Abstract
This study aims to evaluate and monitor the efficacy of a full-scale two-stage multi-soil-layering (TS-MSL) plant in removing fecal contamination from domestic wastewater. The TS-MSL plant under investigation consisted of two units in series, one with a vertical flow regime (VF-MSL) and the other with a horizontal flow regime (HF-MSL). Furthermore, this study attempts to see whether linear model (LM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) model can be used to predict total coliform (TC) removal in the TS-MSL system. For 24 months, the TS-MSL system was monitored, with bimonthly measurements recorded at the inlet and outlet of each compartment. Obtained results show removal of 85% of COD, 67% of TP, 27% of TN, and 3 log units of coliforms with good system stability. Thus, the effluent meets the Moroccan water quality code for reuse in the irrigation of green spaces. In addition, as compared to LM, the KNN model (R2 = 0.988) may be considered as an effective method for predicting TC removal in the TS-MSL system. Finally, sensitivity analysis has shown that TC and dissolved oxygen level in the influent were the most influential parameters for predicting TC removal in the TS-MSL system.
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This study is financially supported by the National Center for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (Cadi Ayyad University) and the Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change (Faculty of Sciences Semlalia).
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Conceptualization, methodology, validation, formal analysis, writing original draft: Khadija Zidan and Sofyan Sbahi. Investigation, visualization: Khadija Zidan and Abdessamed Hejjaj. Writing — review and editing: Naaila Ouazzani and Ali Assabbane. Conceptualization, resources, supervision, and writing — review and editing: Laila Mandi. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Zidan, K., Sbahi, S., Hejjaj, A. et al. Removal of bacterial indicators in on-site two-stage multi-soil-layering plant under arid climate (Morocco): prediction of total coliform content using K-nearest neighbor algorithm. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 75716–75729 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21194-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21194-x
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