A review of the technological feasibility of aquacultures for municipal wastewater treatment

Abstract

The technical feasibility of utilising aquacultures for municipal wastewater treatment is reviewed. Aquacultures containing one or more aquatic weeds are cost effective for secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment, compared to the highly energy intensive conventional secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment systems. The major advantages are less capital and maintenance costs required as opposed to conventional wastewater treatment. Aquatic treatment systems utilising one or two aquatic weeds are efficient in substantial removal of phosphorus and nitrogen from the wastewater compared to the conventional secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment systems. Further, biogas generated from the harvested aquatic weed biomass could meet the treatment costs of the aquatic treatment systems utilising these aquatic weeds. Year round treatment of municipal wastewater utilising these aquatic weeds is possible even in the temperate regions of the world by housing the treatment systems in green houses. Other aqua...