Floating Wetlands for Management of Algal Washout from Waste Stabilization Pond Effluent: Case Study at Hikkaduwa Waste Stabilization Ponds

Abstract

Waste stabilization ponds are advantageousw astewater treatnrentp rocesscse, specially for developir.rg countries. Nevertheless, in spite of the n ell knorvn advantages of the implementation of the stabilization pond system, the effluent of this systenr has a significant amount of algae and high nutrients. Disposing this effluent with high contents algae and nutrients to the receiving haters can hinder the water reuse for a wide range of clifferent applications, it is essential to look for a post treatment method that can provide considerable removal of algae, nutrients and organic natter from the effluent and at the same time, assure that the treatment system as a whole will maintain the advantages of the pond heatment processes. In this context, this research study was plarrned and intended to introduce a floating treatnent wetland in which water hyacinth plants (Eichhornia crassipes) were used as macrophyte or vegetation in the part of the maturation pond area to control algae and nuhielrts in the effluent.