Patent ID: 7951296

Claim:
A method for treating wastewater, comprising: (a) conveying said wastewater to a first zone, said first zone being of predetermined size and conducive to anaerobic digestion treatment, (b) providing said first zone where: (1) said wastewater is treated via anaerobic digestion, (2) a once treated effluent is produced following anaerobic digestion, and (3) bottom sludge is periodically removed, (c) conveying said once treated effluent from said first zone to a second zone, said second zone being: (1) of predetermined size, (2) exposed to sunlight and the atmosphere, and (3) conducive to floating aquatic plant treatment, (d) conditioning said once treated effluent prior to floating aquatic plant treatment, (e) providing said second zone where: (1) batches of said once treated effluent receive floating aquatic plant treatment by growing a multitude of at least one type of floating aquatic plant on the surface of said once treated effluent, (2) batches of a twice treated effluent are produced following floating aquatic plant treatment, (3) floating aquatic plant biomass from floating aquatic plant growth is periodically harvested, and (4) bottom sludge is periodically removed, (f) discharging batches of said twice treated effluent from said second zone, whereby said wastewater is treated by anaerobic digestion in said first zone and conditioning of said once treated effluent facilitates floating aquatic plant treatment in said second zone.