurface flow occurring in most HF CWs. Hence, this work gets us a step closer to being able to describe CWs functioning in an integrated way using mathematical models.

Treatment performances of French constructed wetlands: results from a database collected over the last 30 years

Approximately 3,500 constructed wetlands (CWs) provide raw wastewater treatment in France for small communities (<5,000 people equivalent). Built during the past 30 years, most consist of two vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) in series (stages). Many configurations exist, with systems associated with horizontal flow filters or waste stabilization ponds, vertical flow with recirculation, partially saturated systems, etc. A database analyzed 10 years earlier on the classical French system summarized the global performances data. This paper provides a similar analysis of performance data from 415 full-scale two-stage VFCWs from an improved database expanded by monitoring data available from Irstea and the French technical department. Trends presented in the first study are confirmed, exhibiting high chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) removal rates (87%, 93% and 84%, respectively). Typical concentrations at the second-stage outlet are 74 mgCOD L(-1), 17 mgTSS L(-1) and 11 mgTKN L(-1). Pollutant removal performances are summarized in relation to the loads applied at the first treatment stage. While COD and TSS removal rates remain stable over the range of applied loads, the spreading of TKN removal rates increases as applied loads increase.

Mechanical and hydraulic properties of sludge deposit on sludge drying reed beds (SDRBs): influence of sludge characteristics and loading rates.

This work was designed to study the hydraulic properties of sludge deposit, focusing on the impact of operating conditions (i.e. loads and feeding frequencies) on air entrance (aerobic mineralization optimization) into the sludge deposit. The studied sludge deposits came from six 2m(2) pilot-scale SDRBs that had been in operation for 50 months with three different loads of 30, 50, and 70 kg of SSm(-2) y(-1). Two influents were assessed (i.e. activated sludge and septage) presenting different characteristics (i.e. pollutant contents, physical properties...). Two experimental approaches were employed based on establishing the water retention curve (capillary pressure versus volumetric water content) and the hydrotextural diagram to determine the hydraulic properties of sludge deposit. The study obtained valuable information for optimizing operating conditions, specifically for efficient management of loading frequency to optimize aerobic conditions within the sludge deposit.

Performance evaluation of phosphorus removal by apatite in constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater: column and pilot experiments

In constructed wetlands (CWs) treating domestic wastewater, good treatment performance is obtained on mains parameters except phosphorus (P) which can cause eutrophication problems. In order to improve P removal from wastewater with a low specific filter surface per person equivalent (pe), different materials have been tested: man-made and natural materials, industrial by-products, and a mixture of these materials. The P removal by natural apatite has been studied by only a limited amount of work. Apatite materials appear to possess high and long-term removal capacity, thus a better knowledge is needed to determine the quality of apatite to be used and the P removal evolution with time and water quality. In this work the P removal rates were studied in two different scales (lab-experiments and pilot units) on different apatite qualities. Removal rate in the pilot units was smaller than the one found in lab-scale columns and the results suggested that a security coefficient might be applied while designing the apatite filter.

Simplified hydraulic model of French vertical-flow constructed wetlands.

Designing vertical-flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) to treat both rain events and dry weather flow is a complex task due to the stochastic nature of rain events. Dynamic models can help to improve design, but they usually prove difficult to handle for designers. This study focuses on the development of a simplified hydraulic model of French VFCWs using an empirical infiltration coefficient--infiltration capacity parameter (ICP). The model was fitted using 60-second-step data collected on two experimental French VFCW systems and compared with Hydrus 1D software. The model revealed a season-by-season evolution of the ICP that could be explained by the mechanical role of reeds. This simplified model makes it possible to define time-course shifts in ponding time and outlet flows. As ponding time hinders oxygen renewal, thus impacting nitrification and organic matter degradation, ponding time limits can be used to fix a reliable design when treating both dry and rain events.

A single-output model for the dynamic design of constructed wetlands treating combined sewer overflow

Constructed wetlands treating combined sewer overflow (CSO CWs) are vertical flow filters in France, with outflow limitation and detention basin. Treating storm-generated flows reduces pollutants and flow peaks entering natural waters. Storm-generated flows are stochastic and therefore optimized CSO CW design requires a dynamic approach, i.e., a modelling software targeting engineers. Therefore a new tool, called Orage, was developed. Orage consists of a core model, an iterative shell and a user interface. It optimizes dimensions and materials of CSO CWs site-specifically, based on inflow series and a low number of input parameters. The core model simulates hydraulics and TSS, COD and NH4-N removal. Manual fitting of the core showed good results with a single load. The same parameters gave satisfying accuracy when simulating load series with closed material balance. Sensitivity analysis confirmed model robustness and justified coupling with an automatic shell algorithm for automatic optimization, based on a single output. We developed a model for dual-sided CSO constructed wetlands.Calibration to an extreme load that our wetland failed to treat was accurate.The model showed stability with a series of loads.Simplified process descriptions led to good predictions.The model is robust and can serve automatic optimization for design-support.