Constructed Wetlands An economical and eco-friendly Wastewater Treatment Technology

Constructed Wetlands An economical and eco-friendly Wastewater Treatment Technology

Abstract

Air, water and soil are parts of the eco-system in which nutrients get recycled and pollutants accumulate, resulting in global effects. So it is necessary to have holistic approach to environmental problems.To choose between different waste water treatments, simple natural systems need to be given fresh considerations especially in developing countries like India. The wetlands are "areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salty representating transitional position between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Constructed Wetland Systems (CWS) are artificially engineered wetlands specifically constructed for wastewater treatment at selected site utilizing particular combinations of plants,soil,bacteria to optimize the physical,chemical and microbiological processes present within root-zone of plants. Principle of CWS is activating powerful microbial processes stimulating natural breakdown of polluting compounds, possible due to special characteristics of wetland plants which transfers substantial amounts of atmospheric oxygen through to their root systems encouraging extraordinary quantity and special diversity.
This paper contains detailed case study of mahendragiri (tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu) where CW has been established successfully to treat 85 KLD wastewater meeting effluent standards prescribed by PCB with high BOD and Nitrogen removal efficiency. Case study also includes comparison of capital cost, operation-maintanance cost of EASand CWS, both provided at Mahendragiri.18500 Rs/month as against 8000 Rs/month for CWS which is self explanatory as why CWS are beneficial than conventional Wastewater treatment methods. CWS would be an ideal Technology in India as they are long lasting with low operation maintainance cost and ecofriendly with no By-products. With rising cost of electrical power,mechanical equipments,there is increasing interest in CWS requiring no electrical energy for the functioning and maximizes environments intrinsic ability to purify wastewater.

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