Degradation of Nitrate, Ammonium and Phosphate in Domestic Wastewater by Aquatic Plants, Actinoscirpus grossus in Floating Treatment Wetland System (FTWs)

Ecological technologies such as wetlands constructed for wastewater treatment are innovative solutions for environmental protection and restoration. This study examines a Floating Treatment Wetlands System (FTWs), which is a new treating concept using macrophytes rooted in modified growing aquatic plants with floating systems. An aquatic plant, Actinoscirpus grossus obtained from rice fields in Banda Aceh. FCWs filled with five plants per shoot with five compartments were fed with domestic wastewater with a flow rate of 7 L/hour. Plant height was varied by 90cm - 150cm in Pond 1 and 50cm - 90cm in Pond 2, and Pond 3 was prepared as a control (without plants). Water quality in influent and effluent was analyzed every two weeks with a duration of 18 weeks and nine times sampling. Results showed a decrease in the concentration of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate in the effluent flow with degradation efficiency (% DE) on average, NO₃-N: 76.34%; NH₄-N: 97.75%; and PO₄^3-: 89.45%; respectively. The degradation of domestic wastewater showed very significant results. The periodic harvest management process becomes an important part of aquatic plants, Actinoscirpus grossus to achieve optimum results in treating waste, i.e., for 112 days with a maximum plant growth height of 165cm and 173cm for both variations of experimental ponds.