The use of constructed wetlands as secondary wastewater treatment for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products: A review

Abstract

Tatum, Katie. Masters Environmental Assessment. The Use of Constructed Wetlands as Secondary Wastewater Treatment for the Removal of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products: A Review

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are emerging contaminants of concern. PPCPs enter our surface waters through Waste Water Treatment effluents, as traditional WWTP are not equipped to efficiently remove these contaminants. As a result, secondary treatments are needed in order to reduce or eliminate these contaminants in waste water effluents. Constructed Wetlands (CWs) show promising removal efficiencies for current and future use. CWs depend on the complex interactions between wetland design parameters (flow type, feeding strategies, the presence and type of plants, etc.) and natural variables (redox potential, temperature, etc.) to remove PPCPs from waste water. This review aims to identify and summarize the design parameters that show the best removal efficiencies for the most commonly detected compounds (ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, caffeine, and carbamazepine).