Characterization and treatment of hospital wastewater with three lowland plants

The purification performance of wastewater treatment plants is in line with the millennium development goals. This study examined the physicochemical characteristics of wastewater from Ebolowa hospital in Cameroon. Wastewater from this hospital is treated in a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) planted with Polygonum polystachyum , Ludwigia octovalvis and Ludwigia abyssinica respectively. The characterization of both raw hospital effluent and treated leachates was performed using standard analytical procedures. The vertical flow constructed wetland system consisted of nine pilot-scale units. The experimental setup was monitored continuously over a 60-days period. The results show that the species Ludwigia abyssinica and Ludwigia octovalvis have reduction rates of 54% and 52% respectively for zinc; 40.3% and 42.9% for lead. High reduction rates are observed in Polygonum polystachyum with 90.9% for NH 4 + ; 69.7% for COD and 68.2% for BOD 5 .The effluent contained higher levels of organic matter than the leachate. But both are biodegradable. The Polygonum polystachyum species shows good adaptability and dense root development. According to the findings of this study, most of the parameters of wastewater effluent discharged wasn't within the effluent discharge standards. This raises particular interest in optimizing the treatment of hospital effluent in order to preserve our environment in a sustainable way. • The development of healthcare infrastructure has led to an increase in hospital wastewater, making its management an urgent global health priority. • Vertical flow planted filter are less expensive, require less maintenance, use less energy and are more environmentally friendly. • The performance of macrophyte species growing on lowlands polluted sites are qualified as potentially useful for phytoremediation applications. • Polygonum polystachyum, Ludwigia octovalvi s, and Ludwigia abyssinica can reduce organic pollution and remove trace metals from hospital effluents.