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Articles | Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology | Volume 4 - Issue 1 - 2026 | 34−43 | https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v4i1.1171
© 2026 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Evaluation of Rural Domestic Wastewater Treatment Using a Hybrid Constructed Wetland with Three Flow Configurations

Author(s): Xiaojuan Feng 1 ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3592-3027 , Xingjie Wang 2 , 3 , , Bui Thi Van Nga 3 , Nguyen Thi Xuyen 4
Author(s) information:
1 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
2 2Institute of Geological Survey, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
3 East Asia University of Technology, Trinh Van Bo Street, Xuan Phuong Ward, Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
4 Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Viet-Hung Industrial University, No. 88, 419 St., Tay Phuong, Hanoi, Vietnam

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Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology

Volume 4 - Issue 1 - 2026

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This study evaluated the performance of a hybrid constructed wetland (CW) system consisting of horizontal subsurface flow (HF), vertical subsurface flow (VF), and free water surface (FWS) units for domestic wastewater treatment under rural conditions. The system was operated at two hydraulic loading rates (HLR) of 5 and 10 cm/day to assess treatment efficiency under different operational scenarios. Results showed high removal efficiencies for organic matter and nitrogen, with average BOD₅ and NH₄⁺-N removal reaching approximately 82.6–84.8% and 85.7–88.2%, respectively. Total suspended solids (TSS) removal ranged from 67.1% to 83.8%, while total coliform removal exceeded 98%. However, phosphorus removal remained low and unstable (14.2–17.2%), indicating the need for improved substrate materials. The performance of HF units varied depending on plant species, with Caladium bicolor demonstrating superior BOD₅ removal efficiency. The integration of HF and VF units, combined with intermittent feeding, enhanced nitrification–denitrification processes and improved nitrogen removal. Overall, the study demonstrated that the hybrid CW system was an effective, low-cost, and sustainable solution for domestic wastewater treatment in rural areas without requiring recirculation.

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SUBMITTED: 27 April 2026
ACCEPTED: 22 May 2026
PUBLISHED: 25 May 2026
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 25 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v4i1.1171

Cite this article
Feng, X. ., Wang, X. ., Nga, B. T. V., & Xuyen, N. T. . (2026). Evaluation of Rural Domestic Wastewater Treatment Using a Hybrid Constructed Wetland with Three Flow Configurations. Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology, 4(1), 34−43. https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v4i1.1171
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