Effects of plant species in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland – phytoremediation of treated urban wastewater with Cyperus alternifolius L. and Typha latifolia L. in the West of Sicily (Italy)

• Published in: Ecological engineering Vol. 61; pp. 282 - 291
• Main Authors: Leto, Claudio, Tuttolomondo, Teresa, La Bella, Salvatore, Leone, Raffaele, Licata, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; biochemical oxygen demand; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; Biotechnology; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Constructed wetlands; Cyperus alternifolius; Environment and pollution; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Escherichia coli; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Italy; macrophytes; microbiological quality; nitrogen content; Nitrogen uptake; phytoremediation; Plant choice; Plant growth; planting; Pollution; Sicily; subsurface flow; surface area; Typha latifolia; underground parts; wastewater; wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Sicily; Italy; Europe; Plant choice; Nitrogen uptake; Plant growth; Constructed wetlands; Monocotyledones; Choice; Growth; Constructed wetland; Angiospermae; Urban waste water; Typha latifolia; Wetland; Subsurface; Nitrogen; Nutrient uptake; Phytoremediation; Cyperus; Typhaceae; Artificial medium; Cyperaceae; Vegetation; Lagooning; Spermatophyta; Mediterranean region; Waste water purification
• ISSN: 0925-8574; 1872-6992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.09.014

•Two emergent macrophytes were grown in a pilot constructed wetland system using secondary treated urban wastewater.•Biomass yields and pollutant removal were evaluated under Mediterranean conditions.•Nitrogen removal levels were lower than the organic matter removal in all treatments.•Typha latifolia performed better than Cyperus alternifolius, both in terms of biomass production and nitrogen uptake.•The use and choice of plant species significantly influence wastewater treatment processes. Plant species carry out a series of important biological, chemical and physical processes within a constructed wetland wastewater treatment system and make a significant contribution to wastewater purification. This paper compares two emergent macrophytes – Cyperus alternifolius L. and Typha latifolia L. – planted separately in a pilot horizontal subsurface flow system for the phytoremediation of treated urban wastewater in the West of Sicily (Italy). The total surface area of the three units within the pilot system was 99m2. Six subunits were planted with two species and three subunits were left unplanted as the control. The main aim of the study was to demonstrate that, under identical hydraulic and design conditions, not only the use but also the choice of plant species significantly influences wastewater treatment processes with regard to all chemical, physical and microbiological parameters. The reedmace colonized a larger surface area and produced significantly higher yields of aboveground (3221gm2/year) and belowground (4071gm2/year) biomass than the umbrella sedge. Nitrogen content was also found on average to be higher in the reedmace-based treatments (40.6gm2/year for aboveground and 62.7gm2/year for belowground parts). A good level of BOD5 removal (72.4% for reedmace and 64.8% for umbrella sedge-based treatments) was obtained. Escherichia coli removal efficiency did not exceed 89.5%.