Evaluation of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Rural Wetland by Yucca filamentosa Wood

Wetlands are one of the simple and useful tools for rural wastewater treatment. Artificial wetlands are very economical for municipal and industrial wastewater treatments, as these wastewater treatment plants need low energy and budget in both surface and subsurface wetland system forms. In this study, the capability of Yucca filamentosa wood (herbaceous system) to remove Nitrogen and Phosphorus from wastewater was investigated in an artificial wetland with horizontal subsurface flow in Moradtapeh village, Eshtehard city, Alborz province, Iran. The average removal efficiency rates of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the artificial wetland system were about 87.3% and 83.06%, respectively. The nutrient removal efficiency significantly increased, compared to artificial everglade systems as the efficiency of everglade systems decreases in cold seasons. In summary, use of herbaceous systems for the treatment of wastewater is highly recommended in Iran, because of their various advantages such as low energy consumption, low manufacturing costs and no need for complex facilities or specialists.