Constructed Wetlands: Sustainable Solution to Managing Domestic Wastewater in the Rural Areas of Sarawak

Abstract

Constructed wetland (CW) could be an attractive alternative for wastewater treatment in Sarawak, particularly in rural areas with low population densities, due to its advantage of being cost- and energy-effective, as well as its simplicity in operation and maintenance. CW has been widely used as a decentralized wastewater treatment system in developed and developing countries to treat various types of wastewater, including domestic sewage, surface runoff, agricultural wastewater, and sewage sludge. However, CW is still a relatively new wastewater treatment method in Sarawak, where only two CW systems are available in the entire state. This paper presents a review of existing CW systems treating domestic sewage and a pilot-scale study of subsurface flow CW system treating septage in Sarawak. In addition, the cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, public perception, and legislative requirement of CW systems are discussed in the context of wastewater management policies in Sarawak. This study gains important insight into the feasibility of CW systems as a long term solution to wastewater management in the rural areas of Sarawak.