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The paper presents the results of research on the effects of removing pollution from domestic wastewater in two beds of constructed wetland systems with vertical flow. Bed I was planted with common reed (Phragmites australis Cav. Trin. Ex Steud.), whereas bed II with Glyceria maxima (Glyceria aquatica L.). The surface of each of the beds amounted to 30 m2, and the hydraulic load of each of them amounted to 0.033 m3·m-2·d-1. The study showed very good results in the removal of most of the analyzed indicators of contamination, which were similar in both analyzed beds. They were, respectively: 91 and 93% – for total suspended solids, 96 and 98% – for BOD5, 96 and 94% – for CODCr, 88 and 86% – for ammonia nitrogen and 87 and 88% – for total phosphorus. Much smaller effects were reported with regard to total nitrogen removal – 55% in bed I with common reed and 54% in bed II with Glyceria maxima. The tested beds also eliminated the number of coliform bacteria and faecal coliform bacteria quite effectively. Average effects of the removal of coliform bacteria in bed I and II were 99.74%, in the case of faecal coliform 98.06% and 97.94% respectively. Values of basic indicators of contamination (total suspended solids, BOD5 and CODCr) in the wastewater discharged from the analyzed beds met the requirements of the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 2014. The test results obtained in the first year of operation of the analyzed beds show that neither of the applied plants significantly improves the results of contaminant removal.

W pracy przedstawiono sposób wykorzystania analizy wielokryterialnej jako narzędzia pomocniczego do wyboru właściwego rozwiązania technologicznego przydomowej oczyszczalni ścieków. Przy wyborze uwzględniano kryteria zgodne z zasadami zrównoważonego rozwoju. Do porównawczej analizy wielokryterialnej wybrano 5 wariantów przydomowych, mechaniczno-biologicznych oczyszczalni ścieków. Porównywano systemy z filtrem piaskowym, z osadem czynnym, ze złożem biologicznym zraszanym, system hybrydowy - osad czynny ze złożem biologicznym oraz hybrydowy system hydrofi towy typu VF-HF (z pionowym i poziomym przepływem ścieków). Analizowano rozwiązania o przepustowości 1 m3∙d-1 (Równoważna Liczba Mieszkańców - RLM = 8), spełniające wymagania przepisów ochrony środowiska. Dodatkowo także rozwiązanie z zastosowaniem drenażu rozsączającego. Na podstawie analizy wielokryterialnej stwierdzono, że najbardziej korzystnymi rozwiązaniami technologicznymi, zgodnymi z zasadami zrównoważonego rozwoju, są systemy z filtrem piaskowym i hybrydowe systemy hydrofi towe typu VF-HF. Przy znacznej przewadze kryteriów ekonomicznych, jako najbardziej korzystne rozwiązanie wybrany został system z drenażem rozsączający, jednak biorąc pod uwagę kryterium nadrzędne (ekologiczne), aby zachować zasadę zrównoważonego rozwoju, należałoby wykluczyć możliwość stosowania tych rozwiązań na większą skalę. Stwierdzono, że najbardziej niekorzystnym jest rozwiązanie technologiczne z wykorzystaniem osadu czynnego. Wykonana analiza wykazała, że stosowanie tej technologii jest niezgodne z ideą zrównoważonego rozwoju. Jest to spowodowane brakiem odpowiedniej stabilności technologicznej i niewielką niezawodnością działania.

Roztocze National Park (RNP) is one of 23 national parks in Poland. It was created in 1974 both to protect the natural and cultural heritage as well as to share the park area for science, education and tourism. In caring for the environment, the park removed asbestos coverage, performs thermo-modernization using renewable energy sources by the installation of solar panels and photovoltaic cells on the roofs of buildings, and pellet stoves are installed in boiler rooms. Part of these actions includes the application of innovative technologies for water and wastewater, related to e.g. recovery of rainwater for washing cars and the construction of wastewater treatment wetlands. RNP has been spreading for many years the knowledge about the methods used to most effectively care for the natural environment. Constructed wetland (CW) technology could be one of such methods. The current research shows that facilities working in CW technology provide high pollutant removal and full guarantee of high ecological impact with low operating cost, so they can be used to protect the aquatic environment in protected areas and valuable landscapes. The paper presents a concept of solving the problems of wastewater treatment by means of using hybrid constructed wetland in three villages in the forest of Roztocze National Park. The advantages of the proposed technology are easy and simple operation, high resistance to irregular supply of water treatment and very low operating costs compared to conventional solutions. The natural look of CWs allows easy incorporation into the existing landscape.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the problem of changes of effectiveness of Kickuth-type constructed wetland with subsurface flow applied to domestic wastewater treatment. This study is based on an example of a wetland 3000 m

