Potential use of aquatic macrophytes as a phytoremediation tool in the facultative pond of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) of Mamanguape-PB

Abstract

One of the main causes of pollution of water bodies is the discharge of effluents without proper treatment. To protect environmental resources, investment in wastewater treatment technologies is increasing. This research aimed to evaluate the potential use of aquatic macrophytes as a phytoremediation tool in the facultative pond of Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) in Mamanguape-PB. Therefore, structures containing macrophytes of the species Eichhornia crassipes (Mart. Solms) and Pistia stratiotes (Jalkumbhi) were implanted. Water samples were collected at points of entry and exit of the Facultative Pond, and subsequent laboratory analyzes of water quality indicators (pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate and electrical conductivity) before the implementation of the macrophytes (control), when there were less macrophytes in the pond (PM), and when in larger quantities (MM). The collected data were statistically analyzed using the R software, and also according to the depuration capacity of the parameters. In view of the results obtained, it was verified that even though there were improvements in the water quality of the pond after the implantation of the macrophytes, they were not statistically significant, with the exception of the pH parameter, and therefore, there was not the expected effect of phytoremediation on the biotreatment of the WTP-Mamanguape water, being the research hypothesis rejected for the tested plant quantities.