Author(s)

Abdou Khafor Ndiaye^1*, Falilou Coundoul², Abdoulaye Deme³, Antonina Torrens Armengol⁴, Abdoulaye Senghor⁵

¹UFR of Applied Sciences and Technology, Gaston Berger University of Senegal, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
²Polytechnic Institute of Saint-Louis (IPSL), Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
³UFR of Applied Sciences and Technology, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
⁴Department of Biology, Healthcare and Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
⁵Sanitation Department, Ministry in Charge of Sanitation of Senegal, Dakar, Senegal.

This paper evaluates the efficacy of two sequential vertical flow filters (VFF), FV1 and FV2, implanted with Typha, in a pilot-scale wastewater treatment system. FV1 comprises three cells (FV1a, FV1b, and FV1c), while FV2 consists of two cells (FV2a and FV2b), each designed to reduce various physicochemical and microbiological pollutants from wastewater. Quantitative analyses show significant reductions in electrical conductivity (from 1331 to 1061 μS/cm), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 from 655.6 to 2.3 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (COD from 1240 to 82.2 mg/L), total nitrogen (from 188 to 37.3 mg/L), and phosphates (from 70.9 to 14.6 mg/L). Notably, FV2 outperforms FV1, particularly in decreasing dissolved salts and BOD5 to remarkably low levels. Microbiological assessments reveal a substantial reduction in fecal coliforms, from an initial concentration of 7.5 log CFU/100mL to 3.7 log CFU/100mL, and a complete elimination of helminth eggs, achieving a 100% reduction rate in FV2. The study highlights the impact of design parameters, such as filter material, media depth, and plant species selection, on treatment outcomes. The findings suggest that the judicious choice of these components is critical for optimizing pollutant removal. For instance, different filtration materials show varying efficacies, with silex plus river gravel in FV1c achieving superior pollutant reduction rates. In conclusion, VFFs emerge as a promising solution for wastewater treatment, underscoring the importance of design optimization to enhance system efficiency. Continuous monitoring and adaptation of treatment practices are imperative to ensure water quality, allowing for safe environmental discharge or water reuse. The research advocates for ongoing improvements in wastewater treatment technologies, considering the environmental challenges of the current era. The study concludes with a call for further research to maximize the effectiveness of VFFs in water management.

Phytoremediation, Phytopurification, Plant-Based Purifier, Wastewater Treat-ment, Vertical Flow Filters, Pollutant Reduction, Typha, Physicochemical Analysis, Microbial Removal

Ndiaye, A. , Coundoul, F. , Deme, A. , Armengol, A. and Senghor, A. (2024) Performance Evaluation of Two Series Vertical Flow Filters for Wastewater Treatment: A Case Study of the Prototype Installed at Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal. Open Journal of Modern Hydrology, 14, 14-32. doi: 10.4236/ojmh.2024.141002.