Performance and sustainability of vertical constructed wetland to treat domestic wastewater in rural areas of Morocco

Abstract

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been used as a green technology to treat various wastewaters for several decades. This technology can be used to overcome the challenge of wastewater effluent disposal without treatment in rural areas of Morocco. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of this system under three hydraulic loading rates. To do this, a pilot scale of Subsurface-vertical flow constructed wetland system (VFCW) measuring 0.4 m x 0.6 m x 0.78 m (L xWx H), was designed to treat domestic wastewater from a single household and its performance was investigated. The substrates used in this filter were gravel, iron sawdust and crushed concrete. This system was fed with three hydraulic loading rates: 250 L/m2/day, 350 L/m2/day and 500 L/m2/day, and planted by Chrosopogon zizanioides L. The results showed the high removal rates (between 74-92 %) for all organic matters, good removal rate for orthophosphate (68±9%) due to the iron and crushed concrete added into the filter, and moderate removal rate for ammonium (47±23%). The effluent quality is in accordance with Moroccan standards. Consequently, VFCW as an efficient, economic, ecological and sustainable wastewater treatment technology can be one of the most appropriate solutions to treat domestic wastewater in rural areas of Morocco.