| dc.description.abstract | Uganda is grappling with public health and eutrophication challenges of its water bodies, owing to persistence of microbial pathogens, excess nutrients and organic matter contents in domestic and industrial wastewater effluents. In addition, the country is also faced with emerging climate change challenges as a result of increasing greenhouse gas emissions (especially carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from several sources, such as industrial activities and natural processes taking place in various ecosystems, such as wetlands. The overall objective of this study was to assess the performance of horizontal (HF) and vertical (VF) subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetlands (CWs) (planted with Cyperus papyrus) in domestic wastewater treatment and their potential as Carbon and Nitrogen sinks in increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The system was operated under batch hydraulic loading in Kampala, Bugolobi. Both HF and VF CWs exhibited high efficiency for remediation of organic matter (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and faecal coliforms in effluent pollution loads. Notably, the higher percentage reduction was observed in the VF CWs, probably attributable to optimal oxygen supply within the system. Moreover, the VF CWs were most important for the removal of faecal coliforms (99.7%), 5-day biological oxygen demand (85.5%), total suspended solids (77.2%), ammonium-nitrogen (71.3%), chemical oxygen demand (67%), total nitrogen (55.9%), total phosphorus (55.9%) and ortho-phosphate (53.7%). The highest recorded mean CH4 flux (in mg CH4-C m-2 h-1) was 38.3 ± 3.3 in unplanted HF, compared to (3.3 ± 0.4), and recorded in planted VF CWs. However, CO2 fluxes (mg CO2-C m-2 h-1) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in planted CWs, with no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the planted HF (2213.5 ± 122.4) and VF (2272.8 ± 191.0) CWs. The CO2 flux attained in the planted CWs was attributable to presence of roots and rhizomes for which their exudates in the planted beds, may have increased microbial activity which eventually could have increased CO2 emission rates. However, N2O fluxes were relatively low and their variations were insignificant (P > 0.05) in all treatments. Nevertheless, the unplanted HF mesocosms registered the highest N2O fluxes of 0.24 ± 0.07 mg N2O-N m-2 h-1 differing to the planted HF, unplanted VF and planted VF treatment systems that registered N2O fluxes of 0.19 ± 0.05, 0.07 ± 0.02 and 0.08 ± 0.02 mg N2O-N m-2 h-1 respectively. Low N2O fluxes, could be attributed to the inhibition of denitrification under aerobic conditions, which on the other hand promoted nitrification, particularly in the planted CWs. The VF systems according to the observations, have shown low CH4 and N2O emissions, therefore making them an appropriate technological option for low carbon development targets concerning sanitation and wastewater management in Uganda. On the other hand, harvesting of the above ground biomass (AGB) removed 19.6% and 17.5% N and 23.8% and 25% P of the total N and P from planted VF and HF CWs respectively. Further, this would imply that SSF CWs are significant removal routes for nutrients, i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus and indeed, significantly more removal was recorded in the VF wetland systems planted with Cyperus papyrus. Therefore, SSF CWs are recommended for adoption, as suitable and less costly technology that may be used for interventions at local levels, to increase the adaptation and resilience of receiving environments through lessening the impact of intermittent and pulse pollution loads from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). | en_US |