The work aims to examine and discuss the fertilizing properties of digestate (digested pulp) from three different agricultural biogas plants in terms of the substrates used. Based on the market prices of fertilizers, the economic value of the digestate has been assessed. For a selected biogas plant, the economic balance has been calculated, taking into account the income resulting from the sale of the digestate. The results obtained allow for stating that samples of digestate were rich in nitrogen (up to 6.58 g kg−1), and potassium (up to 16.3 g kg−1) in fresh matter (FM). The value of the digestate for installations was estimated in the range of 6.08–15.36 EUR·Mg−1. The analysis for one of the 1 MW biogas plants shows that under current conditions of supporting systems, the daily income for a biogas plant is 1,414 EUR and the digestate produced is worth another 334.4 EUR. Its application, especially on fields adjacent to biogas plants, is part of the principle of nutrient recovery in the circular economy.

The paper presents an assessment of the impact of sewage treatment plants with drainage system on the quality of groundwater in dug and deep wells in the Kwasówka village in the municipality of Drelów (Lublin Province). In the study area there is no sewerage system and water supply, and the local population benefits from dug or deep wells. The wastewater generated by households goes to septic tanks or sewage treatment plants with drainage system. The study of groundwater quality from wells was performed in 2013. The study was performed 4 series of studies, during which determined: total hardness, pH and conductivity of the electrolyte, as well as the content of NO3, NO2, NH4, Cl, SO4, Fe, Mn and bacteria from coliform and faecal coliform bacteria, mesophilic and psychrophilic. The research shows that water from deep wells are heavily contaminated with iron, and several wells dug reported exceeding the permissible concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, manganese and sulfates. Microbiological studies indicate a significant contamination of the well water analyzed domestic waste. You should immediately take action to improve the quality of the water used by residents of Kwasówka.

The aim of this study is to present the application of statistical methods to assess the possibility of grouping precipitation according to their elevation above sea level and precipitation levels in the temperate climate of Poland. The country was divided into regions with similar levels of precipitation using cluster analysis by Ward’s method. The study was performed with meteorological data on average monthly precipitation of 53 meteorological stations from 1981 to 2010. The selection of stations was dictated by the need to consider the variability in amounts of annual precipitation throughout the country. The data was used to calculate average annual precipitation total as well as average precipitation total in the summer half-year (from May to October) and the winter half-year (from November to April) for Poland, from 1981 to 2010. Statistical method was performed and six clusters were generated, for the elevation of the stations and average annual precipitation as well as average precipitation for hydrological half-years. The average annual precipitation for the clusters ranged from 530 mm (cluster 5) to 820 mm (cluster 2). The average precipitation for the winter hydrological half-year ranged from 190.1 mm (cluster 1) to 288.8 mm (cluster 5). The average precipitation for the summer hydrological half-year ranged from 326.3 mm (cluster 5) to 605 mm (cluster 2). The conclusions from the analysis carried out in the study are that: (1) grouping by means of Ward’s method can be used to distinguish homogeneous areas with the same levels of precipitation; (2) both precipitation and the elevation, at which meteorological stations are located, are the basis for distinguishing clusters in Ward’s method.

The paper presents preliminary results of a study on the application of the SCD Probiotics Technology to improve surface water quality. The Technology is based on the principles of the effective microorganism (EM) technology developed in Japan over thirty years ago by Dr Teuro Higa. The study was carried out in 2006–2008 in a pond with an area of 1200 m2, receiving purified sewage discharged from a constructed wetland system with willow vegetation filter, in operation since 1994, to which the SCD Probiotics Technology was applied since September 2007 till June 2008. A decrease of biogens concentrations in the pond water was recorded after applying the tested technology – ammonium nitrate concentration decreased by 85.2%, total nitrogen by 56.9%, while total phosphorus by 77.6%. Chlorophyll a level also showed a decreasing tendency. However, more detailed studies are still required to confirm the effectiveness of the SCD Probiotics technology in the purification of surface water.

