substrate material and the wastewater source and quality [6]. A satisfactory
treatment is close connected to an appropriate hydraulic
load and wastewater supply. Furthermore, the physicochemical
properties of the selected substrate material could be related to
system performance, especially regarding phosphorus and ammonia
removal. Likewise, the good aeration of the bed (presence
of aeration tubes, intermittent loading for aerobic condition reestablishment
or forced aeration) may also be important for system
performance.
The present study is an experiment of ten pilot-scale VFCWs,
operating side-by-side, aiming at the investigation of various
design and operation wetland characteristics and the examination
of their effects on treatment performance during a three-year
period of continuous operation and monitoring.