The effects of soil type and effluent pre-treatment on soil aquifer treatment

T. Kopchynski, Peter Fox, B. Alsmadi, M. Berner

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

A matrix of three different levels of effluent pre-treatment and four different soil types was used in a study on the effects of soil type and effluent pre-treatment on Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT). The objective of the study was to assess the feasibility of SAT for the recharge of groundwater and indirect potable reuse. The soils represented a wide range of hydrological and physicochemical characteristics from a proposed recharge site in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Effluents studied included denitrified and conventional secondary effluents. These effluents contain different levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD5), organic carbon, ammonia, and nitrate. Ten 2.6 m columns were operated under different wetting/drying cycles. For the effluents studied, resultsindicate that effluent pre-treatment does not impact organic carbon removal efficiencies. Under optimal wetting/drying cycle times, BOD5 can be removed efficiently although a residual organic carbon concentration of 5-6 mg/l persists. Ammonia is effectively nitrified under most conditions but denitrification does not readily occur even when denitrified effluent is applied. Soil Aquifer Treatment appears to be a robust treatment system for denitrified effluent producing total nitrogen concentrations less than 8 mg/l and organic carbon concentrations less than 6 mg/l.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)235-242
Number of pages8
JournalWater Science and Technology
Volume34
Issue number11 pt 7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
EventProceedings of the 18th Biennial Conference of the International Association on Water Quality. Part 8 - Singapore, Singapore
Duration: Jun 23 1996Jun 28 1996

Keywords

  • Ammonia
  • Nitrate
  • Organic carbon
  • Soil aquifer treatment
  • Wetting/drying cycles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Science and Technology

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