The Efficiency of Typha Latifolica in Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland for Wastewater Treatment

Natural methods of wastewater treatment, such as wetlands, are simple, cheap and acceptable for developing countries, especially small and remote cities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Typha Latifolica in subsurface flow constructed wetland for wastewater treatment.

In this experimental research, the efficiency of Typha Latifolica in subsurface flow wetland for removing chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate-N (NO3-N), ammonia-N (NH3-N), orthophosphate (PO4-P), total coliform and fecal coliform was evaluated in Yazd, Iran. Two reactors (without the plant and with plant) were made, as pilot study, by subsurface flow constructed wetland with the dimensions of 2 × 1.5 × 0.6 m and with a retention time of 4 days. In two months, samples were taken from the incoming and outgoing flow of the reactors and were analyzed according to standard methods.

The efficiency of Typha Latifolica wetland for removing COD, BOD5, TSS, NO3-N, NH3-N, PO4-P, total coliform and fecal coliform was 72, 72, 85, 31, 25, 40, 94 and 59 percent, respectively, via 44, 34, 77, 15, 0.3, 1, 17 and 29 percent for the control weland, respectively; all the differences were statistically significant, except for NH3-N and fecal coliform.

According to the result of this study, Typha Latifolica has a high efficiency in removing organic material and suspended solids; the treated wastewater by Typha Latifolica can achieve the environmental standards for agriculture and irrigation use.