Performance of decentralized wastewater treatment system employing Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket and Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland

Abstract

Rural communities in Jordan face challenges in providing centralized wastewater treatment system due to high costs and dispersed populations. To address this issue, a decentralized approach is explored as an alternative to extend wastewater treatment to unserved rural areas. In this study, a decentralized wastewater treatment system was implemented in a household in Al-Kfair village, Jerash governorate, Jordan. The system consists of an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor followed by an unplanted Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland. The first reactor, with a capacity of 0.142 m3, received greywater from the household at an influent flow rate of 0.295 m3/d. The system's performance was evaluated based on removal efficiencies and compliance with Jordanian standards for reclaimed greywater reuse in irrigation. Influent and effluent samples were analyzed for various parameters, including Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Solids, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Escherichia coli. Results indicated excellent treatment efficiency, with removal rates exceeding 90% for most parameters. The implementation of the decentralized wastewater treatment system for a single household amounted to $3405. The overall performance of the combined system demonstrated its potential as an effective solution for treating greywater in rural communities in Jordan.

Keywords

• Ecofriendly treatment
• Engineering systems
• Green technology
• Greywater
• Unconventional treatment