Academic literature on the topic 'Horizontal flow wetland'

The ways of purifying waste water produced by human society are nowadays a great deal. With the increasing pressure on sustainable construction, technology using principles close to natural processes are at the forefront. Treatment wetlands have been in use for almost 30 years and thanks mainly to developments abroad, they prove they are a suitable option for smaller producers of pollution. When designing a treatment wetland for municipalities with a larger amount of inhabitants, it is necessary to modify the proposal in order to eliminate all types of pollution. This thesis therefore compares three sewage treatment plants with a multistage filtration system. Comparing the achieved parameters will be beneficial for defining the rules for optimal design of these types of wastewater treatment plant.

Horizontal Subsurface Flow Treatment Wetlands (HSSF TWs) are used by Severn Trent Water as a low-cost tertiary wastewater treatment for rural locations. Experience has shown that clogging is a major operational problem that reduces HSSF TW lifetime. Clogging is caused by an accumulation of secondary wastewater solids from upstream processes and decomposing leaf litter. Clogging occurs as a sludge layer where wastewater is loaded on the surface of the bed at the inlet. Severn Trent systems receive relatively high hydraulic loading rates, which causes overland flow and reduces the ability to mineralise surface sludge accumulations. A novel apparatus and method, the Aston Permeameter, was created to measure hydraulic conductivity in situ. Accuracy is ±30 %, which was considered adequate given that conductivity in clogged systems varies by several orders of magnitude. The Aston Permeameter was used to perform 20 separate tests on 13 different HSSF TWs in the UK and the US. The minimum conductivity measured was 0.03 m/d at Fenny Compton (compared with 5,000 m/d clean conductivity), which was caused by an accumulation of construction fines in one part of the bed. Most systems displayed a 2 to 3 order of magnitude variation in conductivity in each dimension. Statistically significant transverse variations in conductivity were found in 70% of the systems. Clogging at the inlet and outlet was generally highest where flow enters the influent distribution and exits the effluent collection system, respectively. Surface conductivity was lower in systems with dense vegetation because plant canopies reduce surface evapotranspiration and decelerate sludge mineralisation. An equation was derived to describe how the water table profile is influenced by overland flow, spatial variations in conductivity and clogging. The equation is calibrated using a single parameter, the Clog Factor (CF), which represents the equivalent loss of porosity that would reproduce measured conductivity according to the Kozeny-Carman Equation. The CF varies from 0 for ideal conditions to 1 for completely clogged conditions. Minimum CF was 0.54 for a system that had recently been refurbished, which represents the deviation from ideal conditions due to characteristics of non-ideal media such as particle size distribution and morphology. Maximum CF was 0.90 for a 15 year old system that exhibited sludge accumulation and overland flow across the majority of the bed. A Finite Element Model of a 15 m long HSSF TW was used to indicate how hydraulics and hydrodynamics vary as CF increases. It was found that as CF increases from 0.55 to 0.65 the subsurface wetted area increases, which causes mean hydraulic residence time to increase from 0.16 days to 0.18 days. As CF increases from 0.65 to 0.90, the extent of overland flow increases from 1.8 m to 13.1 m, which reduces hydraulic efficiency from 37 % to 12 % and reduces mean residence time to 0.08 days.

This work is focused on the development control system flow area in a standardized horizontal sand trap in the Czech Republic used the majority of constructed wetlands for the capture of solid mineral particles. The goal is the development and validation functions of the flow regulator, providing more uniform process of establishment of mineral particles, respectively. reduction of sedimentation of organic components. The actual design precedes the mathematical description through the HEC-RAS, the results are applied in the design of a laboratory model. Work processes theoretically the standardized sand traps, focuses on the comparison of the required residence time of wastewater in the sedimentation area of establishment with the sedimentation time of sand grain on the selected diameter of 0.8 mm. In laboratory conditions were carried out build sand trap model itself, as well as developed a regulatory element. After resolving structural measurements were taken and compared the results with the ideal state. For putting the controller into practice, when an application is planned at the constructed wetlands in Dražovice village, it will have to the most accurate setting of the regulator.

