Vetiver (Chrysopogonzizanioides) is a perennial bunch grass of the Poaceae family which is popularly known as Kush, and which are suitable for the disposal of leachate and effluents generated from landfill and wastewater treatment with super absorbent characteristics. This experimental study was carried out to assess the efficiency of Vetiver plants in the water of Bagmati River, close to Kirtipur’s Laboratory School. Data for design parameters- pH, Temperature, Conductivity, BOD5, Chloride, Nitrate, Phosphate, Hardness and Alkalinity- were collected regularly for a month. Vetiver plants were planted in three buckets with 7.5 liters of sampled water, while another bucket was kept as a control. In each of the three buckets, nine Vetiver plants were planted and physico-chemical parameters analyzed for one month at ten-day intervals. The result showed that on the one month, the overall concentration of BOD5, Chloride, Nitrate, Phosphate, Hardness and Alkalinity reduced by 71.03%, 42.90%, 93.93%, 88.4%, 46.4% and 22.2% respectively. pH and temperature of wastewater showed slight change while electronic conductivity lowered to normal levels after treatment in the bucket. Vetiver plant seems very effective in treating polluted water having high phosphate and nitrate levels.
