and their metabolites in the environment is one of the most significant problems that
can lead to a cumulative effect on the nontarget organisms in the aquatic environment (Han et al. 2010). One of the most frequently used groups of drugs that can be
often found in water environments are so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) (Wang et al. 2011). Some studies already examined the elimination
capacity of constructed wetlands for most common NSAIDs—ibuprofen,
diclofenac, naproxen, and ketoprofen (Hijosa-Valsero et al. 2010). In the groundwater analysis performed in the Czech Republic, these four substances were the most
abundant pharmaceuticals in the collected samples (Helenkár et al. 2010; Kotowska
et al. 2014). Marsik et al. (2017) confirm significant concentrations of the NSAIDs in
the Elbe river and its tributaries. In this work, the efficiency of the hybrid constructed
wetland Chrámce, Ústí region, in the removal of basic chemical parameters (COD,
BOD 5 , TSS, N, and P) and NSAIDs from mixed domestic and agro-industrial
wastewater was evaluated.
18.2 Materials and Methods
18.2.1 Experimental Plant Description
This study was performed in a hybrid constructed wetland Chrámce, Ústí region,
Czech Republic. This CW receives sewage water from a residential building (negligible part of the total flow); wastewaters from fruit, fruit juice, and wine processing
(the total area of orchards and vineyards is 195 ha and 1.9 ha, respectively); and
wastewater from a sheep farm (150 sheep in total). The total calculated capacity of
the CW is 50 population equivalent (PE) and the average calculated flow through
the system is 0.09 L s
À1 , which represents 7.8 m
3 d
À1 . The calculated theoretical
retention time is 10.5 days and the tracers tests that were performed according to
Kadlec and Wallace (2009) using a KBr indicator confirmed the mean retention time
to be 10 days. The CW has been operating since 2012. The inflow is not continuous,
but the CW is batch fed by vacuum trucks.
The system consists of eight treatment stages (see Fig. 18.1): a reservoir for
wastewater (3 Â 10 m
3 ), a three-chamber septic tank (14.1 m
3 ), a series of three
wetland filters—horizontal filter 1 (HF1), vertical filter (VF), and horizontal filter
2 (HF2). Tertiary treatment of wastewater is performed in three small stabilization
ponds with littoral zones connected with a shallow meandering stream (SP1–SP3).
The treated water is discharged into the existing pond. More detailed characteristics
are summarized in Table 18.1.
Filters are planted with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and common
reed (Phragmites australis). Meandering streams and littoral zones are planted with
sweet manna grass (Glyceria maxima), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), sweet flag (Acorus calamus),
beaked sedge (Carex rostrata), and broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia).
398
M. Šereš et al.
can lead to a cumulative effect on the nontarget organisms in the aquatic environment (Han et al. 2010). One of the most frequently used groups of drugs that can be
often found in water environments are so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) (Wang et al. 2011). Some studies already examined the elimination
capacity of constructed wetlands for most common NSAIDs—ibuprofen,
diclofenac, naproxen, and ketoprofen (Hijosa-Valsero et al. 2010). In the groundwater analysis performed in the Czech Republic, these four substances were the most
abundant pharmaceuticals in the collected samples (Helenkár et al. 2010; Kotowska
et al. 2014). Marsik et al. (2017) confirm significant concentrations of the NSAIDs in
the Elbe river and its tributaries. In this work, the efficiency of the hybrid constructed
wetland Chrámce, Ústí region, in the removal of basic chemical parameters (COD,
BOD 5 , TSS, N, and P) and NSAIDs from mixed domestic and agro-industrial
wastewater was evaluated.
18.2 Materials and Methods
18.2.1 Experimental Plant Description
This study was performed in a hybrid constructed wetland Chrámce, Ústí region,
Czech Republic. This CW receives sewage water from a residential building (negligible part of the total flow); wastewaters from fruit, fruit juice, and wine processing
(the total area of orchards and vineyards is 195 ha and 1.9 ha, respectively); and
wastewater from a sheep farm (150 sheep in total). The total calculated capacity of
the CW is 50 population equivalent (PE) and the average calculated flow through
the system is 0.09 L s
À1 , which represents 7.8 m
3 d
À1 . The calculated theoretical
retention time is 10.5 days and the tracers tests that were performed according to
Kadlec and Wallace (2009) using a KBr indicator confirmed the mean retention time
to be 10 days. The CW has been operating since 2012. The inflow is not continuous,
but the CW is batch fed by vacuum trucks.
The system consists of eight treatment stages (see Fig. 18.1): a reservoir for
wastewater (3 Â 10 m
3 ), a three-chamber septic tank (14.1 m
3 ), a series of three
wetland filters—horizontal filter 1 (HF1), vertical filter (VF), and horizontal filter
2 (HF2). Tertiary treatment of wastewater is performed in three small stabilization
ponds with littoral zones connected with a shallow meandering stream (SP1–SP3).
The treated water is discharged into the existing pond. More detailed characteristics
are summarized in Table 18.1.
Filters are planted with reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) and common
reed (Phragmites australis). Meandering streams and littoral zones are planted with
sweet manna grass (Glyceria maxima), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus), Siberian iris (Iris sibirica), sweet flag (Acorus calamus),
beaked sedge (Carex rostrata), and broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia).
398
M. Šereš et al.