Development of natural and ecological wastewater treatment system for decentralized community in Korea

A pilot study of the natural and ecological wastewater treatment system (NEWS) was performed to treat sewage in decentralized small rural communities in Korea. The absorbent-biofilter system (ABS) provided secondary level pretreatment and demonstrated high removal efficiency especially for SS and BOD 5 showing 88.5 and 82.9%, respectively. The influent and effluent concentrations of TN were 42.1 and 26.2 mg L −1 , respectively, with the removal efficiency of 37.8%. In case of TP, the removal efficiency was 45.1% with the influent and effluent concentrations of 3.1 and 1.7 mg L −1 . The ABS effluent could not meet the effluent standards, and the further treatment was required. The subsequent up- and down-flow constructed wetland (UDCW) provided further polishing of the ABS effluent and demonstrated effective removal of nutrients as well as SS and BOD 5 with over 70% removal rates. Overall performance of the NEWS, which was composed of ABS and UDCW, demonstrated remarkably high removal rates for BOD 5 (>95.7%), SS (>97.5%), TN (>91.8%) and TP (>90.1%) and met all the effluent standards stably independent of temperature and influent loading in the experimental range. The UDCW used light and porous granular substrate (∅ 5–10 mm, specific gravity of 1.2) with large surface area, and clogging problem was not observed during the study period. The system was cost effective and required minimal maintenance and negligible amount of electricity, and problems associated with noise, odor, files, and sludge were not observed. Considering characteristics of decentralized wastewater treatment systems, the NEWS system was found to be a practical alternative and its application is recommended up to 300 m 3 day −1 . The NEWS system has an economic problem above 300 m 3 day −1 , because of complicated equipment, higher operation costs, and maintenance specialists. The NEWS system was coast effective and required minimal maintenance and negligible amount of electricity, and problems associated with noise, odor, files, and sludge were not observed.