Effects of unpowered complex eco-technology on sewage purification in central Chinese rural areas

Considering the characteristics of rural domestic sewage in central China, an unpowered complex eco-technology composed of anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), composite soil filling (CSF) system, and free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland was developed to treat rural sewage. The Guogang Village sewage treatment demonstration project at Xinmi City showed that the complex ecosystem had remarkable pollutant removal efficiency. The removal rate was over 90% for chemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus, and over 70% and 80% for TN and NH4+-N, respectively. The effluent concentration met the integrated wastewater discharge standard of China (GB18918-2002) level 1B. The complex eco-technology could effectively purify water quality, and it was cheaper and had simpler operation. Thus, it could be considered as an effective method for treating rural domestic sewage.