Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater
Non-proprietary N-removal onsite wastewater treatment systems are less costly than proprietary systems, increasing the likelihood of adoption to lower N inputs to receiving waters. We assessed the capacity of non-proprietary lignocellulose-amended soil treatment areas (LCSTAs)—a 45-cm-deep layer of...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/15/2137 |
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| author | Sara Wigginton Jose Amador Brian Baumgaertel George Loomis George Heufelder |
| author_facet | Sara Wigginton Jose Amador Brian Baumgaertel George Loomis George Heufelder |
| author_sort | Sara Wigginton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-proprietary N-removal onsite wastewater treatment systems are less costly than proprietary systems, increasing the likelihood of adoption to lower N inputs to receiving waters. We assessed the capacity of non-proprietary lignocellulose-amended soil treatment areas (LCSTAs)—a 45-cm-deep layer of sand above a 45-cm-deep layer of sand and sawdust—to lower the concentration of total N (TN) in septic tank effluent (STE) at mesocosm and field scales. The mesocosm received wastewater for two years and had a median effluent TN concentration of 3.1 mg/L and TN removal of 60–100%, meeting regulatory standards of 19 mg/L or 50% removal. Removal varied inversely with temperature, and was lower below 10 °C. Removal was higher in the mesocosm than in five field sites monitored for 12–42 months. Median effluent TN concentration and removal met the standard in three continuously-occupied homes but not for two seasonally-occupied homes. Sites differed in temporal pattern of TN removal, and in four of five sites TN removal was greater—and effluent TN concentration lower—in the LCSTA than in a control STA containing only sand. The performance of non-proprietary LCSTAs was comparable to that for proprietary systems, suggesting that these may be a viable, more affordable alternative for lowering N inputs to receiving waters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:06:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-237b181c138e4ef881acee04b1857df6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:06:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-237b181c138e4ef881acee04b1857df62023-11-22T06:20:55ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-08-011315213710.3390/w13152137Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from WastewaterSara Wigginton0Jose Amador1Brian Baumgaertel2George Loomis3George Heufelder4Laboratory of Soil Ecology and Microbiology, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USALaboratory of Soil Ecology and Microbiology, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USAMassachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center (MASSTC), Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, Barnstable, MA 02630, USANew England Onsite Wastewater Training Program, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USAMassachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center (MASSTC), Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, Barnstable, MA 02630, USANon-proprietary N-removal onsite wastewater treatment systems are less costly than proprietary systems, increasing the likelihood of adoption to lower N inputs to receiving waters. We assessed the capacity of non-proprietary lignocellulose-amended soil treatment areas (LCSTAs)—a 45-cm-deep layer of sand above a 45-cm-deep layer of sand and sawdust—to lower the concentration of total N (TN) in septic tank effluent (STE) at mesocosm and field scales. The mesocosm received wastewater for two years and had a median effluent TN concentration of 3.1 mg/L and TN removal of 60–100%, meeting regulatory standards of 19 mg/L or 50% removal. Removal varied inversely with temperature, and was lower below 10 °C. Removal was higher in the mesocosm than in five field sites monitored for 12–42 months. Median effluent TN concentration and removal met the standard in three continuously-occupied homes but not for two seasonally-occupied homes. Sites differed in temporal pattern of TN removal, and in four of five sites TN removal was greater—and effluent TN concentration lower—in the LCSTA than in a control STA containing only sand. The performance of non-proprietary LCSTAs was comparable to that for proprietary systems, suggesting that these may be a viable, more affordable alternative for lowering N inputs to receiving waters.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/15/2137onsite waste water treatment systemsnitrogen removallignocellulose-amendmenttemperature effects |
| spellingShingle | Sara Wigginton Jose Amador Brian Baumgaertel George Loomis George Heufelder Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater Water onsite waste water treatment systems nitrogen removal lignocellulose-amendment temperature effects |
| title | Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater |
| title_full | Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater |
| title_fullStr | Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater |
| title_short | Mesocosm- and Field-Scale Evaluation of Lignocellulose- Amended Soil Treatment Areas for Removal of Nitrogen from Wastewater |
| title_sort | mesocosm and field scale evaluation of lignocellulose amended soil treatment areas for removal of nitrogen from wastewater |
| topic | onsite waste water treatment systems nitrogen removal lignocellulose-amendment temperature effects |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/15/2137 |
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