Modular Constructed Wetlands for Treatment of Rural Domestic Wastewater: Laboratory Performance and Field Application

Xiaolin Zhao, Jing Yang, Rubin Han, Hui Luo (), Limin Chen, Meng Liu and Baojie He
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Xiaolin Zhao: School of Civil and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Jing Yang: School of Civil and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Rubin Han: School of Civil and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Hui Luo: School of Civil and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Limin Chen: School of Civil and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Meng Liu: School of Civil and Ocean Engineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
Baojie He: Centre for Climate Resilient and Low–Carbon Cities, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: As the discharge points of domestic sewage in rural areas are scattered with large fluctuations, constructed wetlands (CWs) are of great effectiveness in treating rural domestic wastewater. In this paper, horizontal subsurface flow modular constructed wetlands (HSSF-MCWs) with different filler combinations and plant species were constructed to analyze the pollutant removal effect on rural domestic wastewater. According to the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, the purification effect of the systems on rural domestic wastewater was evaluated for the selection of the best system. The decentralized rural domestic sewage treatment PPP project (Phase III) in Changshu was also monitored for field application. The results indicated that the red brick–volcanic rock (RB-VR) combination showed the best comprehensive removal effect on rural domestic wastewater, with the highest average removal rate of ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 + -N 81.0 ± 2.5%) and total nitrogen (TN 64.5 ± 3.4%). The fuzzy comprehensive index (FCI) of the RB-VR systems with four rural plants ranged from 2.60 to 3.74, in which Myriophyllum elatinoides Gaudich. showed the optimum long-term purification effect. The water quality and economic analysis results of the pilot project in Changshu indicated that the overall influent concentration was low with large fluctuations, and the qualified effluent rate was relatively low. Moreover, the equipment investment accounted for 51.24% of the overall construction investment of the project, so more economical equipment (1 m 3 /day and 20 m 3 /day) should be adopted in rural domestic wastewater treatment.

Keywords: rural domestic sewage; modular constructed wetland; filler combination; wetland plants; fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method; water quality evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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