An opportunity for using constructed wetland technology in hospital wastewater treatment: a preliminary study

Abstract

The problem faced by many hospitals in Indonesia is the low efficiency of Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) hospitals. If it does not get the attention, it will have an impact on health and environmental pollution. Various technologies have been used but experienced many obstacles. Constructed wetlands based on aquatic plants that have been used in developed countries are very prospects of being developed in regions such as Indonesia with a tropical climate. A preliminary study is needed with the first step to investigate the quality of hospital wastewater in Palu City, Indonesia, as a sample. This study aims to obtain a description of hospital wastewater characteristics and to evaluate the performance of the hospital WWTP in Palu. Data collection was done by taking data indirectly through laboratory test results during 2015-2019. Tabulating data using Excel software to illustrate statistics, then presented in the form of bar charts, interpreting according to the quality standards. Investigation results showed that the characteristics of hospital inlet wastewater in Palu are parameter values varying with four high concentration parameters: total coliform, TSS, Ammonia Nitrogen, and COD. The efficiency level of WWTP hospitals in Palu is relatively low in removing pollutants.