Evaluating the Efficiency and Environmental Suitability of Nature-Based Graywater Treatment for Sustainable Reuse

IJEP 46(10): 966-976 : Vol. 46 Issue 10 (October 2026)

Full Text

B. Bharani Baanu1*, K.S. Jinesh Babu2, R. Anandhalakshmi2, R. Rajalakshmi3 and V. Ragavan1

1. Ramco Institute of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Rajapalayam – 626 117, Tamil Nadu, India
2. Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Department of Civil Engineering, Sivakasi – 626 005, Tamil Nadu, India
3. Ramco Institute of Technology, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Rajapalayam – 626 117, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Rising freshwater demand necessitates sustainable alternatives, such as graywater reuse. Graywater reuse presents a practical way to alleviate pressure on freshwater resources. This study presents a prototype treatment system that combines constructed wetlands with internet of things (IoT) technology for efficient graywater management. The wetlands are planted with Chrysopogon zizaniodes (vetiver) and Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass) and the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on treatment performance is assessed. Total dissolved solids (TDS) serve as the representative water quality parameter. TDS sensors transmit real-time data via an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module to a cloud-based platform accessible through web and mobile applications. Results show that lemongrass is more effective initially, but vetiver achieves greater pollutant removal over extended HRTs. The IoT integration enables continuous monitoring, reduces manual intervention and supports data-driven decisions. This study demonstrates the potential of integrating nature-based solutions with smart technologies to enhance the efficiency, sustainability and scalability of graywater treatment and reuse systems.

Keywords

Wastewater, Water quality, Wetland structures, Hydraulic retention time, Internet of things, Eco-friendly

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