Preliminary research on efficiency of organic substances removal from wastewater in selected constructed wetlands

Protection of ground water is one of basic purposes of suitable development strategy. The technical infrastructure is one of examples of this strategy realization. However, in rural regions, that are characterized by housing dispersion, it is difficult to construct conventional sewage system. This problem has to do with violent changes of wastewater discharge and effluent concentration as well as economic resources. Constructed wetlands could be a good solution for rural regions. They enable waste treatment and protecting receiving water. Constructed wetlands work like a marsh and they act as biofilters removing environmental effluents from wastewater. They can be a solution for rural regions and allow rational and inexpensive method of wastewater treatment. The main purpose of this research was to determine efficiency of decontamination of organic pollution, expressed as BOD5 and COD. The data was collected from constructed wetlands in Kletno and Brzezno in order to extract design criteria for BOD5 and COD removal. The research was executed on two object assigned to popular touristic places. Constructed wetlands keep high pollutant removal efficiency on the same level all year round. The research was conducted in 2008.Constructed wetlands do not ensure high efficiency of treatment. Unsuitable exploitation is the primary reason for decreasing efficiency. Proper exploitation of settler (septic tanks) in constructed wetlands is responsible for high wastewater treatment efficiency.