.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of three aquatic macrophytes (Commelina
cyanea, Phragmites australis and Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)) for treatment of municipal wastewater
collected from Federal University of Technology, Akure (Nigeria). Laboratory scale of three constructed wetlands of
dimensions 0.43 m x 0.93 m x 0.36 m in width, length and depth respectively, were developed to mimic natural
conditions and was operated for a single experimental run with each macrophte at different retention time of 6, 9 and
12 days. These aquatic macrophytes were planted in separate ponds. Domestic wastewater from undergraduate
students' hostel was introduced to the ponds. The raw wastewater sample and treated wastewater samples were
analysed using standard laboratory methods for physical (Turbidity and Dissolved solids), chemical (pH, Nitrate,
Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulphate Chemical Oxygen Demand and Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and bacteriological
(Coliform bacteria) parameters. Results showed substantial diminutions in all parameters treated with the
phytoremediators during the course of the study. Asides the three plants effectively removing Nitrate, Nitrite,
phosphate and Sulphate pollutants, Phragmites australis gave the highest removal ef?ciency for Phosphate (85.8%),
Water hyacinth gave the highest removal ef?ciency for pH (11.5%), Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Coliform
bacteria and Commelina cyanea gave the highest removal ef?ciency for turbidity (96.9%) and dissolved solids
(82.9%) parameters of the domestic wastewater samples. The overall results of the phytoremediation studies indicate that the puri?cation effectiveness of the three aquatic macrophytes were spontaneous, feasible and remarkable.