Performance of a constructed wetland system for the treatment of domestic wastewater

Abstract

The efficiency of a vertical-flow constructed wetland was investigated for the treatment of domestic wastewater from a rural area in Turkey. The constructed wetland was planted with Phragmites communis and Typhia latifolia. In this study, the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-days biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N), and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 -N) were measured for a period of 7 months. The gravel-filled wetland was operated with a flow-rate of 45 m(3).day(-1) of domestic wastewater at a hydraulic loading rate of 129 m(3).day(-1). According to the results, an average percent removal of contaminants from the wetland was found as follows: COD, 48-94%; BOD5, 72-96%; TSS, 94-98%; NH4+-N, 68-87%. Based on the results obtained, wetlands might be an applicable system for the treatment of domestic wastewater releasing from rural areas.