1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The pilot project had three main objectives:
1. To identify ecological treatment options for the polluted water in Balili River that can help clean the irrigation water of local crops in the valley to improve food safety and restore the river’s ecology, particularly for ecotourism and aesthetic purposes.
2. To assess the suitability of local plants for use in the constructed wetland in terms of restoring biodiversity and conserving wildlife habitats.
3. To test the phytoremediation potential of local macrophytes [1,2].
1. To identify ecological treatment options for the polluted water in Balili River that can help clean the irrigation water of local crops in the valley to improve food safety and restore the river’s ecology, particularly for ecotourism and aesthetic purposes.
2. To assess the suitability of local plants for use in the constructed wetland in terms of restoring biodiversity and conserving wildlife habitats.
3. To test the phytoremediation potential of local macrophytes [1,2].
Quantitative targets
- Reduce the water pollutants in Balili River [1]
- Determine the least time the local aquatic macrophytes can effectively absorb the water pollutants [1]
- Determine the least time the local aquatic macrophytes can effectively absorb the water pollutants [1]
Monitoring indicators defined
Water quality parameters - Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand, nitrate, phosphate, coliform (total and fecal)and heavy metals (Hg and Pb) [1,2].
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity conservation activity"
Making use of native species
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity restoration activity"
Create and use scientific knowledge for restoration
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
The study conducted an inventory of aquatic macrophytes in Balili River to identify potential plants for phytoremediation, using dominance, high biomass, and deep root systems as selection criteria. From this inventory, three emergent plants - Amaranthus spinosus, Eleusine indica, and Pennisetum purpureum - were selected for evaluation, along with Eichhornia crassipes, a free-floating plant that is locally available but not found in the Balili River. To assess their phytoremediation potential, the study utilized two types of constructed wetlands (CWs): a surface flow CW for floating plants and a horizontal subsurface flow CW for emergent plants. The pilot setup was established within the Organic Farm of Benguet State University, near the mainstream of the river, allowing for convenient access to wastewater for treatment.
Water quality parameters were then measured to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot setups. Results of the study showed that local dominant aquatic macrophytes are promising phytoremediators. Overall, the study found that Pennisetum purpureum exhibited the highest pollution reduction efficiency among the evaluated macrophytes. The results showed a significant improvement in the wastewater quality in almost all water assessment parameters. The values of total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and mercury were notably reduced and met the minimum water quality standard. Biological oxygen demand, phosphate, and lead remained slightly above the standard, but total and fecal coliform did not pass the water quality standard for class A water. [1,2] The study's findings suggest that the creation of a constructed wetland area, either as a full-scale or seasonal wetland, covering 1000 square meters, could be a potential solution for improving water quality in the city. [2]
Water quality parameters were then measured to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot setups. Results of the study showed that local dominant aquatic macrophytes are promising phytoremediators. Overall, the study found that Pennisetum purpureum exhibited the highest pollution reduction efficiency among the evaluated macrophytes. The results showed a significant improvement in the wastewater quality in almost all water assessment parameters. The values of total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and mercury were notably reduced and met the minimum water quality standard. Biological oxygen demand, phosphate, and lead remained slightly above the standard, but total and fecal coliform did not pass the water quality standard for class A water. [1,2] The study's findings suggest that the creation of a constructed wetland area, either as a full-scale or seasonal wetland, covering 1000 square meters, could be a potential solution for improving water quality in the city. [2]
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The Balili River in Benguet remains polluted despite more than a decade of rehabilitation efforts; thus, an alternative clean-up method was considered to be important to investigate. The exploratory study demonstrated the viability of phytoremediation using constructed wetlands planted with local macrophytes in the rehabilitation of the polluted Balili River. [1]
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The potential of phytoremediation in water bodies is commonly investigated in artificial wetlands or constructed wetlands, but the study focused on testing the use of local plants in phytoremediation due to ease of management and biodiversity reasons. [1,2]
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
This exploratory study demonstrated the viability of phytoremediation using constructed wetlands planted with local macrophytes in the rehabilitation of the polluted Balili River and the approach of the pilot site can be upscaled to a full-scale or seasonal CW [2].
