This study assessed the influence of different treatment configurations on the removal of six types of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzylphthalate (BBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) and bis (2-ethyl) hexylphthalate (DEHP)) from domestic wastewater in twelve pilot-scale constructed wetlands (CWs).