This document discusses three field scale constructed wetland systems in India for treating different types of wastewater. The ICRISAT constructed wetland consists of 10 treatment units that can treat 5 cubic meters of domestic wastewater per day from an urban colony. A SabMiller constructed wetland in Telangana treats 60 cubic meters per day of industrial wastewater. A third constructed wetland in Kothapally, Telangana treats around 20 cubic meters per day of domestic wastewater from 100 households. All three systems use vegetated submerged beds with sand and gravel media to physically, chemically, and biologically treat wastewater and reduce pollutants.

1. Field Scale Constructed Wetlands (CWs) for Domestic
and Industrial Wastewater Treatment
ICRISAT-IDC Wastewater Team
Introduction
 Depleting fresh water resources; India-water stressed by 2020.
 Wastewater generation a perennial source in urban, peri-urban and rural India.
 Health hazards associated with untreated wastewater. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are human-
made engineered systems treating variety of wastewaters.
 The CWs are low cost, less energy intensive and minimal maintenance systems adequate for rural
communities, peri-urban areas, single households and residential blocks.
 The simultaneous operation of physical, chemical and biological process for reducing excessive
pollutants makes constructed wetlands effective.
ICRISAT constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment
 Domestic wastewater treatment generated by an adjacent urban residential colony.
 Field scale CW having10 treatment units; each unit treatment capacity of 5 m3/day and
monoculture wetland species.
 Two control treatment having no wetland plants, individual treatment capacity of 5 cubic meter per
day.
SabMiller, SangaReddy Telangana CW for Industrial Wastewater Treatment
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10
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30
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50
60
70
80
90
100
CW1 CW2 CW3 CW4 CW5 CW6 CW7 CW8 CW9 CW10
Wastewatertreatmentefficienciess(%)
ICRISAT constructed wetlands (CWs 1-10)
(July 2014-October 2015)
TSS COD
NH4-N NO3-N
Phosphate Sulphate
Key details of SabMiller, SangaReddy CW
Capacity of wetland: 60 m3/day
Dimension Constructed wetland = 20 m x 20 m x 1.0 m
Treated water storage tank= 20 m x 20 m x 1.5 m
Type of wetlands Vegetated submerged bed
Filter media (from top to
bottom)
Sand (25 cm thick)
Gravel 10 mm size (25 cm thick)
Gravel 20 mm size (25 cm thick)
Gravel 40 mm size (25 cm thick)
Vegetation Napier Bajara (Penisetum purpurem x Pennisetum americanum)
and Canna indica
Water source for treatment ETP effluent
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100
Chemical
oxygen
demand
(COD)
Inorganic
nitrogen
Phosphate Sulfate Total
dissolved
solids
(TDS)
Total
Alkalinity
Total
hardness
Wastewatertreatmentefficiencies(%)
SabMiller CW
Kothapally, Telangana CW for domestic Wastewater Treatment
Capacity ~20 m3/day (100 households)
Dimension Constructed wetland = 20 m x 4 m x 1.0 m
Treated water storage tank= 20 m x 4 m x 1.5 m
Type of wetlands Vegetated submerged bed
Filter media (from top to
bottom)
Sand (25 cm thick)
Gravel 10 mm size (25 cm thick)
Gravel 20 mm size (25 cm thick)
Gravel 40 mm size (25 cm thick)
Vegetation Typha latifolia, Cana indica
Water source for treatment Domestic wastewater from rural households
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60
70
80
90
100
Wastewatertreatmentefficiencies(%)