title: Treatment performance of artificial floating reed beds in an experimental mesocosm to improve the water quality of river Kshipra.
abstract: The discharge of untreated wastewater in River Kshipra had brought annual average of BOD, TKN and TS levels up to 39 mg/l, 38 mg/l and 781 mg/l respectively in the study area. Treatment performance by Artificial Floating Reed Beds (AFRB) was evaluated for removal efficiency of TS, NH4-N, NO3-N, TKN and BOD from river water, initially, under a pilot scale by an AFRB of size 200 m2 planted with local reed grass, Phragmites karka, in the part of River Kshipra at the confluence with meeting point of a wastewater stream. The system performance was recorded as 43% reduction in TS, 38% reduction in TKN and 39% BOD reduction. The experimental AFRBs were buoyant structure planted with reed grass, each unit had a rectangular size and covered an effective surface area of 2 m2. The experiment with the mesocosms with treatment of River water resulted that AFRB was reducing pollution load by 55-60% of TS, 45-55% of NH4-N, 33-45% of NO3-N, 45-50% of TKN and 40-50% of BOD. AFRB may be recommended as an in-situ, eco-friendly river water treatment structures for small shallow, slow flowing (or slightly stagnant) water bodies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environment Management and Plant Sciences, Vikram University, Ujjain 456010, MP, India. suresh_billore@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Billore
authors.lastname: Prashant
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005843:Geography; D007194:India; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000592:standards*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D009566:Nitrates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen