Various Types of Constructed Wetland for Wastewater Treatment-A Review

Abstract

As per the World Health Organization 80% of wastewater is released to the environment without satisfactory treatment. Constructed Wetlands (CWs) are one of the natural wastewater (WW) treatment methods. CWs have been recommended as a low technology, low maintenance, low operation cost, and green technology wastewater treatment system. Many types of CWs are currently in use. This paper studies these different types based on the climate, area, base materials, temperature, contaminant removal efficiency, removal mechanism and physicochemical analysis of various wastewater parameters. It is found that wetlands are successful in removing organic matter-Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and suspended solids and nutrients-total Nitrogen (TN) and total Phosphorus (TP). CWs need to be studied as a promising solution not only for effective treatment of wastewater but also as an economical method to improve the fertility of soil. Further, the paper discusses the scope of future research in CW to further improve the wastewater treatment technology.