Abstract
Constructed wetlands (CWs) represent a highly efficient, eco-friendly and economic alternative for wastewater treatment in decentralized contexts. The adequate selection of the plants used in CWs plays a decisive role in the successful implementation and operation of this technology type. In this work, we studied the behavior of a native tropical plant (Heliconia stricta Huber) for the removal of organic matter and nutrients within a hybrid CW system fed with synthetic domestic wastewater. This hybrid system was composed of two wetlands, a vertical surface flow (VSF-CW) and a horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF-CW), connected in series and being operated with nominal hydraulic loading rates of 12 and 9 mm day−1, respectively. Results evidenced nitrification (nitrite concentration increased up to three times) but not denitrification because nitrate concentration increased in the final effluent. The average removal efficiencies were 86.8%, 96.4%, and 57.0%, for COD, NH4+ and PO43−, respectively. On the other hand, the apical height, basal diameter, leaf length and width increased in relation to initial measurements (between 0.6–7.1%) in plants of both CWs, which demonstrated the ability of the plants to adapt to the operating conditions of the system. This promising performance observed when using Heliconia stricta Huber opens the need for further research and could be particularly interesting in CWs used in tropical areas.
Highlights
Worldwide, more than 330 km3 year−1 of municipal wastewater are generated, and less than60% receive treatment
The pH measured in water samples taken from each constructed wetlands (CWs) was in a range between
6.9 and 7.7 for the hybrid system. This small variation occurs due to the buffer effect that characterizes the CWs
Summary
More than 330 km year−1 of municipal wastewater are generated, and less than. The quality and quantity of treated wastewater depend on consumption habits, environmental factors and zoning population (rural/urban) [1,2]. Only between 8% and 20% of their wastewater is treated [1,3]. Its low wastewater treatment level is associated to population poverty levels and limited access to existing technologies [4]. Wastewaters without treatment are used mostly for irrigation systems, which has caused almost 88% of waterborne diseases to be located within these countries [4,5].
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