Constructed wetlands are alternative systems to conventional wastewater treatment for small communities (up to 2000 PE). This is mainly due to that operation and maintenance costs are reduced. Despite the advantages, the clogging of the bed is the most important trouble encountered by the managers of subsurface flow wetlands treatment systems. The solids accumulation in the interstitial spaces of the gravel over time causes the decrease of both, hydraulic conductivity and porosity. This leads in the development of preferential paths and short-circuiting of the water through the wetland, which converge in overland flow and contaminant removal efficiency decrease. Therefore, clogging is the main limiting factor of the life span of a subsurface flow constructed wetland. The strategies to reverse clogging imply important economic investments. Generally, the most widespread option is the replacement of gravel. Hence the need to measure realibly the degree of clogging of a system in order to identify the factors that influence this phenomenon and to search new configurations and strategies to delay its progress, thus operations needed to reverse it. Therefore, the aims of this thesis must contribute to establish new design criteria and operation of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands to minimize clogging processes without reducing the contaminant removal efficiency. Then, the objectives were to compare a method to measure hydraulic conductivity in situ, based on falling head permeameter, in order to determine the state of clogging of wetlands and its horizontal distribution; to determine the most suitable indicator to assess clogging in horizontal subsurface flow wetlands; to identifie new design and operation parameters likely to cause or encourage the clogging of the filter medium; and to analyse two new configurations in a pilot scale system in terms of contaminant removal and clogging development. Among the different clogging indicators analysed (drenable porosity, hydraulic conductivity, accumulated solids and effective volume from a tracer test), hydraulic conductivity seems to be the best one. Firstly, because hydraulic conductivity provides information about the hydraulic behaviour inside the bed, and linked appropriately with the accumulated solids (a correlation of 74.5% was found between both indicators). Secondly, because its application in full-scale wetlands is more straightforward than other techniques.<br>Los humedales construidos son una alternativa al tratamiento convencional de agua residual para pequeños municipios (hasta 2000 hab-eq) ya que son fáciles de operar y mantener y tienen un coste de explotación bajo. El mayor inconveniente a que se enfrentan los explotadores de sistemas de tratamiento con humedales subsuperficiales es la colmatación del lecho. Con el tiempo, la acumulación de sólidos de diversa naturaleza en los espacios intersticiales del medio filtrante, provoca la disminución de la conductividad hidráulica y la porosidad iniciales de la grava. Esto conduce al desarrollo de caminos preferenciales y cortocircuitos en el curso del agua que convergen en la aparición de agua en superficie. A la larga, esto puede comprometer la capacidad depurativa del sistema. Por ello, la colmatación supone el factor limitante de la vida útil de un humedal construido. Las estrategias para solventar la colmatación, una vez se ha producido, son costosas y pasan por realizar inversiones no despreciables. Generalmente la opción más extendida es el cambio del material granular. De ahí la necesidad de medir, de manera fiable, en qué grado un sistema está colmatado, identificar los factores que influyen en el fenómeno e indagar en nuevas configuraciones y estrategias que permitan retrasar el avance de la colmatación y consigo, aplazar las intervenciones necesarias para devolver al sistema un estado óptimo de funcionamiento. Los objetivos de esta tesis doctoral han de contribuir a establecer nuevos criterios de diseño y operación de humedales construidos de flujo subsuperficial horizontal para minimizar, o cuanto menos retrasar, la colmatación de estos sistemas, sin mermar la eficiencia de eliminación de contaminantes del agua residual. Por ello, los objetivos son cuantificar la precisión y exactitud de un método de medición in situ de la conductividad hidráulica, basado en el permeámetro de carga variable, para la determinación del grado de colmatación de un lecho y la distribución horizontal de la misma; estudiar la idoneidad de diferentes indicadores de la colmatación de un humedal de flujo subsuperficial horizontal; evaluar la incidencia de diferentes factores de diseño y operación de humedales de flujo subsuperficial horizontal en el proceso de la colmatación; y caracterizar (en términos de eficiencia de eliminación de contaminantes y de evolución de la colmatación) dos nuevas configuraciones de humedales construidos a escala piloto.