INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTED WETLAND: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR WATER RECLAMATION

Abstract

Water scarcity is a rising challenge around the world and it is essential to explore non- conventional water resources for meeting increased clean water demand. Public health and environmental problems may occur due to improper wastewater disposal facilities. Therefore, wastewater treatment techniques provide vital solution. Integrated constructed wetland (ICW) at NUST Islamabad was studied from June 2021 to November 2021 to explore the treatment efficiency of domestic wastewater. The present study involves estimating removal efficiency of physicochemical and microbial parameters using standard procedures. Onsite physicochemical parameters analyzed include pH, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen (DO). While removal efficiencies were recorded as electrical Conductivity (EC) 5.6%, Turbidity 74.3%, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) 41%, Phosphate 72.4%, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 20.3% and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) 64.2% and Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) 31.4%. Removal efficiency of dominant microbial species was analyzed using heterotrophic plate count and results revealed 96.6% removal. Furthermore, heavy metals iron (Fe), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) were tested using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Highest uptake of Fe was observed in sediments and plants. It was concluded that ICWs are effective in removing potential pollutants and able to efficiently treat domestic wastewater and may be considered as suitable wastewater treatment system.