Domestic wastewater treatment by macrophytes typical in Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico

Regarding wastewater treatment, Mexico has been mainly, lack of infrastructure, high costs of installation, operation and maintenance as well as lack of trained personnel. As a result only 40.2% of the wastewater generated receive any treatment, it is necessary to develop alternative technologies at affordable costs for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The use of some types of specimens of macrophytes is a treatment option due to its high pollutant removal efficiency and low cost of installation and maintenance. This paper evaluates three different types of plants typical of natural wetlands in the region of the Highlands of Jalisco as are the common reed (Phragmites australis), gladiolus (Gladiolus spp) and cattail (Typha latifolia), by measuring water quality parameters contained in the mexican official standards (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and NOM-003-SEMARNAT-1997), like the potential of hydrogen (pH), biochemical oxygen demand in five days , total nitrogen, total phosphorus and fats and oils, in experimental units with retention times of three, five and seven days performing four evaluations in a year. The results showed significant reductions in all parameters studied so that the plants evaluated can be a sustainable alternative for removal of organic load and nutrients in domestic wastewater with a low cost of installation, operation and maintenance.