<br>Els aiguamolls construïts són una alternativa al tractament convencional d’aigua residual per a petits municipis (fins 2000 hab-eq) degut, principalment, a la facilitat en llur operació i manteniment y a les reduïdes despeses d’explotació. L’inconvenient més important amb què es troben els explotadors de sistemes de tractament amb aiguamolls subsuperficials és la colmatació del llit. Al llarg del temps, l’acumulació de sòlids de diversa natura en els espais intersticials de la grava, provoca la disminució de la conductivitat hidràulica i la porositat inicials. Això condueix al desenvolupament de camins preferencials i curtcircuits en el curs de l’aigua a través de l’aiguamoll, que convergeixen en l’aparició d’aigua en superfície, i que, a llarg termini pot comprometre la capacitat depurativa del sistema. Per això, la colmatació suposa el factor limitant de la vida útil d’un aiguamoll construït. Les estratègies per a fer front a la colmatació, un cop s’ha produït, passen per realitzar inversions econòmiques gens menyspreables. Generalment, l’opció més extesa és la reposició del material granular. D’aquí neix la necessitat de mesurar, de manera fiable, el grau de colmatació d’un sistema, d’identificar aquells factors que influeixen en el fenomen y qüestionar noves configuracions y estratègies que permetin retardar l’avenç de la colmatació, i per tant ajornar les intervencions necessàries per tornar al sistema a l’estat òptim de funcionament. Per tot això els objectius d’aquesta tesi doctoral han de contribuir a establir nous criteris de disseny i operació d’aiguamolls construïts de flux subsuperficial horitzontal per tal de minimitzar la colmatació d’aquests sistemes, sense minvar l’eficiència d’eliminació de contaminants de l’aigua residual. Els objectius específics són quantificar la precisió i exactitud d’un mètode de mesura in situ de la conductivitat hidràulica, basat en el permeàmetre de càrrega variable, per a la determinació de l’estat de colmatació d’un llit així com la distribució horitzontal d’aquesta; determinar l’indicador més adecuat per avaluar la colmatació d’un aiguamoll construït de flux subsuperficial horitzontal; identificar nous paràmetres de disseny y operación susceptibles de causar o afavorir la colmatación del medi filtrant; i caracteritzar (en termes d’eliminació de contaminants i d’evolució de la colmatación) dues noves configuracions d’aiguamolls construïts a escala pilot.

Increased treatment capability is required on small sewage treatment works to meet ammonium consents that are tightening to effluent concentrations of below 5 mg[Ammonical nitrogen (mg/L)] and in some cases as low as 0.5mg[Ammonical nitrogen (mg/L)] Optimisation of existing assets is preferential over the addition or expansion of the works to minimise associated costs and energy usage. Many small works in the UK currently employ horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF CWs) that have restricted capability to nitrify due to limited oxygen transfer and as such artificial aeration has been proposed as a potential upgrade technology. To assess the performance of the technology, full- scale sites were monitored in terms of ammonium and solids removal and hydraulic characterisation over 3 years. Supporting pilot studies were carried out to assess the effect of aeration on the planted vegetation and to determine optimum transfer efficiencies. Cont/d.

Los sistemas de humedales construidos de flujo subsuperficial horizontal (HCFSS) constituyen una tecnología válida para la depuración de aguas residuales urbanas. Uno de los principales objetivos de estos sistemas es eliminar la materia orgánica, los sólidos y los nutrientes presentes en el agua residual decantada. La materia orgánica mineral contenida en el agua residual se compone de una mezcla compleja de sustancias de diferentes tamaño y composición química. En sistemas de tratamiento convencionales se ha demostrado que la istribución de tamaños de partículas del agua residual afluente puede afectar la eficiencia del tratamiento. Sin embargo, muy pocos estudios han sido llevados a cabo en HCFSS para determinar si los factores como la distribución de tamaño o características de la materia orgánica afectan la eficiencia del tratamiento. Por lo tanto, la hipótesis inicial de este trabajo está basada en la suposición de que en HCFSS, las