Aquatic plants for water treatment in ornamental mirrors

Abstract

An analysis is presented of the use of aquatic plants for the purification of water from ornamental ponds in the "Youth Park" at the University of Matanzas, Cuba. The study was done at a laboratory scale and the following parameters were evaluated: dissolved oxygen, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, pH, total solids, water hardness, fecal coliform bacteria and chloride. The analysis demonstrated that aquatic plants can improve the indicators quality and reduce the frequency of the need to change the water in the pond. An analysis was conducted of the reuse of the treated pond water for irrigation of ornamental. The results proved that the use of the floating aquatic plants Nymphaea ampla and Eichornia crassipes constitutes an alternative water treatment, can help to improve water quality with economic benefits in potable water conservation.