Anthropogenic activities have caused high concentrations of nitrate and other contaminants in surface and groundwater. Natural and environmentally friendly treatment systems, known as bioreactors, have been commonly used to investigate the removal of water contaminants (nitrate, metals, bacteria, etc). Woodchip systems have been investigated and results showed that this economical set up removes nitrate from drainage water (Iowa, US) and groundwater (Southern California). Woodchip systems are efficient, economical and environmentally friendly since the media enhance degradation and/or sorption of contaminants. This natural treatment method, was used to remove nitrate from contaminated groundwater extracted from Spadra basin (Cal Poly, Pomona), Southern California.  Results indicated that the amount of nitrate removed from groundwater depended on the flow rate and detention time, and the removal ranged from 15 to 40%. Removal rates were smaller than those observed for tile water, however, good enough to consider their field application to reduce nitrate from groundwater below the 10 mg/L nitrate MCL.

Natural treatment of groundwater in Southern California

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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