características de la materia orgánica disuelta y particulada pueden afectar la eficiencia de eliminación de materia orgánica (DQO) y amonio. Los estudios realizados para probar esta hipótesis, fueron desarrollados utilizando pequeños contenedores experimentales poco profundos (0.27-0.3 m) con un área superficial de 0.54-0.77 m2. Estos sistemas fueron plantados con Phragmites australis y en la mayoría de los experimentos fueron alimentados de forma intermitente. El agua residual utilizada fue de dos tipos, sintética y agua residual urbana decantada. El agua residual sintética fue preparada con agua de grifo y compuesta de glucosa (materia orgánica fácilmente biodegradable), almidón (materia orgánica lentamente biodegradable) y nutrientes. <br/>En los capítulos 2 y 3 se hace una descripción sobre la eficiencia de los HCFSS experimentales. Estos sistemas tuvieron excelente eliminación de DQO con eficiencias entre 70 y 94% independiente del tipo de sustrato (glucosa o almidón) y de la carga orgánica superficial suministrada (5-6 g DQO/m2.d y 20-22 g DQO/m2.d). La eliminación de amonio en estos sistemas fue moderada, el sistema alimentado con glucosa tuvo mayor eficiencia (45-57%) con respecto al sistema alimentado con almidón (40-43%). La conductividad hidráulica fue menor en el sistema alimentado con glucosa, probablemente debido a un mayor crecimiento del biofilm.<br/>En los HCFSS que operaron con agua residual urbana decantada, la aplicación de un pretratamiento físico-químico no mejoró la concentración de DQO en el efluente comparado con el sistema que no recibió tratamiento físico-químico (82 vs 88%), pero redujo la turbiedad y la concentración de DQO en el afluente. La eliminación de amonio fue alta y similar en ambos sistemas con un rango entre 63 y 94%. La conductividad hidráulica fue mayor (28 m/d) en el sistema con agua residual tratada que en el sistema que no recibió tratamiento (20 m/d). Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que un pretratameinto físico-químico podría evitar la acumulación de sólidos en la zona de entrada de los HCFSS.<br/>El capítulo 5 describe un estudio diseñado para evaluar la eficiencia de eliminación en dos sistemas experimentales que operaron en forma intermitente y continua. Las tasas de eliminación de DQO fueron altas y similares en los dos sistemas con un valor promedio de 78%. La eliminación de amonio fue significativamente mas alta (P<0.05) en el sistema alimentado en intermitente comparado con el sistema alimentado en continuo (87 vs 69%).<br/>El capítulo 6 proporciona información sobre la cantidad y calidad de sólidos acumulados en el medio granular de 6 humedales construidos a escala comercial. Los resultados de este estudio indicaron que la mayor cantidad de sólidos fue depositada en la zona de entrada (3-57 kg/m2) con diferencia significativa para la zona de salida (2-16 kg/m2). Esta alta cantidad de sólidos acumulada en la zona de entrada fue variable y estuvo relacionada con la carga orgánica y de sólidos recibida (3.1-17.5 g DQO/m2.d; 2.6-10 g SST/m2.d). El contenido de materia orgánica de los sólidos acumulados fue bajo (20%) y de difícil biodegradación tanto en condiciones aeróbicas como anaeróbicas. Los valores de conductividad hidráulica en estos sistemas fueron bajos (0-4 m/d) cerca de la zona de entrada con respecto a la zona de salida (12-200 m/d).<br/>Por último, en el capítulo 7 se enumeran las principales conclusiones de cada uno de los aspectos estudiados y se mencionan algunas sugerencias para futuras investigaciones.<br>Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (SSF CWs) constitute a proven technology for treatment of urban wastewater. One of the principal objectives of CW treatment is to remove organic matter, suspended solids and nutrients from the settled wastewater. The organic and mineral matter contained in urban wastewater is composed of a complexity of substances of different sizes and chemical compositions.<br/>In conventional treatment systems it has been demonstrated that the particle size-frequency distribution of the influent wastewater can affect treatment efficiency. However, very few studies have been conducted in SSF CW to determine whether factors such as the size-frequency distribution or organic matter characteristics affect treatment efficiency. Thus the initial hypothesis of this work is based on the supposition that in SSF CW systems, the characteristics of the dissolved and particulate organic matter can influence the removal of COD and ammonium of wastewater. The designed studies were conducted in small experimental SSF CW units that were shallow (0.27 and 0.3 m), and with a