SIGNIFICANCE OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS IN COMBATING POLLUTANTS FROM WASTEWATER: A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Water contamination is the greatest hazard to public health. Addressing water scarcity and protecting accessible water sources necessitates the effective treatment of wastewater. This makes the use of sustainable solutions such as constructed wetlands (CWs) essential. CWs leverage natural processes involving wetland vegetation, soils, and microbial communities. This study evaluates the efficiency of a horizontal sub-surface flow CW, established with local plants at Hudiara drain, in removing pollutants such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Turbidity, Nitrates, Phosphates, and pH, across different months. The study reveals that while temperature and precipitation rates influence the CW's efficacy, the linear regression model indicates a strong correlation between phosphorus and BOD levels with precipitation. However, nitrates are sensitive to temperature, and turbidity is influenced by both temperature and precipitation within certain limits. Additional factors impacting CW performance include wastewater characteristics, design flow, and wetland location. When compared with Pakistan Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS), it is concluded that CWs are effective in wastewater treatment. By constructing CWs along the banks of wastewater drains, treated water from the outlet chamber can be collected and redirected, offering a viable solution to water scarcity challenges.