Application of Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland to Treat Domestic Wastewater

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate treatment of domestic wastewater of Yörükçal village which has a population of 240 in created wetland. For this research, a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HFCWs) has been built in Samsun (Turkey). Phragmites australis was chosen to use in this system as a plant which can adaptable to this region. It was investigated the removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), chemical oxygen demand (COD), sulphate (SO₄^2-), orthophosphate (PO₄³⁻), ammonium-nitrogen (NH₃-N), organic matter (OM) and total suspended solids (TSS) in simulated HFCWs, employed for an operation period of 12 months in this study. The average removal efficiencies of NH₃-N, PO₄³⁻, SO₄^2-, OM, COD, BOD₅ and TSS were determined about 25, 40, 40, 48, 56, 67 and 10%, respectively. According to the results, the wetland system has considerably a high rate of organic degradation (i.e. rate reduction in COD, BOD₅, etc.). Thus, for domestic wastewater treatment, the system is the successful process with low capital investment. The effluent can be discharge into receiving environment or use as irrigation water at the end.