surface area of 0.54-0.77 m2. The SSF CWs were planted with Phragmites australis and in most of the studies the treatments received wastewater on an intermittent basis. Wastewater used in these studies was either synthetic or settled urban wastewater. The synthetic wastewater was prepared with tap water and composed of glucose (organic matter easily biodegradable), starch (organic matter slowly biodegradable) and nutrients. In Chapters 2 and 3, details are provided to illustrate that shallow SSF CW provided excellent removal of COD, with average removal rates ranging from 70 to 94% irrespective of the type of organic ubstrate (glucose vs starch) or organic loading rates (5-6 g COD/m2.d to 20-22 g COD/m2.d). The ammonium-N removal in these systems was moderate, with the glucose-fed SSF CW providing marginally better removal (45 to 57%) as compared to the starch-fed system (40 to 43%). The hydraulic conductivity was low in the system fed with glucose due to the presence of a greater growth of biofilm.<br/>In experimental SSF CW treating urban wastewater, the application of the physico-chemical pretreatment did not improve COD effluent concentrations as compared to the no-pretreatment control (82 vs 88%), but did reduce turbidity and COD concentration in the influent. The removal rates of ammonium-N were similar in both systems and ranged from 63 to 94%.<br/>The hydraulic conductivity was higher (28 m/d) in the system with treated wastewater as compared to the control (20 m/d). These results indicate that the pretreatment could possibly help to reduce pervasive solids accummulation in the inlet zone (Chapter 4).<br/>Chapter 5 describes a study designed to evaluate treatment efficiency in experimental SSF CW that were operated with either intermittent or continuous feeding. The COD removal rates were relatively high and merely identical in both systems, with an average value of 78%. Ammonium-N removal was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the intermittently fed system as compared to the continuously fed system (87 vs. 69%). The enhanced removal of COD and ammonium-N observed in the present studies were attributed to several factors including shallow wetland beds, macrophyte aboveground biomass, and more oxidizing conditions in the root zone.<br/>Chapter 6 provides survey-type information for six full-scale SSF CW. The data indicated that the greatest amount of solids were deposited within the inlet zone (3-57 kg/m2), with significantly less solids near the outlet (2-16 kg/m2). It was apparent that the amount of solids deposited near the inlet was highly variable and was correlated with respective loading rates (3.1-17.5 g COD/m2.d; 2.6-10 g TSS/m2.d). Analyses of the accumulated solids showed them to be approximately 20% organic matter, extremely recalcitrant and difficult to degrade under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Hydraulic conductivity values were significantly lower near the inlet zone (0-4 m/d) as compared to the outlet zone (12-200 m/d).<br/>Chapter 7 lists the main conclusions for each of the chapters and provides suggestions for future investigations.

A disparidade entre o crescimento populacional e a oferta de água potável apresenta grandes riscos de abastecimento em grandes centros urbanos. A utilização desse recurso em residências é diferenciada em uso potável e não potável. A utilização de água potável para finalidades menos nobres leva à escassez hídrica local em menor prazo, necessitando de busca de água cada vez mais longe, encarecendo o valor desse bem aos usuários. O uso não potável deveria ser suprido por fontes alternativas, como águas pluviais ou água de reúso. Em residências, muitas vezes o volume de água não potável é suprido pela produção de água cinza, necessitando de tratamento para que seu uso não ofereça riscos aos usuários. Sistemas de tratamento tipo wetlands podem ser uma alternativa economicamente viável em locais com disponibilidade de área, tendo como atrativos a independência de energia elétrica para o processo, ausência da necessidade de produtos químicos e forte apelo estético e ambiental. O presente trabalho visou avaliar a viabilidade técnica de sistemas tipo wetlands no tratamento de água cinza, determinando a remoção de material orgânico, a constante de remoção desse substrato, determinar as taxas de remoções de nitrogênio e fósforo e avaliar a eficiência na remoção de indicadores de contaminação fecal em um sistema tipo wetlands de fluxo subsuperficial horizontal cultivado em policultura. O sistema tipo wetlands apresentou remoção média de matéria orgânica próxima a 60% nos para os parâmetros DBO, DQO e COT, possibilitando: K20 DBO = 0,40; K20 DQO = 0,34; e K20 COT 0,30. As taxas de remoção de nutriente foram: 0,07g/m².d de fósforo total e 0,22g/m².d de nitrogênio kjeldahl total. A remoção média de indicadores de contaminação fecal foi de 56% para coliformes totais e uma média de 2,7x104 UFC/100mL e 94% para Escherichia coli com média de 4,6x101 UFC/100mL no efluente final. O efluente final do sistema tipo wetlands apresenta melhora na sua qualidade.