Performance Evaluation and Design Analysis of Hybrid Constructed Wetlands for Aquaculture Effluent Treatment under Tropical Conditions

• Paramdi S. ABARI

  Author

• Abdulwahab O. AUDU

  Author

• Ahmad-Tijani USMAN

  Author

• Charity T. METIBOBA

  Author

• Peter O. ANIKOH

  Author

Aquaculture wastewater discharge has become a significant environmental concern because of the release of nutrient-rich effluents into natural water bodies. This study evaluated the treatment performance and design efficiency of a laboratory-scale hybrid constructed wetland (HCW) system developed for aquaculture effluent treatment under tropical climatic conditions. The hybrid system consisted of horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) and vertical subsurface flow (VSSF) wetland units operated under planted and unplanted conditions using Sacciolepis africana as the test macrophyte. Aquaculture wastewater was collected from Musgola Fish Farm located in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, and monitored over a 23-week experimental period. Physicochemical parameters including biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total nitrogen (TN), sulphate (SO4²⁻), and calcium (Ca²⁺) were analyzed using standard APHA methods. Hydraulic retention time, hydraulic loading rate, porosity, and wetland dimensions were incorporated into the wetland design calculations. Results showed that the planted VSSF unit recorded the highest pollutant removal efficiencies of 90.1% for BOD5, 88.2% for COD, 77.7% for TSS, 58.2% for TDS, and 57.4% for TN. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) between planted and unplanted systems. The study demonstrates that hybrid constructed wetlands provide an efficient, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable technology for aquaculture wastewater treatment in developing countries.

• FJET_21_76_76

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