PHYTOREMEDIATION OF CATFISH WASTEWATER USING WATER LETTUCE (PISTIA STRATIOTES)

Aquaculture has emerged as a vital source of protein and economic livelihood in many parts of the world, especially in developing nations. However, its sustainability is increasingly challenged by the pollution associated with aquaculture wastewater, which contains high loads of organic matter, nutrients, suspended solids, and pathogenic microorganisms. This study evaluated the potential of Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) in the phytoremediation of wastewater from catfish ponds over a 28-day period. Key physicochemical and microbiological parameters such as pH, temperature, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity, and total bacterial count were monitored at 7-day intervals. The results indicated significant improvements in water quality within the experimental treatment compared to the control. The pH decreased from 9.05 to 7.3, and temperature reduced from 32°C to 27.6°C by day 28, with a corresponding temperature removal efficiency of 12.23% by day 21. Turbidity levels dropped from 4897 NTU to 296 NTU, indicating a 39.09% removal efficiency. TDS values were reduced from 0.40 mg/L to 0.09 mg/L, achieving an 81.63% efficiency. Electrical conductivity declined from 117.7 µS/cm to 63.27 µS/cm (94.33% efficiency), while total bacterial count dropped from 28 × 10¯³ cfu/ml to 7.01 × 10¯³ cfu/ml, confirming the plant’s bioremediative effect. Microbial isolates from the wastewater included enteric bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacter spp., Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus spp. These results demonstrate that Pistia stratiotes can serve as an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective phytoremediator in aquaculture wastewater management.