Abstract

In this study, decontamination effect of Phragmites australis for Konya domestic wastewater treatment was searched. For this reason, pilot subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetland including 3 pools was formed by using reed (Phragmites australis). The mean decontamination rate of domestic wastewater, retention time for 3.96 days in the pool, was 64.5% for biological oxygen demand (BOD), 68% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 79.7% for suspended solids (SS), 21.0% for total phosphorus (TP) and 20.7% for total nitrogen (TN), and increased with other tested retention times (4.56 and 5.4 days). These types of systems are generally more economical in terms equipment and maintenance costs, when compared with other treatment systems. Treatment of domestic wastewater in rural areas (for maximum ten thousand population) with this natural system will extremely provide benefits in prevention of environmental pollution.      

Key words: Domestic wastewater, wastewater decontamination, Phragmites australis, reed, natural treatment.

Abbreviation

HRT, Hydraulic retention time; SS, suspended solids; COD, chemical oxygen demand;  BOD₅, biological oxygen    demand;  TP,  total  phosphorus;  TN, total  nitrogen.