What is Treatment Efficiency

Vegetation filter is an emerging wastewater treatment option in which phytoremediation strategies are employed for municipal applications. Short rotation woody crops combine both treatment and reuse of effluent and operate on ‘zero discharge' concept. This multifunctional system has become a viable alternative solution for wastewater treatment as well as biomass production by utilizing nutrient rich wastewater as cost efficient fertilizer. Fast growing species like Salix, Eucalyptus, and Populus with high water and nutrient requirements, highly selective heavy metal uptake and high evapotranspiration rate are generally preferred as vegetation filters for wastewater treatment. However, site-specific factors such as wastewater composition, climate, soil type, permeability, species or clonal characteristics must be taken into account when considering irrigation with municipal wastewater. This chapter discussses the prospects for vegetation filters to remediate contaminated water and soil and also facilitate recycling of valuable resources in society.