Removal Efficiency of Physicochemical and Microbial Pollutants in Wastewater Using Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands

References
- Abagale, F.K. 2021. Seasonal Variation and Removal of Organic Pollutants in Wastewater Using Low-Cost Treatment Technologies in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 13(4): 271–282. https://doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2021.134016
- Acquah, T., Appiah-Brempong, M. & Anornu, G.K. 2025. Groundwater quality and associated health risks in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Heliyon, 11(2): e41910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41910
- Ahmad, M., Lee, S.S., Dou, X., Mohan, D., Sung, J.-K., Yang, J.E. & Ok, Y.S. 2012. Effects of pyrolysis temperature on soybean stover- and peanut shell-derived biochar properties and TCE adsorption in water. Bioresource Technology, 118: 536–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.05.042
- Ahmed, A.M. & Kareem, S.L. 2025. Evaluation of the effectiveness of phytoremediation technologies utilizing Lemna minor in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 15(7): 10513-10525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-024-05887-6
- Ajibade, F. & Adewumi, J. 2017. Performance Evaluation of Aquatic Macrophytes in a Constructed Wetland for Municipal Wastewater Treatment. FUTA Journal of Engineering and Engineering Technology, 11: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.51459/futajeet.2017.11.1.113
- Andrade, C.F., Sperling, M.V. & Manjate, E.S. 2017. Treatment of Septic Tank Sludge in a Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland System. Engenharia Agrícola, 37: 811–819. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4430-Eng.Agric.v37n4p811-819/2017
- Apaydin-Varol, E., Pütün, E. & Pütün, A.E. 2007. Slow pyrolysis of pistachio shell. Fuel, 86(12): 1892–1899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2006.11.041
- APHA Press. 2023. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation. Lipps WC, Braun-Howland EB, Baxter TE, eds. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 24th ed. Washington DC. https://secure.apha.org/testimis/ItemDetail?iProductCode=978-087553-2998&Category=BK&WebsiteKey=b04418ea-e87d-4d4c-92e8-72c97f1ae2c4
- Apuseyine, E. 2021. Agricultural reuse of domestic wastewater by constructed wetlands using indigenous Ghanaian plants: A pilot-scale field investigation. [Master’s Thesis]. International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Italy.
- Cangola, J., Abagale, F.K., Cobbina, S.J. & Osei, R.A. 2025. Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant enterobacteriaceae in domestic wastewater and associated health risks in reuse practices. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 263: 114478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114478
- Cao, H. & Yue, X. 2014. Homogenization of Richardsʼ equation of van Genuchten–Mualem model. Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, 412(1): 391–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmaa.2013.10.063
- Chen, T., Zhang, Y., Wang, H., Lu, W., Zhou, Z., Zhang, Y. & Ren, L. 2014. Influence of pyrolysis temperature on characteristics and heavy metal adsorptive performance of biochar derived from municipal sewage sludge. Bioresource Technology, 164: 47–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.04.048
- Christou, A., Stylianou, M., Georgiadou, E.C., Gedeon, S., Ioannou, A., Michael, C., Papanastasiou, P., Fotopoulos, V. & Fatta-Kassinos, D. 2022. Effects of biochar derived from the pyrolysis of either biosolids, manure or spent coffee grounds on the growth, physiology and quality attributes of field-grown lettuce plants. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 26: 102263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102263
- Coleman, J., Hench, K., Garbutt, K., Sexstone, A., Bissonnette, G. & Skousen, J. 2001. Treatment of Domestic Wastewater by Three Plant Species in Constructed Wetlands. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 128(3): 283–295. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010336703606
- Duwiejuah, A.B., Abubakari, A.-H., Quainoo, A.K. & Amadu, Y. 2022. Chemical characteristics of groundnut and sheanut shell biochars as adsorbents and soil conditioners in the era of ecological sustainability. Bio-Research, 20(1): 1461. https://doi.org/10.4314/br.v20i1.7
- Dos Santos, S., Adams, E. A., Neville, G., Wada, Y., de Sherbinin, A., Mullin Bernhardt, E. & Adamo, S.B. 2017. Urban growth and water access in sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, challenges, and emerging research directions. Science of The Total Environment, 607–608: 497–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.157
- Dotro, G., Langergraber, G., Molle, P., Nivala, J., Puigagut, J., Stein, O. & Von Sperling, M. 2017. Treatment wetlands. IWA publishing.
