Alum application to improve water quality in a municipal wastewater treatment wetland: Effects on macrophyte growth and nutrient uptake

Application of low doses of alum to treatment wetlands to reduce elevated outflow winter phosphorus concentrations were tested in mesocosms vegetated with either Typhadomingensis, Schoenoplectus californicus, or submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) (Najas guadalupensis-dominated). Alum was pumped to experimental units at a rate of 0.91 g Al m−2 d−1 and water quality monitored for 3 months. The alum application significantly improved the outflow water quality and overall the growth of the plants was unaffected by the alum application. Biomass and growth varied between species and through time, but no significant effects of alum application were detected. The concentrations of nutrients and mineral elements in the aboveground tissues differed between species and over time, but only the concentration of Al in plant tissue was increased by alum additions. The concentration of Al was 50-fold higher in alum-treated SAV as compared to the control, and in Typha and Schoenoplectus the concentrations were 4- and 2-fold, higher, respectively. The N/P ratios in the plant tissues were low (<10) suggesting that their growth and biomass was limited by nitrogen. The research suggests that a continuous or seasonal low-dosage alum application to treatment wetlands provides an effective tool to maintain discharge concentrations within permitted values during the inefficient winter treatment times. We suggest that the use of alum should be restricted to treatment wetland areas dominated by emergent vegetation as the effects of the elevated Al concentrations in SAV needs further study.