Surface-flow wetland for water reclamation at Batamindo Industrial Park

Abstract

The reclamation of wastewater as clean water resource is essential in the concept of water conservation. In industries, this will also lead to overall plant operational cost reduction. In this study, a pilot-scale surface-flow constructed wetland system filled with water hyacinth was used to treat effluent from existing sewage treatment plant at Batamindo Industrial Park. The sewage treatment plant effluent with quality fulfilling the regulation of Indonesian Ministry of Environment No.5/2014/XLVII-Group I was treated further to meet the raw water quality standard of Class I defined by Indonesian Government Regulation No.82/2001 as potable water resource. The system was able to maintain high chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of around 80% from initial value of 100 mg/L in sewage treatment plant effluent despite the change of flow rate from 10 to 40 m3/day (corresponding to hydraulic retention time of 2 to 0.5 days in constructed wetland respectively). The constructed wetland could successfully increase dissolved oxygen concentration, remove coliform bacteria and improve clarity (reduce turbidity) of water while maintaining neutral pH and low TSS values. Some additional post-treatments such as simple aeration and ultraviolet irradiation may improve the water quality further to meet the Class I Standard of potable water resource.