• • QL-CW and BL-CW achieved removal rates of >33% for antibiotics, >61% for non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, and >50% for pesticides from WWTP effluent, with cumulative EC concentrations of 2327.1 ng/L and 2553.5 ng/L, respectively.
• • Surface flow mode (BL-CW) significantly outperformed horizontal subsurface flow (QL-CW) for antibiotic removal (45.3% vs. 34.1%), while differences for non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals (66.6% vs. 64.4%) and pesticides (49.8% vs. 34.2%) were not statistically significant.
• • Planting Cyperus alternifolius (windmill grass) enhanced antibiotic removal (43.6%) compared to Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach) (30.1%), but had negligible effects on non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals (61.6% vs. 60.1%) and pesticides (49.1% vs. 43.0%).
• • Biodegradation, especially ammonia-oxidizing bacteria co-metabolism, dominated EC removal in QL-CW, while electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions were more important in BL-CW, highlighting distinct removal mechanisms based on wetland design.