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 Phytodepuration or the treatment of wastewater by macrophytes is a biological treatment procedure of domestic wastewater that is essentially based on the natural decontaminating capacity of the plants to treat the liquid effluents. It also makes use of the bacteria and microorganisms present in the plants’ root system to cleanse the water. It is a system that does not require heavy investments for its implementation, maintenance or management, and that proved to be effective in eliminating the organic pollution as well as the microbiological pollution of wastewater.

The performance of this technology can exceed 90% in terms of SPM, COD, BOD5, and a 3 to 4-log reduction for the microbiological parameters. This technology represents an ideal solution for the treatment of rural wastewater in Tunisia, as well as the treatment of wastewater in small towns.

The collection and treatment of wastewater for small towns in rural regions constitute a major national problem; thus, the  transfer, adaptation, and development of technologies that are both reliable and adaptable to the national context has  become a priority axis for the Tunis International Center for Environmental Technologies. It is within this framework that  CITET developed the technology of rural wastewater treatment by macrophytes.

The first plant established by CITET is that of Jougar (governorate of Zaghouan), a rural area of about 1000 population
equivalent with a daily flow of the order of 24 m3/d.

Characteristics of the project

 • The Jougar plant is made up of a pre-treatment basin, a vertical flow basin, and a horizontal flow basin. The last basins are planted with macrophytes;

• Wastewater percolates through the action of gravity from one treatment stage to the other, and the decontamination is carried out by the purifying microorganisms and bacteria that consume the organic pollution…

Following the encouraging results of the experience of wastewater treatment by macrophytes, CITET planned the establishment of two more plants (Mallègue, governorate of Le Kef, and Chbika, governorate of Tozeur) so as to develop this technology and adapt it to the local context.

Station de traitement des eaux usées de Jougar

Schéma des composantes de la station de Jougar

 La qualité des eaux usées dans les differantes phases

 Télécharger le dépliant "Station pilote de Jougar" de traitement (station de Jougar)