Abstract

Evaluation a field-scale of constructed wetland (CW) for the treatment of rural wastewater (WW), in resource-scarce semi-arid tropic (SAT) villages, to provide improved wastewater management and increased water use efficiency, was the main objective of this study. A CW was commissioned in Kothapally village of Telangana to treat the wastewater generated from 100 households. The CW was vegetated with Typha latifolia and Canna indica. Average COD, sulfate and inorganic nitrogen removal efficiencies observed were 65%, 60% and 67% respectively, for the study period (one year). Removal efficiency for total coliform was consistently above 80%. The treated wastewater was stored in a farm pond and was utilized for irrigation in the nearby agricultural fields (0.6 ha). This perennial source of water, helped the nearby farmers to cultivate two additional crops, chickpea during rabi and sweetcorn during summer. The assured availability of water reduced their vulnerability to dry spells during the kharif by providing means for lifesaving irrigation. The biomass harvested from the constructed wetland was used as fodder for the livestock. A net additional income of Rs.70,000 (∼US$1,000) was realized by the farmers using the treated wastewater for cultivation. Similar constructed wetland-based wastewater management system can be scaled up across water scarce semi-arid tropics.

Novelty statement

Field-scale performance evaluation of constructed wetland based wastewater treatment in a semi-arid tropic village is scarce in the literature. The work presented gives a feasibility assessment for this technology critical for its wide-scale application to augment rural wastewater management in resource poor villages.

摘要

在资源匮乏的半干旱热带地区（SAT）村中，评估用于处理农村废水（WW）的人工湿地（CW）的现场规模，以改善废水管理并提高用水效率，是该项目的主要目标。这项研究。在Telangana的Kothapally村委托CW处理100户家庭产生的废水。CW种植了香蒲和印度大麻。在研究期间（一年），观察到的平均COD，硫酸盐和无机氮去除效率分别为65％，60％和67％。总大肠菌群的去除效率始终高于80％。处理后的废水存储在农场的池塘中，并用于附近农田的灌溉（0.6公顷）。这种多年生的水源帮助附近的农民种植了另外两种农作物：狂犬病期间的鹰嘴豆和夏季的甜玉米。有保证的水供应减少了他们在卡里夫期间遭受旱灾的脆弱性通过提供救生灌溉的手段。从人工湿地收获的生物质可用作牲畜的饲料。农民使用经处理的废水进行耕种可实现净增收70,000卢比（约合1,000美元）。可以在缺水的半干旱热带地区扩大按比例建造类似的基于湿地的废水管理系统。

新颖性声明

文献中缺乏在半干旱热带村庄中基于人工湿地的污水处理的现场规模性能评估。提出的工作对该技术进行了可行性评估，该技术对于在资源贫乏的乡村中广泛应用以增强农村废水管理至关重要。