Arrowroot plants cleaning polluted water

Arrowroots: Nature's Unsung Heroes for Wastewater Cleanup?

Lena Voss in Climate & Environment December 2025 • 3 min read.

"Could this common plant be a sustainable solution for heavy metal pollution in our water?"

Municipal wastewater is a cocktail of pollutants from homes, businesses, and industries. Traditional treatment methods can be expensive and create their own environmental problems. Finding sustainable and affordable solutions is a major challenge for cities and towns worldwide.

That's where the humble arrowroot plant comes in. While often overlooked, research suggests that arrowroots possess a remarkable ability to soak up heavy metals from wastewater, offering a natural and environmentally friendly way to purify our water.

This article explores a study investigating the effectiveness of arrowroots in removing pollutants from municipal wastewater. We'll dive into how these plants work, the results of the study, and the potential for arrowroots to become a key player in sustainable water treatment.

Arrowroots to the Rescue: How They Clean Wastewater

Arrowroot plants cleaning polluted water

The study, conducted by researchers in Kenya, examined the ability of arrowroots (Amaranta arundinacea) to remove heavy metals from municipal wastewater. They created a model wetland, planting arrowroots in raw wastewater and comparing the water quality in planted versus unplanted areas.

The results were impressive. Wastewater cultivated with arrowroots showed significantly higher removal rates of heavy metals compared to wastewater without the plants. Specifically, the arrowroots demonstrated the following removal rates:

Iron (Fe): 68% removal
Manganese (Mn): 98% removal
Zinc (Zn): 54% removal
Copper (Cu): 50% removal

In contrast, the natural process in wastewater without arrowroots only achieved significantly lower removal rates. Furthermore, when arrowroots were planted in the effluent from unplanted maturation ponds, they continued to remove pollutants, achieving even higher removal rates for iron and manganese.

The Future of Water Treatment: Could Arrowroots Be the Answer?

The study's findings suggest that arrowroots can be a valuable tool for tertiary wastewater treatment, offering a natural and cost-effective way to remove heavy metals. By incorporating arrowroots into constructed wetlands or maturation ponds, wastewater treatment plants can further purify water before it's released back into the environment.

While more research is needed to optimize the use of arrowroots in wastewater treatment, this study provides a promising glimpse into the potential of nature-based solutions. As communities around the world grapple with water pollution challenges, arrowroots may offer a sustainable and readily available solution.

The researchers recommend that treatment plants with sufficient land consider integrating arrowroots into their wastewater treatment processes. Further research should also explore the ability of arrowroots to adsorb other pollutants, potentially expanding their role in environmental cleanup.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.5897/jece2015.0351, Alternate LINK

Title: Heavy Metal Remediation From Municipal Waste Water Using Arrowroots (Amaranta Arundinacea)

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

Publisher: Academic Journals

Authors: Mwiluka Tenge Joan, Kituyi Lusweti John, Ng’ Wena Magak Gideon

Published: 2018-08-31

Everything You Need To Know

What are arrowroots and how do they help with wastewater treatment?

Arrowroots, also known as Amaranta arundinacea, are plants that the study indicates have a remarkable ability to remove heavy metals from municipal wastewater. This is significant because it offers a natural and environmentally friendly method to purify water, which contrasts with potentially expensive and environmentally problematic traditional treatment methods. The implications are that they may be a key player in sustainable water treatment by enhancing the quality of the water before it is released back into the environment. The arrowroots can be incorporated into constructed wetlands or maturation ponds to further purify water.

What is municipal wastewater, and why is it a problem?

Municipal wastewater is a complex mixture of pollutants from various sources like homes, businesses, and industries. This waste contains heavy metals, among other contaminants, that can be harmful to the environment and human health if released untreated. The study focuses on removing these heavy metals. The implication is that effective wastewater treatment is crucial for environmental protection and public health. The article highlights the need for sustainable and affordable solutions to handle municipal wastewater.

Where was the study conducted, and what did they do?

The study was conducted by researchers in Kenya. The researchers created a model wetland, planting arrowroots in raw wastewater and comparing the water quality in planted versus unplanted areas. The importance of this study lies in its findings: arrowroots demonstrated impressive heavy metal removal rates. This demonstrates the potential of arrowroots in wastewater treatment. It means that arrowroots are an efficient and eco-friendly method for removing pollutants from water. The findings suggests that arrowroots can be a valuable tool for tertiary wastewater treatment, offering a natural and cost-effective way to remove heavy metals.

What heavy metals did arrowroots remove, and how effective were they?

The study showed that arrowroots effectively removed several heavy metals from municipal wastewater. Specifically, the arrowroots demonstrated the following removal rates: Iron (Fe) at 68%, Manganese (Mn) at 98%, Zinc (Zn) at 54%, and Copper (Cu) at 50%. The implication is that arrowroots can significantly improve the quality of wastewater before it is released back into the environment. This efficiency in removing these pollutants can help water treatment plants to further purify water. The removal rates for these specific heavy metals demonstrate their effectiveness in cleaning wastewater.

How can arrowroots be used to improve water treatment processes?

The study suggests that arrowroots can be a valuable tool for tertiary wastewater treatment. The implications are that by incorporating arrowroots into constructed wetlands or maturation ponds, wastewater treatment plants can further purify water before it's released back into the environment. This will benefit both the environment and public health. Arrowroots offer a natural and cost-effective way to remove heavy metals and contribute to sustainable water treatment solutions.