Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in Nepal

• Published in: Water science and technology 2001-01, Vol.44 (11-12), p.381-386
• Main Authors: SHRESTHA, R. R, HABERI, R, LABER, J, MANANDHAR, R, MADER, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aquatic plants; Artificial wetlands; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Construction; Construction sites; Developing Countries; Ecosystem; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Facility Design and Construction; Filtration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Greywater; Hospital wastes; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; LDCs; Leachates; Medical wastes; Nepal; Plants; Pollution; Promotion; Rivers; Sewage; Sewers; Surface water; Technology; Technology Transfer; Urban areas; Urban environments; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Wastewaters; Water pollution; Water Purification - methods; Water reuse; Water treatment and pollution; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2001.0855

Surface water pollution is one of the serious environmental problems in urban centers in Nepal due to the discharge of untreated wastewater into the river-system, turning them into open sewers. Wastewater treatment plants are almost non-existent in the country except for a few in the Kathmandu Valley and even these are not functioning well. Successful implementation of a few constructed wetland systems within the past three years has attracted attention to this promising technology. A two-staged subsurface flow constructed wetland for hospital wastewater treatment and constructed wetlands for treatment of greywater and septage is now becoming a demonstration site of constructed wetland systems in Nepal. Beside these systems, five constructed wetlands have already been designed and some are under construction for the treatment of leachate and septage in Pokhara municipality, wastewater in Kathmandu University, two hospitals and a school. This paper discusses the present condition and treatment performance of constructed wetlands that are now in operation. Furthermore, the concept of the treatment wetlands under construction is also described here. With the present experience, several recommendations are pointed out for the promotion of this technology in the developing countries.