Trend of Total Phosphorus on Total Suspended Solid Reduction in Constructed Wetland Under Tropical Climate

Abstract

Constructed wetland has the potential to provide significant treatment for quality of stormwater runoff, especially in total suspended solid and total phosphorus concentration. The aim of this research is to investigate the trend of total phosphorus on total suspended solid reduction in constructed wetland in order to enhance the urban stormwater quality. This study was conducted in actual constructed wetland located in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. The water samples were taken using grab sampling method from 14 sampling stations for seven months based on 14 stormwater events. The results showed a positive value of Pearson’s r as the total suspended solid had a positive correlation with the total phosphorus approximately, r = 0.78, which can be considered a large effect on the reduction trend. The coefficient of determination, R 2 = 0.93, was obtained from the relationship between total suspended solid and total phosphorus. Thus, the decreasing trend of total suspended solid concentration also showed the decreasing concentration of total phosphorus. The appropriate selection of macrophyte, water depth, and hydraulic residence time are vital to enhance the stormwater quality before discharge to the receiving water body.