Performance of Large-Scale Ornamental Wetlands for Municipal Wastewater Treatment: A Case Study in a Polluted Estuary in the Gulf of Mexico

Joaquin Sangabriel Lomeli, Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro, Teresa Zamora-Lobato, Elber José Sandoval-Herazo, Jacel Adame-García, Florentina Zurita, Maria Cecilia Monroy-Pineda, Graciano Aguilar-Cortés, Saúl Rivera () and Mayerlín Sandoval-Herazo ()
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Joaquin Sangabriel Lomeli: Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Río 94294, Veracruz, Mexico
Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro: Faculty of Engineering, Construction and Habitat, Universidad Veracruzana, Boca del Río 94294, Veracruz, Mexico
Teresa Zamora-Lobato: Division of Graduate Studies and Research, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Km. 1.8 Carretera a Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
Elber José Sandoval-Herazo: Programa Multidisciplinario de Posgrado en Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (UASLP), Av. Dr. Manuel Nava, Lomas de San Luis 78240, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Jacel Adame-García: Instituto Tecnológico de Úrsulo Galván, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Carretera Cd Cardel-Chachalacas km 4.5, Úrsulo Galván 91667, Veracruz, Mexico
Florentina Zurita: Environmental Quality Research Center, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlán 47820, Jalisco, Mexico
Maria Cecilia Monroy-Pineda: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sucre, Carrera 28 No. 5-267, Sincelejo 700001, Sucre, Colombia
Graciano Aguilar-Cortés: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Km. 1.8 Carretera a la Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
Saúl Rivera: Wetlands and Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Misantla, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Km. 1.8 Carretera a la Loma del Cojolite, Misantla 93821, Veracruz, Mexico
Mayerlín Sandoval-Herazo: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Sucre, Carrera 28 No. 5-267, Sincelejo 700001, Sucre, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: This study investigates the performance of large-scale ornamental treatment wetlands (TW) for the treatment of municipal wastewater in the municipality of Nautla, Veracruz, Mexico, specifically within a contaminated estuary in the Gulf of Mexico. The research employed a treatment wetland system that integrates mixed flow methods, including vertical subsurface flow (VSSF) and horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF), to optimize operational, maintenance, and energy costs. Over a monitoring period from 15 October 2022 to 17 September 2023, the system achieved remarkable efficiencies in the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 3 -N, NH 4 -N, NO 2 -N, NO 3 -N, total nitrogen (TN), with removal rates of 93.37%, 93.37%,91.36%, 91.29%, 95.74%, 97.36%, 71.69%, 92.26% and 91.45%, respectively. The effluent complied with the water quality standards established by the official Mexican standard NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, demonstrating the effectiveness of this TW configuration in treating water characterized by high chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels. The results are especially relevant for tropical climates, where high temperatures and humidity can affect microbial activity and nutrient cycling, potentially enhancing treatment performance and reducing construction and management costs. This research highlights the viability of ornamental treatment wetlands as a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment in tropical climates and provides valuable information for future implementation and design criteria.

Keywords: treatment wetlands; municipal wastewater; ornamental plants; Gulf of Mexico (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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