Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes
Effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) deliver a complex cocktail of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to freshwater systems. These impacts are especially pronounced in water-scarce regions like the Mediterranean, where pollutants can persist due to a lack of dilution...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::406ba34c2a4062d03e79cc0d40fb4764 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429552 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105035664643 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Wastewater treatment plant Biofilms Contaminants of emerging concern Hyporheic flow Nature-based solutions Nutrients Solute retention http://metadata.un.org/sdg/17 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/9 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
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Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| title |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| spellingShingle |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes Ribot, Miquel Wastewater treatment plant Biofilms Contaminants of emerging concern Hyporheic flow Nature-based solutions Nutrients Solute retention http://metadata.un.org/sdg/17 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/9 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
| title_short |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| title_full |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| title_fullStr |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| title_sort |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutes |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv |
Ribot, Miquel Sawyer, Audrey H. Castelar, Sara Casacuberta, Adrià Nadal-Sala, Daniel Carballo, Gabino Ballester-Miró, Olivia Sabater, Francesc Sabaté, Santiago Gil-Solsona, Ruben Gago-Ferrero, Pablo Sorolla, Albert Martí, Eugènia |
| author |
Ribot, Miquel |
| author_facet |
Ribot, Miquel Sawyer, Audrey H. Castelar, Sara Casacuberta, Adrià Nadal-Sala, Daniel Carballo, Gabino Ballester-Miró, Olivia Sabater, Francesc Sabaté, Santiago Gil-Solsona, Ruben Gago-Ferrero, Pablo Sorolla, Albert Martí, Eugènia |
| author_role |
author |
| author2 |
Sawyer, Audrey H. Castelar, Sara Casacuberta, Adrià Nadal-Sala, Daniel Carballo, Gabino Ballester-Miró, Olivia Sabater, Francesc Sabaté, Santiago Gil-Solsona, Ruben Gago-Ferrero, Pablo Sorolla, Albert Martí, Eugènia |
| author2_role |
author author author author author author author author author author author author |
| dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv |
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72] |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv |
Wastewater treatment plant Biofilms Contaminants of emerging concern Hyporheic flow Nature-based solutions Nutrients Solute retention http://metadata.un.org/sdg/17 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/9 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
| topic |
Wastewater treatment plant Biofilms Contaminants of emerging concern Hyporheic flow Nature-based solutions Nutrients Solute retention http://metadata.un.org/sdg/17 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/9 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
| description |
Effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) deliver a complex cocktail of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to freshwater systems. These impacts are especially pronounced in water-scarce regions like the Mediterranean, where pollutants can persist due to a lack of dilution. Nature-based solutions (NBS) aim to reduce pollutant concentrations by exposing water to biofilms and plant roots along subsurface flow paths. We conducted an outdoor flume experiment at the Urban River Lab (NE Spain) using treated WWTP effluent in replicated 12-m flumes with fine-grained sediments during the growing season (May–July). Nutrient and CEC retention was assessed under four settings: i) unplanted sediments, ii) sediments planted with Iris pseudacorus, iii) with Cornus sanguinea, and iv) with Alnus glutinosa. Nitrate was consistently retained, likely through denitrification under hypoxic conditions with ample dissolved organic carbon. In contrast, ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus retention declined over time, with net release by the end of the experiment, likely due to mineralization and clogging. Among the studied CECs, eight were retained (e.g., PEG n5, MEHP, dimethylbenzotriazole), likely via microbial degradation or sorption, whereas five (e.g., diuron, sulfamethoxazole, DEET) were released, possibly due to recalcitrance or formation as degradation byproducts. Water travel time increased over the season but was not positively related to net nutrient retention. Vegetation effects were limited, indicating a dominant role of microbial activity. Our findings highlight the potential of bioengineered systems to retain a broad range of solutes, while also revealing that NBS are not universally effective for all compounds. |
| publishDate |
2026 |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2026 2026 2026 |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501 Publisher's version info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
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article |
| status_str |
publishedVersion |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv |
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429552 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105035664643 |
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http://hdl.handle.net/10261/429552 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105035664643 |
| dc.language.none.fl_str_mv |
Inglés |
| language_invalid_str_mv |
Inglés |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv |
Ecological Engineering https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2026.107956 Sí |
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info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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openAccess |
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Elsevier |
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Elsevier |
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reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC instname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
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Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
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DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
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DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
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| _version_ |
1869415584380223488 |
| spelling |
Enhancing urban wastewater treatment through nature-based solutions: The role of biofilm–plant development in subsurface retention of multiple solutesRibot, MiquelSawyer, Audrey H.Castelar, SaraCasacuberta, AdriàNadal-Sala, DanielCarballo, GabinoBallester-Miró, OliviaSabater, FrancescSabaté, SantiagoGil-Solsona, RubenGago-Ferrero, PabloSorolla, AlbertMartí, EugèniaWastewater treatment plantBiofilmsContaminants of emerging concernHyporheic flowNature-based solutionsNutrientsSolute retentionhttp://metadata.un.org/sdg/17http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6http://metadata.un.org/sdg/9http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesEnsure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for allBuild resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovationMake cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainableEnsure sustainable consumption and production patternsStrengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable DevelopmentEffluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) deliver a complex cocktail of nutrients and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) to freshwater systems. These impacts are especially pronounced in water-scarce regions like the Mediterranean, where pollutants can persist due to a lack of dilution. Nature-based solutions (NBS) aim to reduce pollutant concentrations by exposing water to biofilms and plant roots along subsurface flow paths. We conducted an outdoor flume experiment at the Urban River Lab (NE Spain) using treated WWTP effluent in replicated 12-m flumes with fine-grained sediments during the growing season (May–July). Nutrient and CEC retention was assessed under four settings: i) unplanted sediments, ii) sediments planted with Iris pseudacorus, iii) with Cornus sanguinea, and iv) with Alnus glutinosa. Nitrate was consistently retained, likely through denitrification under hypoxic conditions with ample dissolved organic carbon. In contrast, ammonium and soluble reactive phosphorus retention declined over time, with net release by the end of the experiment, likely due to mineralization and clogging. Among the studied CECs, eight were retained (e.g., PEG n5, MEHP, dimethylbenzotriazole), likely via microbial degradation or sorption, whereas five (e.g., diuron, sulfamethoxazole, DEET) were released, possibly due to recalcitrance or formation as degradation byproducts. Water travel time increased over the season but was not positively related to net nutrient retention. Vegetation effects were limited, indicating a dominant role of microbial activity. Our findings highlight the potential of bioengineered systems to retain a broad range of solutes, while also revealing that NBS are not universally effective for all compounds.This study was funded by the projects RiparianEcoRest (PID2022-141330OB-I00) and APOM-cycling (Ref. PID2022-143112NB-100), all part of the R&D program of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. Sara Castelar was supported by a PTA Grant (PTA2021-020515-I) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. Audrey H. Sawyer was supported by an ATRAE award from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. Adrià Casacuberta was supported by a FPI PhD grant associated to RiparianEcoRest Project. We acknowledge the support of Consorci Besòs Tordera to ensure the maintenance and functioning of the URL experimental facility.Peer reviewedElsevierConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202620262026info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501Publisher's versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/429552https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105035664643reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSICinstname:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)InglésEcological Engineeringhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2026.107956Síinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:digitalcsic_::406ba34c2a4062d03e79cc0d40fb47642026-05-22T06:33:51Z |
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15,812429 |