<br>The disparity between population growth and supply of drinking water presents major risks to supply in large urban centers. The use of this feature in homes is different in non-potable and potable use. The use of drinking water for less noble purposes leads to local water shortages in less time, requiring the search of water each time further, the value of this expensive and users. The non-potable use should be supplied by alternative sources such as rainwater or water reuse. In homes, many times the volume of non-potable water is supplied by production of greywater, requiring treatment for their use does not offer risks to users. Systems of treatment like \"wetlands\" may be an economically viable alternative in locations where the availability of area, with attractions such as the independence of electric energy to the process, no need for chemicals and strong aesthetic appeal and environmental. This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of such systems \"wetlands\" in the treatment of gray water, determining the removal of organic material, the constant removal of the substrate, determining the rates of removal of nitrogen and phosphorus and evaluate the efficiency in the removal of indicators of fecal contamination in a system like \"wetlands\" of horizontal subsurface flow grown in polyculture. The system type \"wetlands\" showed average removal of organic matter close to 60% in for the parameters BOD, COD and TOC, allowing: DBO K20 = 0.40; K20 DQO = 0.34 and K20 TOC 0.30. The rates of removal of nutrients were: 0.07 g / m².d of total phosphorus, and 0.22 g / m².d of total Kjeldahl nitrogen. The average removal of indicators of fecal contamination was 56% for total coliforms and an average of 2.7x104CFU/100mL and 94% for Escherichia coli with an average of 4.6x101CFU/100mL in the final effluent. The effluent end of the system as \"wetlands\" has improved its quality.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:23:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1268005 bytes, checksum: 59ae839bbe2156f8abdb0db2d385bff2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-21<br>Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico<br>Constructed wetland systems of horizontal subsurface flow (CW-SSHF) are systems used in wastewater treatment. The main operational problem of these systems is the clogging of the porous medium, a phenomenon called "clogging". With this study, we aimed to characterize the composition of the material responsible for clogging the porous medium, CWs-SSHF and evaluate reverse clogging in these systems by adding nutrient solution nitrogen-based. To make possible this study, we used six CWs-SSHF that were completely clogged after being used in the treatment of swine wastewater. The operating conditions of these systems were called: CW-C (CW-SSHF 1 and CW-SSHF 4, uncultivated, ie controls); CW-T (CW-SSHF 2 and CW-SSHF 5 cultured with tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.)) and CW-A (CW-SSHF 3 and CW-SSHF 6 cultured with alternantera (Alternanthera philoxeroides)). The characterization of clogging material of porous medium from each experimental indicated that, for the most part, was composed of fixed solids (95, 84 e 82% in CW-C, CW-T e CW-A, respectively). It was observed that the cultivated CWs accumulated/produced more volatile solids that not cultivated systems, and the contribution of dead plant tissue may have been the main source of clogging in SACs-EHSS studied. To evaluate the effects of application of nutrient solution in the reverse clogging CWs-EHSS process, we carried out a comparison between sets of solids (total solids -TS, volatile solids - TVS and fixed solids -TFS) and readily oxidizable carbon (OCFO), before and after treatment, and performed hydraulic conductivity tests in saturated porous media, and monitoring the runoff in the gravel of the systems. The results indicated that the passage of the nutrient solution for 55 days, in the gravel of the SACs-EHSS provided reductions of 11 and 33%, respectively TVS content of fine material from clogging CW-T and CW-A. With respect to gross material, the reduction was even greater, being 33% for