Nutrients, like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), are often elevated in creeks and streams in the western New York region due to non-point sources, like fertilizer runoff, and point-sources, like sewage treatment plants (STP). Previously, our research group monitored the nutrient discharge of a local STP in the lower Genesee River watershed region. In every season, the P concentrations of the discharge water were &gt;50 times higher than the NYSDEC guidelines and were enough to significantly (p&lt;0.001) enhance the overall trophic profile of the headwater stream that receives the effluent discharge, as well as that of Black Creek, where the headwater stream ends. This problem has established the need for an effective N & P removal system at the plant before the discharge water enters the nearby stream, which had significantly (p&lt;0.001) higher trophic levels (both N and P) downstream of the STP. Our research group is currently developing an innovative, zero-waste, sustainable technology involving a multi-process constructed wetland, where removal of excess nutrients will be conducted by two means: i) repurposing water treatment residuals (WTR), a waste sludge produced by a local drinking water treatment plant, and ii) using a native wetland species, Typha angustifolia, which has shown effectiveness for the removal of N and P. Data so far are highly encouraging; total P is removed effectively (&gt;90% within 24 hrs) by WTR in a batch sorption experiment, with no significant desorption. In a follow-up greenhouse study using WTR as well as cattail, WTR alone was proven most effective in removing total P from the STP effluent as well as P-spiked DI water with no nitrate, followed by the combined WTR-Cattail treatment, and then cattails alone. Ongoing experiments are evaluating the potential for N removal by WTR and the combined WTR-cattail system in the presence and absence of P in both a batch and greenhouse set up. Data from these studies will provide us with optimum parameters that will pave our way to design the sustainable, multi-process constructed wetland in the field.

Developing a sustainable zero-waste multi-process remediation technology involving chemical immobilization and phytoremediation to remove excess nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) from a sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent

2019 Spring National Meeting

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