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Comparison of Reed and Water Lettuce in Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
Author(s) -
Yasar Abdullah,
Zaheer Ayesha,
Tabinda Amtul Bari,
Khan Marryam,
Mahfooz Yusra,
Rani Shakeela,
Siddiqua Ayesha
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143017x14902968254728
Subject(s) - phragmites , pistia , turbidity , environmental science , wastewater , fecal coliform , constructed wetland , nutrient , environmental engineering , agronomy , wetland , aquatic plant , water quality , biology , ecology , macrophyte
In the present study two designs, vertical and horizontal systems, were used and two different plant species, Water Lettuce ( Pistia stratiotes ) and Reed plant ( Phragmites karka ), compared for their removal efficiency. The vertical system appeared to be more stable and efficient for almost all the parameters. The vertical system, planted with Water Lettuce, showed percentage removal efficiency for BOD, phosphate and chloride as 82, 95.4, and 51, respectively, whereas turbidity and total suspended solids removal efficiencies were almost the same. However, fecal coliform removal by the Water Lettuce was 98.8% for both designs (vertical and horizontal), showing the ability of the plant to uptake nutrients and release toxins for pathogen disinfection. It appears that the vertical system could be the better option, planted with Water Lettuce, or with both plants in a co‐culture environment.