improvement in the design of the vermifiltration setup. Li et al. (2008) states that it is
important to have an understanding of dynamics of earthworm population during the
process of vermifiltration. Knowing the behavior of earthworms and their demographic behaviors will be useful for using them as bioindicators for managing the
nutrient input in the system. The present chapter that reports the integration of plants
with the process of vermifiltration could prove to be more effective in remediation of
wastewater.
Another challenge for this process is to provide a reactor as the earthworms are
said to be sensitive to light, touch, and moisture content. Though earthworms can
adapt to low temperature conditions but high temperature becomes a deterrent in
their survival (Patel 2018). Various studies state that earthworms may adversely be
affected by some of the pollutants that are toxic in nature, viz., heavy metals and
pesticides. Hence, it becomes important to ensure that no such toxic elements or
substances are present in the wastewater that is detrimental to earthworm’s health.
However, if earthworms show any susceptibility toward any specific pollutants
present in the wastewater, the process of vermifiltration may require the pretreatment
of the wastewater through a conventional mode of treatment. This may escalate the
cost of the overall treatment process.
3.5 Future Perspective
The concept of vermifiltration that combines the symbiotic relationship of earthworm and microorganisms to remove the pollutants from wastewater is a relatively
new concept (Jiang et al. 2016). The concept of vermifiltration could be further
extended by incorporating the plants as well to have a profound synergistic effect in
the removal of pollutants from the wastewater (i.e., vermifiltration coupled with
phytoremediation). Vermifiltration coupled with incorporation of plants can prove to
be an effective mode of treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater. Apart
from point source of pollutants, vermifiltration could also be utilized as a mode of
treatment for diffuse source of wastewater (Wang et al. 2011). As the conventional
mode of wastewater treatment (sewage treatment plant and effluent treatment plant)
requires high investment, it becomes highly pertinent to employ an economical and
manageable treatment plant (Tomar and Suthar 2011). Treatment by vermifiltration
could also be adopted at a micro level by the local communities. The process could
provide an efficient mode of treatment wherever there is a lack of proper and
adequate treatment facilities. To make the process more efficient, there is a future
scope of study on earthworm-microorganism interaction in the vermifiltration process (Liu et al. 2013). The treated wastewater obtained after vermifiltration is
reported to have its utility in gardening, irrigation, and other reuse purposes (Singh
et al. 2017). However, it is yet to be seen that how the treated wastewater arising
from vermifiltration could affect the soil fertility. The acceptability of the
vermifiltration technology coupled with phytoremediation thus depends on the
extent of treatment achieved in the process and field studies on the agricultural
46
A. B. Chowdhary et al.
important to have an understanding of dynamics of earthworm population during the
process of vermifiltration. Knowing the behavior of earthworms and their demographic behaviors will be useful for using them as bioindicators for managing the
nutrient input in the system. The present chapter that reports the integration of plants
with the process of vermifiltration could prove to be more effective in remediation of
wastewater.
Another challenge for this process is to provide a reactor as the earthworms are
said to be sensitive to light, touch, and moisture content. Though earthworms can
adapt to low temperature conditions but high temperature becomes a deterrent in
their survival (Patel 2018). Various studies state that earthworms may adversely be
affected by some of the pollutants that are toxic in nature, viz., heavy metals and
pesticides. Hence, it becomes important to ensure that no such toxic elements or
substances are present in the wastewater that is detrimental to earthworm’s health.
However, if earthworms show any susceptibility toward any specific pollutants
present in the wastewater, the process of vermifiltration may require the pretreatment
of the wastewater through a conventional mode of treatment. This may escalate the
cost of the overall treatment process.
3.5 Future Perspective
The concept of vermifiltration that combines the symbiotic relationship of earthworm and microorganisms to remove the pollutants from wastewater is a relatively
new concept (Jiang et al. 2016). The concept of vermifiltration could be further
extended by incorporating the plants as well to have a profound synergistic effect in
the removal of pollutants from the wastewater (i.e., vermifiltration coupled with
phytoremediation). Vermifiltration coupled with incorporation of plants can prove to
be an effective mode of treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater. Apart
from point source of pollutants, vermifiltration could also be utilized as a mode of
treatment for diffuse source of wastewater (Wang et al. 2011). As the conventional
mode of wastewater treatment (sewage treatment plant and effluent treatment plant)
requires high investment, it becomes highly pertinent to employ an economical and
manageable treatment plant (Tomar and Suthar 2011). Treatment by vermifiltration
could also be adopted at a micro level by the local communities. The process could
provide an efficient mode of treatment wherever there is a lack of proper and
adequate treatment facilities. To make the process more efficient, there is a future
scope of study on earthworm-microorganism interaction in the vermifiltration process (Liu et al. 2013). The treated wastewater obtained after vermifiltration is
reported to have its utility in gardening, irrigation, and other reuse purposes (Singh
et al. 2017). However, it is yet to be seen that how the treated wastewater arising
from vermifiltration could affect the soil fertility. The acceptability of the
vermifiltration technology coupled with phytoremediation thus depends on the
extent of treatment achieved in the process and field studies on the agricultural
46
A. B. Chowdhary et al.