Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in developing countries--a review of recent developments (2000-2013)

Dong Qing Zhang; K B S N Jinadasa; Richard M Gersberg; Yu Liu; Wun Jern Ng; Soon Keat Tan

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.03.015

Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in developing countries--a review of recent developments (2000-2013)

J Environ Manage. 2014 Aug 1:141:116-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.03.015. Epub 2014 May 7.

Authors

Dong Qing Zhang¹, K B S N Jinadasa², Richard M Gersberg³, Yu Liu⁴, Wun Jern Ng⁴, Soon Keat Tan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, School of Civill and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 1 CleanTech Loop, #06-10, Singapore 637141, Singapore. Electronic address: dqzhang@ntu.edu.sg.
² Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka.
³ Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, 5500 Campanile, San Diego, CA 92182-4162, USA.
⁴ Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, School of Civill and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 1 CleanTech Loop, #06-10, Singapore 637141, Singapore.
⁵ Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, School of Civill and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 1 CleanTech Loop, #06-10, Singapore 637141, Singapore; Maritime Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. Electronic address: ctansk@ntu.edu.sg.

PMID: 24784754
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.03.015

Abstract

Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation has become one of the most pervasive problems afflicting people throughout the developing world. Replication of centralized water-, energy- and cost-intensive technologies has proved ineffective in resolving the complex water-related problems resulting from rapid urbanization in the developing countries. Instead constructed wetlands (CWs) have emerged and become a viable option for wastewater treatment, and are currently being recognized as attractive alternatives to conventional wastewater treatment methods. The primary objective of this review is to present a comprehensive overview of the diverse range of practice, applications and researches of CW systems for removing various contaminants from wastewater in developing countries, placing them in the overall context of the need for low-cost and sustainable wastewater treatment systems. Emphasis of this review is placed on the treatment performance of various types of CWs including: (i) free water surface flow CW; (ii) subsurface flow CW; (iii) hybrid systems; and, (iv) floating treatment wetland. The impacts of different wetland design and pertinent operational variables (e.g., hydraulic loading rate, vegetation species, physical configurations, and seasonal variation) on contaminant removal in CW systems are also summarized and highlighted. Finally, the cost and land requirements for CW systems are critically evaluated.

Keywords: Constructed wetlands; Developing countries; Wastewater treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Costs and Cost Analysis
Developing Countries*
Waste Disposal, Fluid / economics
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wetlands*