This paper presents a review of information about the method of sewage purification by constructed wetland systems (CWs) and the results of the efficiency of pollution removal in such systems. Data from various countries of the world indicate that single-stage CWs are characterised by a fairly high, above 80%, efficiency of removal of total suspended solids and reduction of BOD5 and COD, but lower efficiency of removing biogenic compounds – below 50%. Significantly higher efficiency of removing pollutants can be achieved with the use of multi-stage hybrid CWs whose efficiency in total nitrogen removal is from 61 to 86%, and of total phosphorus 70–99%. The results obtained indicate that the application of CWs may provide effective protection of water resources against pollution.

Poland is proud of 23 National Parks (NPs) which were established to protect unique European areas. Through cooperation between Life Science University in Lublin and the NPs, highly effective methods for environmental protection were introduced in Roztoczanski and Poleski National Parks. One method is a hybrid treatment wetland (HTW) for wastewater treatment. HTWs, if well designed and maintained, can effectively treat wastewater generated in houses and museum buildings in the area of the NPs. In 2014, three HTWs were constructed in Roztoczanski National Park (RNP) (A – Kosobudy, B – Zwierzyniec, C – Florianka). One of these installations was constructed in the shape of a fir tree (A – Kosobudy). In 2015 another one, in a turtle shape, was built in Poleski National Park (PNP) (D – Stare Zalucze). Similar wastewater treatment technology was applied in all facilities. The technology consisted of three steps: (i) mechanical treatment in three septic tank chambers, (ii) biological treatment in two or three stages of vertical and horizontal beds, and (iii) inactivation of phosphorus in p-filter with calcium-silica rock. Since the very beginning all facilities have been monitored and the results indicate very low concentrations of pollutants in the final effluents. It can be concluded that HTWs working according to the assumed technology fulfill the strict requirements for wastewater treatment in NP areas in Poland.

Nitrogen removal in treatment wetlands is influenced by many factors, and the presence of electron donors (biodegradable organic matter) and electron acceptors (nitrate ions) is the main limiting one; for obtaining these conditions, multistage treatment wetlands (MTWs) are required, where an extensive nitrification can be obtained in the first stages under aerobic conditions leaving then to the following anoxic/anaerobic stages the duty of the denitrification. Most of the biodegradable organic matter is however oxidised in the first stages, and therefore, the inlet to the denitrification beds is usually poor of easily degradable carbon sources. This study is comparing the long-term performances obtained at several MTWs operating in Europe (North and South) and North Africa in order to understand if there is a significant avail in making use of the influent chemical oxygen demand (COD)/N ratio during the design phase for ensuring proper performances in terms of N overall removal. The statistic analysis performed in this study have shown that MTWs are capable to ensure sufficient removal of both organic and nutrients even in unfavourable proportions of macronutrients (C and N). The usual assumptions for conventional biological treatment systems concerning adequate C/N ratios seem to be dubious in case of wastewater treatment in MTWs.

Agricultural biogas plants produce biogas and residues referred to as digested pulp. In Europe, digestate is mostly used as fertilizer for agricultural soils although it can be converted to solid fertilizer and also used for biofuel production. The aim of this study was to evaluate if solid fraction of the digestate (DSF) is a suitable material for composting. Composting of DSF was performed for 51 d in a specially designed and constructed system of composting bioreactors (each with volume of 165 l). The process was controlled by daily measurements of temperature and gaseous emissions and samples of composted material tested for dry and organic matter, pH and conductivity. The maximum temperature of the composted mixture was 70.2 °C. High temperature (over 60 °C) for at least two days will allow to annihilate most pathogens. Dynamic temperature rise was related to significant decrease in organic matter (by 39.6%) – from an initial 8.46 kg to 5.12 kg at the end of the process. Decomposition of organic matter during the thermophilic phase of composting was also related to intensive emissions of CO2. The maximum values of carbon dioxide occurred at the highest compost temperature on the third day of the experiment and amounted to 13.3% in the chamber. The results of the analysed parameters allowed us to conclude that the composting process was operating properly and that composting of DSF can a solution for the management of biogas effluent.