Treatment Wetlands in Mexico for Control of Wastewater Contaminants: A Review of Experiences during the Last Twenty-Two Years

Abstract

Constructed or treatment wetlands (CWs) are a sustainable option to clean wastewater in the face of water pollution problems. Consequently, this study was aimed at reviewing and analyzing the use of CWs in Mexico. This involved types, sizes, and functionality in the removal of pollutants, as well as the main plant species that are used. Furthermore, 67 studies regarding CWs were found, which were classified according to the treatment area as microcosms, mesocosms, pilot scale, and full-scale at 18, 30, 25, and 27%, respectively. The most used types of CWs are those of subsurface flow (87%) versus free-water surface (13%), of which horizontal flow direction (58%) are the most common. Considering Full-Scale CWs, the pollutant removal reported for COD, BOD5, TN, and TP oscillated between 50–90%, 60–90%, 30–90%, and 30–70%, respectively. Among the vegetation that is more used for Mexican CWs, 78 different species were detected; Typha and Cyperus hydrophytes species and ornamental flowering plants as Zantedeschia aethiopica., Canna genus., Heliconia genus, Hedychium coronarium, and Anturium andreanum species (plants with commercial value) were the most used plants. It was concluded that although there is an important advance in the use of ecotechnology as it is an attractive answer for decentralized wastewater treatment in Mexico, results revealed the need to migrate towards the use of CWs in full-scale size, in order to address real pollution problems. Thus, the further implementation of CWs in rural and urban regions with similar tropical and subtropical characteristics as in Mexico is suggested by the authors.