Abstract:
Aging and poor maintenance of wastewater treatment works affect the wastewater quality and quantity. The
focus of this experimental study was to identify appropriate grass which can be used for wastewater treatment
in constructed wetlands. Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), Lemon grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) and
elephant grass (Pennisetum purpurreum) were planted separately and exposed to influent for a period of twenty
weeks. Growth measurements were recorded weekly and the quality of the effluents from each of these grasses
were assessed using standard methods to determine their treatment efficiency. The study demonstrates that
different grass species can be used in constructed wetlands to treat wastewater effectively. Vetiver grass
showed promising results in terms of treatment efficiency, meeting WHO standards for various water quality
parameters. Further research and monitoring may be needed to confirm the long-term sustainability and
performance of these grasses in wastewater treatment applications.