- García-Pérez, A., Harrison, M. & Grant, B. 2011. Recirculating Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland for On-Site Sewage Treatment: An Approach for a Sustainable Ecosystem. Journal of Water and Environment Technology, 9(1): 39–46. https://doi.org/10.2965/jwet.2011.39
- Giraldi, D. & Iannelli, R. 2009. Measurements of water content distribution in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands using a capacitance probe: Benefits and limitations. Desalination, 243(1): 182–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2008.05.012
- Bilgin, G.F. & Avci, M. 2020. Perennial Warm Season Grasses; Cultivation of Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana L.) and Dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.).In: Seydosoglu S. (ed.). Innovative Approaches in Meadow-Rangeland and Forage Crops. pp. 177-195.
- Gupta, P., Ann, T. & Lee, S.-M. 2016. Use of biochar to enhance constructed wetland performance in wastewater reclamation. Environmental Engineering Research, 21(1): 36–44. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2015.067
- Gyasi, E.A., Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., Fosu, M., Mensah, A.M., Yiran, G. & Fuseini, I. 2014. Managing Threats and Opportunities of Urbanisation for Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Tamale, Ghana. In: Maheshwari, B., Purohit, R., Malano, H., Singh, V.P. & Amerasinghe, P. (eds.). The Security of Water, Food, Energy and Liveability of Cities. Water Science and Technology Library. Springer. 71: 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8878-6_7
- Kadlec, R.H., & Wallace, S.D. 2009. Treatment wetlands (2nd ed). CRC press.
- Kengne, E.S., Kengne, I.M., Nzouebet, W.A.L., Akoa, A., Viet, H.N. & Strande, L. 2014. Performance of vertical flow constructed wetlands for faecal sludge drying bed leachate: Effect of hydraulic loading. Ecological Engineering, 71: 384–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.041
- Lai, W.-L., Zhang, Y. & Chen, Z.-H. 2012. Radial oxygen loss, photosynthesis, and nutrient removal of 35 wetland plants. Ecological Engineering, 39: 24–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.11.010
- Luciani, G., Sobanski, M., Meier, M., Polci, P., Miranda, R. & Echenique, V. 2012. Weeping Lovegrass Yield and Nutritive Value Provides an Alternative to Beef Cattle Feeding in Semiarid Environments of Argentina. Crop Science, 52(4): 1955–1965. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2012.02.0118
- Ni, J.J., Bordoloi, S., Shao, W., Garg, A., Xu, G. & Sarmah, A.K. 2020. Two-year evaluation of hydraulic properties of biochar-amended vegetated soil for application in landfill cover system. Science of The Total Environment, 712: 136486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136486
- Osei, R.A., Abagale, F.K. & Konate, Y. 2022. Exploitation of indigenous bamboo macrophyte species and bamboo biochar for faecal sludge treatment with constructed wetland technology in the Sudano-Sahelian ecological zone. Heliyon, 8(12): e12386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12386
- Pariyar, P., Kumari, K., Jain, M.K. & Jadhao, P.S. 2020. Evaluation of change in biochar properties derived from different feedstock and pyrolysis temperature for environmental and agricultural application. Science of the Total Environment, 713: 136433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136433
- Qadir, M., Drechsel, P., Jiménez Cisneros, B., Kim, Y., Pramanik, A., Mehta, P. & Olaniyan, O. 2020. Global and regional potential of wastewater as a water, nutrient and energy source. Natural Resources Forum, 44(1): 40–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12187
- Quainoo, A.K., Konadu, A. & Kumi, M. 2015. The Potential of Shea Nut Shells in Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soil Using Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a Test Crop. Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation, 6(1): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-6199.1000268
