Performance Evaluation of Aquatic Macrophytes in a Constructed Wetland for Municipal Wastewater Treatment

• F. O. Ajibade

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure

• J. R. Adewumi

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Federal University of Technology, Akure

The objective of the study was to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of three aquatic macrophytes (Commelina cyanea, Phragmites australis and Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)) for treatment of municipal wastewater collected from Federal University of Technology, Akure (Nigeria). Laboratory scale of three constructed wetlands of dimensions 0.43 m x 0.93 m x 0.36 m in width, length and depth respectively, were developed to mimic natural conditions and was operated for  a single experimental run with each macrophte at different retention time of 6, 9 and 12 days. These aquatic macrophytes were planted in separate ponds. Domestic wastewater from undergraduate students’ hostel was introduced to the ponds. The raw wastewater sample and treated wastewater samples were analysed using standard laboratory methods for physical (Turbidity and Dissolved solids), chemical (pH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulphate Chemical Oxygen Demand and Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and bacteriological (Coliform bacteria) parameters. Results showed substantial diminutions in all parameters treated with the phytoremediators during the course of the study. Asides the three plants effectively removing Nitrate, Nitrite, phosphate and Sulphate pollutants, Phragmites australis   gave the highest removal efficiency for Phosphate (85.8%), Water hyacinth gave the highest removal efficiency for pH (11.5%), Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Coliform bacteria and Commelina cyanea gave the highest removal efficiency for turbidity (96.9%) and dissolved solids (82.9%) parameters of the domestic wastewater samples. The overall results of the phytoremediation studies indicate that the purification effectiveness of the three aquatic macrophytes were spontaneous, feasible and remarkable.

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