Comparison of constructed wetlands and package type sequencing batch biological treatment plants in rural areas in terms of efficiency and cost in a full-scale example

Abstract

Constructed wetlands (CsW) are being frequently used nowadays for the treatment purpose of rural domestic wastewaters. In this study CsWs and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) package type biological treatment plants are compared in terms of treatment capacity, cost and efficiency in rural sites of Denizli City, Türkiye. Although initial investment costs are almost equal, CsWs are much superior on stability, efficiency, operational costs and labor requirements. In this full-scale study, biological oxygen demand (BOD5) removal efficiency was 92% in CsW, and 85% in SBR, while suspended solid (SS) removal efficiency was 88% in CsW and 81% in SBR. The investment and operating costs of CsW are 179,575–0.018 USD/cubic meters and 128,886–0.13 USD/cubic meters for SBR, respectively. The CsW method comes to the fore both in terms of low operating cost, energy consumption, and sustainability as well as increasing biological diversity and complying with discharge standards. Due to these advantages, CsW is preferred to SBR. © 2024