Constructed Wetlands for Combined Sewer Overflow Treatment—Comparison of German, French and Italian Approaches

Water

Daniel Meyer²  Pascal Molle²  Dirk Esser⁴  Stéphane Troesch¹  Fabio Masi³ 

[1] Epur Nature SAS, ZAC des Balarucs, 153 Avenue Maréchal Leclerc, 84510 Caumont sur Durance, France; E-Mail:;IRSTEA Lyon (National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture, former CEMAGREF), 5 rue de la Doua, CS70077, 69626 Villeurbanne, France; E-Mail:;IRIDRA S.r.l., Via La Marmora, 51, Firenze 50121, Italy; E-Mail:;SINT (Society of Natural and Technical Engineering), Chef Lieu, 73370 La Chapelle du Mont du Chat, France; E-Mail:

关键词: combined sewer overflow;    constructed wetlands;    design;    layout;    international comparison;    simulation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w5010001

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Combined sewer systems are designed to transport stormwater surface run off in addition to the dry weather flows up to defined limits. In most European countries, hydraulic loads greater than the design flow are discharged directly into receiving water bodies, with minimal treatment (screening, sedimentation), or with no treatment at all. One feasible solution to prevent receiving waters from strong negative impacts seems to be the application of vertical flow constructed wetlands. In Germany, first attempts to use this ecological technology were recognized in early 1990s. Since then, further development continued until a high level of treatment performance was reached. During recent years the national “state-of-the-art” (defined in 2005) was adapted in other European countries, including France and Italy. Against the background of differing national requirements in combined sewer system design, substantial developmental steps were taken. The use of coarser filter media in combination with alternating loadings of separated filter beds allows direct feedings with untreated combined runoff. Permanent water storage in deep layers of the wetland improves the system’s robustness against extended dry periods, but contains operational risks. Besides similar functions (but different designs and layouts), correct dimensioning of all approaches suffers from uncertainties in long-term rainfall predictions as well as inside sewer system simulation tools.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.