Assessment of Surface Flow Constructed Wetland System by Pontederia crassipes: A Case Study in Samaha Village Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant, Egypt

Constructed wetlands were designed for treatment processing which found in natural wetlands. This structure purpose is to eliminate pollutants from wastewater. Hydrophytes as water hyacinth could be used in this structure adding in wastewater purification. Consequently, the current work was conducted to evaluate the wastewater quality performance in Samaha village municipal wastewater treatment plant using Pontederia crassipes (water hyacinth) constructed wetlands. The wetlands construction was a single cell that divided to three parallel micro cells where, one cell was filled with wastewater only and tow cells were filed with water hyacinth plants and wastewater. Water quality parameters (pH, DO, COD, BOD, TS, TSS, TDS, TN, TP) and heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Zn, and Pb) and water hyacinth pollutants removal efficiency (TN, TP and heavy metals) were determined before, during (48h- 72h) and after (96h) treatment. The obtained data proved the efficiency of P. crassipes in waste water treatment compared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and WHO sets as national standards for wastewater effluent through Effluent Limitations Guidelines. The current study concluded that, the water hyacinth constructed wetlands are green technology which is cost-effective compared to conventional treatment systems.