- Stefanakis, A.I. 2020. Constructed Wetlands for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment in Hot and Arid Climates: Opportunities, Challenges and Case Studies in the Middle East. Water, 12(6): 1665. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12061665
- Šimůnek, J., van Genuchten, M. Th. & Šejna, M. 2016. Recent Developments and Applications of the HYDRUS Computer Software Packages. Vadose Zone Journal, 15: 1-25 vzj2016.04.0033. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2016.04.0033
- Tanaka, N., Jinadasa, K.B.S.N., Werellagama, D.R.I.B., Mowjood, M.I.M. & Ng, W.J. 2006. Constructed Tropical Wetlands with Integrated Submergent-Emergent Plants for Sustainable Water Quality Management. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, 41(10): 2221–2236. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934520600867581
- Thullen, J.S., Sartoris, J.J. & Nelson, S. M. 2005. Managing vegetation in surface-flow wastewater-treatment wetlands for optimal treatment performance. Ecological Engineering, 25(5): 583–593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2005.07.013
- Tilak, A.S., Wani, S.P., Patil, M.D. & Datta, A. 2016. Evaluating wastewater treatment efficiency of two field scale subsurface flow constructed wetlands. Current Science, 110(9): 1764–1772.
- Tunçsiper, B., Ayaz, S. & Akca, L. 2012. Coliform bacteria removal from septic wastewater in a pilot-scale combined constructed wetland system. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 11: 1873–1879. https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2012.233
- Udoma, A.W., Richard, A.O. & Shaibu, A. 2024. Potential of sheanut shell biochar as substrate enhancer in vertical flow constructed wetlands treating wastewater for agricultural reuse. 48th Conference for Students of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine with International Participation, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, pp. 70–75.
- Uggetti, E., Llorens, E., Pedescoll, A., Ferrer, I., Castellnou, R. & García, J. 2009. Sludge dewatering and stabilization in drying reed beds: Characterization of three full-scale systems in Catalonia, Spain. Bioresource Technology, 100(17): 3882–3890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.03.047
- Vymazal, J. 2011. Plants used in constructed wetlands with horizontal subsurface flow: A review. Hydrobiologia. 674: 133-156. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10750-011-0738-9
- Wang, Q., Hu, Y., Xie, H. & Yang, Z. 2018. Constructed Wetlands: A Review on the Role of Radial Oxygen Loss in the Rhizosphere by Macrophytes. Water, 10(6): 678. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10060678
- Werner, T.M. & Kadlec, R.H. 2000. Wetland residence time distribution modeling. Ecological Engineering, 15(1): 77–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-8574(99)00036-1
- WHO/UNICEF 2022. Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (JMP) – Progress on household drinking water, sanitation and hygiene 2000-2022. UN-Water. https://www.unwater.org/publications/who/unicef-joint-monitoring-program-update-report-2023
- Yakubu, A., Udoma, A.W., Sabi, E.B. & Monnie, F. 2023. Waste Water Treatment for Irrigation using Charred Biomass Residue. Science and Development, 5(2): 27–40. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsdugs/article/view/240231
- Zhang, X., Zhang, P., Yuan, X., Li, Y. & Han, L. 2020. Effect of pyrolysis temperature and correlation analysis on the yield and physicochemical properties of crop residue biochar. Bioresource Technology, 296: 122318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122318
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/contagri-2026-0005 | Journal eISSN: 2466-4774 | Journal ISSN: 0350-1205
Language: English
Page range: 68 - 84
Submitted on: Nov 9, 2025
Accepted on: Mar 12, 2026
Published on: Apr 26, 2026
Published by: University of Novi Sad
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year
Keywords:
Related subjects:
© 2026 Udoma Aisha Wunmi, published by University of Novi Sad
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.