Removal of BOD and COD in TPA Leachate Using Subsurface Constructed Wetland with Equisetum hyemale

Leachate is a liquid that comes from the entry of water into the landfill, dissolving and rinsing the waste material, afterwards producing a liquid with high pollutant content. Government regulations require that leachate produced from landfills must be treated before being discharged into the waters. The high operational costs cause some secondary processing units in TPA Piyungan Yogyakarta is not operated optimally so that the resulting effluent does not reach the quality standards. Constructed Wetland is a method for treating waste by using plants as processing agents. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of constructed wetlands by using Equisetum hyemale to reduce the concentration of BOD and COD. Equisetum hyemale is used because it is easy to be got, cheap and has aesthetic value. In this study, leachate was treated with subsurface constructed wetland reactors which were operated by using a batch system. Equisetum hyemale was planted on zeolite media combined with river coral. The results showed waste concentration degradations in all organic parameters, especially in reactors with the lowest concentration variations. Overall, we can apply this application in developing countries with poor wastewater treatment.