Advanced oxidation as tertiary treatment for recovery of effluent from an integrated algal pond system

In contemporary water‐scarce regions and with increasing pressure on the built environment, access to quality water within the peri‐urban space is of concern. It has been argued that integrated algal pond systems (IAPS) are ideally suited as these systems offer value recovery and water for irrigation. Advanced oxidation (AO) was evaluated as tertiary treatment for inclusion into the IAPS process. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and ammonium‐N in effluent from an IAPS treating municipal sewage were monitored after exposure to AO. All measured parameters were reduced but reduction in COD occurred only after long‐term exposure or high dosage. COD, TSS and ammonium‐N concentrations were reduced by 2%, 30% and 28%, respectively, within 24 h. Addition of an AO unit to the IAPS process can upgrade water quality to a level satisfactory for recovery to irrigation or for discharge without any substantial increase in process footprint.