Ability of Salt Marshes to Remove Nutrients and Heavy Metals from Dredged Material Disposal Area Effluents.
Abstract
Experimental raceways were constructed in a salt marsh adjacent to a dredged material confinement area to evaluate the use of this environment as an overland flow advanced treatment system for the effluent resulting from dredged material disposal. The research program was designed to determine the ability of the salt marsh systems to remove nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, manganese, cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc from the effluent. Application rates varied between 0.06 and 3.7 acre inches per day and the concentrations of the contaminants were determined in the effluent from the disposal area and the discharge from the experimental system. Although the results of this study clearly indicate that nutrients and heavy metal concentrations in effluents from dredged material disposal areas can be reduced during passage through a salt marsh, conclusions as to the efficiency of removal may be influenced by the size of the experimental system used. Large scale studies should be conducted to better judge the applicability of this approach to advanced treatment of dredged disposal area effluents.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA063643
Entities
People
- Herbert L. Windom