Comparison of Nitrogen Removal in Reed Wetlands with and Without Open Water Purifying Effluent from a Treatment Pond

Nitrate() and total nitrogen(TN) removal by a reed wetland with open water(Wetland 1) was compared with that of a reed wetland without open water(Wetland 2) from March to October 2002. The two wetlands were 25mL by 6mW. An open water area, 3mL by 6mW was designed at the middle of Wetland 1. Reeds(Phragmites australis) were transplanted into the wetlands in June 2000. Water of Sinyang Stream flowing into the Kohung Estuarine Lake located in the southern part of Korea was pumped into a primary treatment pond, whose effluent was discharged into the secondary pond. Effluent from the secondary pond was funneled into the wetlands. Inflow into the wetlands averaged about 20.0/day and their hydraulic retention time was approximately 1.5 days. Average removal by Wetland 1 was 117.61mg/ and that by Wetland 2 was 106.39mg/. removal efficiency of Wetland 1 and 2 was 37% and 34%, respectively. TN removal by Wetlands 1 and 2 averaged 226.80 and 214.54mg/, respectively. TN abatement efficiency of Wetland 1 was 43% and that of Wetland 2 was 40%. removal efficiency of Wetland 1 was significantly higher(p=0.038) than Wetland 2. TN removal efficiency of Wetland 1 was also significantly higher(p=0.044) than Wetland 2. The wetland with open water was more efficient for removal of and TN than one without.