A research was conducted by six partners in the Mediterranean area (Spain, Italy, Greece, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco) in order to assess the efficiency of phytodepuration in constructed wetlands to recycle wastewater for irrigation. Each partner installed six to seven depurating ponds of approximately 100m2, filled with gravel and coarse sand, where depurating plants were grown.

While reeds were a plant common to all the partners, each of them planted additionally a second species in order to compare their depurating efficiency. Generally, reeds performed better than the other plants tested, both in terms of depurating efficiency and of biomass production.

Results obtained by the partners were generally in a good agreement and can be summarised as follows:
-Transported solids, COD, BOD, were evidently impacted, with reduction rates ranging between.
-Opposite to that, no appreciable influence could be detected with most microelements (Cd, Cr, B, Br, Sr, Fe), with pH, EC; only Pb resulted consistently reduced.
-Also macronutrient content was affected to a various extent.
-Bacterial population was reduced to an extent that not always met the standards set by the WHO and EU regulations.
-The technology of constructed wetlands as experienced is simple, economic and straightforward, nevertheless some problems were experienced which must be taken into account in the future activities; such problems, once detected and focused, can be easily solved, however.