Phytotreatment of greywater with yellow water addition from an aesthetic approach

This article presents the experimental results from a research that is being conducted at the University of Padua (Italy) which aims at implementing the phytotreatment of some wastewater fractions from an aesthetic approach. Grey and yellow water from an experimental source separation toilet are treated in a phytotreatment pilot plant, which consists of two subsurface horizontal flow beds operating in parallel. While the second unit was planted with Phragmites australis only, following the standard procedure, the first unit was planted with a community of ten different species that present ornamental and aesthetic advantages. The effect of having a biodiverse and aesthetically pleasing arrangement of plants compared to the standard use of phragmites is being evaluated over a research programme of three years. This aesthetic value may have a significant influence upon potential user choices, and in general, upon public acceptance. After one year of operation of the system, the water produced by the ornamental unit presents almost the same quality as the water produced by the phragmites unit. In both cases the water produced meets the quality limits imposed by the Italian water regulation.