the CW-T and 62% for a CW-A. The hydraulic conductivity of saturated medium, made over the beds (1st, 2nd and 3rd thirds) before and after the passage of the nutrient solution in SACs, indicated, respectively, increases of 7%, 13% and 0,1% in CW-C, 21%, 11% and 7% CW-T. In the CW-A increase was evidenced only in 1st third (52%) and in the 2nd third (6%), while in the 3rd third there was a decrease in hydraulic conductivity in porous media. The reduction in the length of the gravel that had runoff nutrient solution occurred gradually, over time of treatment and were not observed any more runoff from the fourth week of the passage of the nutrient solution, the CW-C , and from the fifth week, the CW-T. In the CW-A, despite 72% reduction was observed in the seventh week of therapy, did not occur during the evaluation period, cessing, altogether, the runoff in these beds. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the passage of the nutrient solution based nitrogen contributed to reduction in surface runoff in the gravel, having been the reduction in the concentration of dead organic material present in the superficial layers, one of the main factors for this decrease.<br>Os sistemas alagados construídos de escoamento horizontal subsuperficial (SACs-EHSS) são sistemas utilizados no tratamento de águas residuárias. O principal problema operacional desses sistemas é o entupimento do meio poroso, cujo fenômeno é denominado de colmatação. Com a realização deste estudo, objetivou-se caracterizar a composição do material responsável pela colmatação do meio poroso dos SACs-EHSS e avaliar a descolmatação desses sistemas, por adição de solução nutritiva à base de nitrogênio. Para possibilitar este estudo, utilizou-se seis SACs-EHSS que encontravam-se totalmente colmatados após terem sido utilizados no tratamento de águas residuárias da suinocultura. As condições operacionais desses sistemas foram denominadas de SAC-C (SAC- EHSS 1 e SAC-EHSS 4, não cultivados, ou seja controles); SAC-T (SAC-EHSS 2 e SAC-EHSS 5 cultivados com capim tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.)) e SAC-A (SAC- EHSS 3 e SAC-EHSS 6 cultivados com alternantera (Alternanthera philoxeroides)). A caracterização do material colmatante do meio poroso de cada unidade experimental indicou que, em sua maior parte, foi composto por sólidos fixos (95, 84 e 82% nos SAC-C, SAC-T e SAC-A, respectivamente). Observou-se que os SACs cultivados acumularam/produziram mais sólidos voláteis que os sistemas não cultivados, sendo que a contribuição de tecido vegetal morto pode ter sido a principal fonte da colmatação nos SACs-EHSS estudados. Para avaliação dos efeitos da aplicação da solução nutritiva no processo de descolmatação dos SACs-EHSS, realizou-se uma comparação entre as séries de sólidos (sólidos totais - ST, sólidos voláteis totais - SVT e sólidos fixos totais - SFT) e carbono facilmente oxidável (COfo), antes e após o tratamento, além de efetuados testes de condutividade hidráulica no meio poroso saturado, e do acompanhamento no escoamento superficial no leito dos sistemas. Os resultados indicaram que a passagem da solução nutritiva, por 55 dias, no leito dos SACs- EHSS proporcionou reduções de 11 e 33%, respectivamente, no teor de SVT do material fino colmatante dos SAC-T e SAC-A. No que se refere ao material grosseiro, essa redução foi ainda maior, sendo de 33% para o SAC-T e 62% para o SAC-A. A condutividade hidráulica em meio saturado, efetuadas ao longo dos leitos (1o, 2o e 3o terços), antes e depois da passagem da solução nutritiva nos SACs, indicaram, respectivamente, aumentos, de 7%, 13% e 0,1% no SAC-C, 21%, 11% e 7% no SAC-T. No SAC-A foi evidenciado aumento apenas no 1o terço (52%) e no 2o terço de (6%), enquanto no 3o terço houve diminuição na condutividade hidráulica no meio poroso. A redução no comprimento do leito em que havia escoamento superficial da solução nutritiva ocorreu de forma gradativa, ao longo do tempo de tratamento, não tendo sido mais observado qualquer escoamento superficial, a partir da quarta semana de passagem da solução nutritiva, no SAC-C, e a partir da quinta semana, no SAC-T. No SAC-A, apesar de ter sido observada redução de 72%, na sétima semana de tratamento, não ocorreu, no período de avaliação, cessamento, por completo, do escoamento superficial nesses leitos. Com base nos resultados obtidos, verificou-se que a aplicação da solução nutritiva à base de nitrogênio contribuiu para redução no escoamento superficial nos leitos, tendo sido a redução na concentração de material orgânico morto, presente nas camadas superficiais, um dos principais fatores para essa diminuição.