Phytoremediation of domestic wastewater using Eichhornia crassipes

Safe, economic and effective treatment of domestic wastewater is the biggest challenge the world experienced in modern times. Phytoremediation studies were undertaken in a laboratory scale using shallow pond water hyacinth (Echhornia crassipes) system and analytical data was collected before and after treatment. The studies also include microbial flora present in the system by isolating and identifying the microorganisms. At optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 21 h, approximately 81% chemical oxygen demand (COD), 91% biological oxygen demand (BOD5), 16% total dissolved solids (TDS), 70% total suspended solids (TSS), 4% Chlorides, 74% ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), 41% phosphate (PO4-P), 96% most probable number (MPN) and 98% total viable count (TVC) reduction was achieved in shallow pond water hyacinth system. The shallow pond water hyacinth system shows better treatment efficiency compared to conventional water hyacinth system. The process indicates a possibility of development of a substantially effective shallow pond water hyacinth system for domestic wastewater treatment.