Multi-stage ecological pond and reservoir system to enhance river water quality: demonstration study on Periurban River

ABSTRACT Pollution of urban rivers not only destroys the river ecology but also adversely affects the health of residents and urban landscape. In this regard, we selected a certain river in Wuhan for research. In this paper, we utilize the modified bypass multi-stage ecological pond reservoir system, set up the front parthenogenetic pond, aeration and oxygenation pond, ecological purification pond and other processes, supplemented with aeration–bacteriophage coupling, filler-type ecological floating island and other technologies to improve the water quality of the river. Results show that 4 months after the operation of the system, the rate of enhancement in water transparency reached 550%, and with a dissolved oxygen (DO) uplift rate of 322%, in addition, this system achieved 77.98, 77.78 and 74.41% removal of the ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD) respectively, and the effluent water quality meets the target water quality standard. The process not only has a good pollutant removal effect, low cost and other characteristics but also can enhance the river landscape and improve biodiversity. It can provide a reference for similar river pollution water quality improvement.