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Modeling and Economic Analysis of Greywater Treatment in Rural Areas in Jordan Using a Novel Vertical-Flow Constructed Wetland

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Abstract

Water scarcity in Jordan is becoming more severe with time, which resulted in an indispensable need for economic innovative approaches to maximize the utilization of nonconventional water resources through reuse options. Within the framework of the current study, a novel vertical flow constructed wetland system was implemented for greywater treatment in four different rural areas in Jordan. In this paper, the primary objective was to develop a regression-based nonlinear model to predict BOD effluent concentration from the proposed system. The model obeyed the first-order kinetics and found to provide an efficient tool in predicting the effluent BOD value as exemplified by an R2 of 0.78. Moreover, a cost analysis was carried out to verify the feasibility of the proposed system. The economic results revealed a NPV range of 295–1209 JOD (420–1730$), IRR range of 6–10.7%, and a payback period range of 8.8–15.5 years. The average calculated costs of greywater treatment using the VFCWs were found to be 0.391 (USD/m3 treated) and 0.672 (USD/kg BOD removed). Finally, the energy saving from using the proposed system was quantified and an estimate of 70 JOD (100$)/year household was obtained.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada and carried out by World Vision International.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, German Jordanian University, Amman, 11180, Jordan

    Arwa Abdelhay

  2. Environmental and Renewable Energy Engineering, German Jordanian University, Amman, 11180, Jordan

    Suhaib G. Abunaser

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  1. Arwa Abdelhay
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  2. Suhaib G. Abunaser
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Correspondence to Arwa Abdelhay.

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Abdelhay, A., Abunaser, S.G. Modeling and Economic Analysis of Greywater Treatment in Rural Areas in Jordan Using a Novel Vertical-Flow Constructed Wetland. Environmental Management 67, 477–488 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01349-7

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