Wastewater Treatment Using Vertical Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland in Indonesia

Problem statement: A constructed wetland to treat wastewater from farm house has been built in Padjadjaran University farming research station in Jatinangor, Indonesia, in July 2009. Approach: Water samples from both influent and effluent were taken every two weeks and analysed for COD, BOD₅, NO₃-N, NO₂-N, NH₄-N, total-N, PO₄-P, total coliform bacteria, pH, O₂ and settleable solids. Results: The objective of this study was to install one constructed wetland with a vertical flow system to treat sewage from farm house by using an aquatic macrophyte (Phragmites karka). The average treatment efficiencies during the period from August 2009 to January 2010 for BOD₅, COD, NH₄-N, total- N, PO₄-P and total coliform bacteria were 76,03, 78,89, 88,18, 71,70, 91,06 and 99,45% respectively. The average concentration in effluent from period of August to January for BOD₅ was 21.87 mg L^-1, COD (57.66 mg L^-1), NH₄-N (0.82 mg L^-1), NO3-N (1,36 mg L^-1), total-N (2.68 mg L^-1), PO₄-P (0.07 mg L^-1) and total coliform bacteria (4880 MPN/100 ml). Conclusion/Recommendations: The overall results show that all effluent concentration from constructed wetlands except BOD₅ were still low and fall considerably short of Indonesian effluent standards for irrigation water. These results were very promising to be used in treating wastewater from agricultural industry and produce clean water which then can still be used for other purposes such as irrigation water, fisheries and other necessities.