Domestic wastewater treatment using tidal flow constructed wetland

Wastewater treatment has become a large challenge. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are appropriate, sustainable and cost-effective technologies that had been successfully used as phytoremediation tool to remove pollutants from wastewater. They are able to produce effluent of a needed quality, they can be a valuable addition for wastewater reuse schemes, and consequently an important water management option to shore up conventional resources and to reduce the environmental impact of discharges. Tidal flow of engineered wetlands is a method developed to provide oxygen to wetland systems that not only improve treatment performance, but also can successfully compete with many conventional technologies. The ultimate goal of this study was to observe the performances of tidal flow wetlands throughout their operational period. A pilot experimental setup was conducted for treating domestic wastewater generated in campus wastewater outlet for 60 d. Alpinia galanga was chosen as vegetation in the constructed wetland. Various water quality parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Suspended solids (SS) were performed. The system was able to remove 70% of BOD, 80% of COD, 73% of SS, and the parameters values of treated water are within the permissible limits of domestic rejects according to National legislation of Morocco.

Automated summary

Constructed wetlands are sustainable and cost-effective technologies that can effectively remove pollutants from wastewater and produce desired effluent. This study observed the performances of tidal flow wetlands throughout their operational period and found that they were able to remove a significant amount of pollutants and meet the regulatory requirements.