Full scale subsurface flow constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment: 3 years' experience

Abstract

In the present study, a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands divided three equal parts was designed and constructed at a full scale to treat wastewater of Yörükçal village located in Black Sea region. Three macrophytes namely Juncus acutus, Cortaderia selloana, and Phragmites australis were used in each wetland system. The total surface area of all wetlands is 520 m2. The average removal efficiencies of J. acutus, C. selloana, and P. australis were obtained as 57, 56, and 54% for BOD; 51, 33, and 27% for TN; 55, 58, and 46% for OM; 45, 39, and 32% for orthophosphate; 22, 38, and 24% for ‐N; 13, 20, and 24% for TSS; 33, 44 and 39% for , respectively. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) between groups was applied to determine any difference in the removal of all parameters between the plant types and months depending on the mean values of pollutant removal. Due to the problems such as costs of construction, maintenance and repair, and reduced flow rate encountered especially during the collection of wastewater in rural regions and transport to wastewater treatment plants in the city, the in‐situ treatment applications may be unavoidable. According to the results, Constructed Wetlands (CW) designed correctly are economically and environmentally to treat wastewater of rural settlements. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 1348–1360, 2018