Bioremediation using artificial constructed wetland in combination with efficient microbial cultures

Abstract

The paper highlights the use of constructed wetland in combination with effective microbial cultures (Bacterial and fungal) for the removal of BOD, COD and faecal coliform from untreated sewage water of STP2 of Karnal city (India). The constructed wetland consists of iron drums of 220-litre capacity with 60 litres of average loading rate having 85-cm length and filled with 35-cm coarse sand, 10-cm pebbles of 2-5 mm diameter, 35 cm gravel from top to bottom, was installed at CSSRI, Karnal in the state of Haryana. Drums in triplicate were planted with Phragmite and inoculated with bacterial cultures SWB1 (Alcaligenes cupidus, MTCC 6850), SWB19 (Enterobacter intermedius, MTCC 6849) and fungal culture SWF1 (Aspergillus flavus, MTCC 6589) added at an interval of one month having 1 litre of culture broth and control without inoculation. Other treatments comprised of: no plantation, Eichhornia and Typha both uninoculated. Constructed wetland was found to be influenced by season, retention time and inoculated microorganisms.Inoculated Phragmites showed better BOD, COD and faecal coliform reduction as compared to uninoculated Phragmites because of higher biomass buildup. The system being easy to operate and low cost, can provide an economical viable solution for wastewater management.

Keywords

• BOD
• COD
• faecal coliform
• contructed wetland
• Phragmites
• Eichhornia