An engineered wetlands system for septage treatment in Malaysia

Abstract

Septage from the individual septic tanks is pumped out periodically to maintain their performances. Septage treatment was carried out in a pilot system comprising two stages of vertical-flow engineered wetlands (VFEWs). This research project has confirmed that high treatment performance is achievable by the VFEWs system to treat raw septage, with suitable coupling of system design (plant presence, type; substrate type) and operational practices (solid and hydraulic loading rate; dosing frequency; pond and rest period).