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In recent years, the availability of freshwater resources has been depleting due to increased water consumption by the growing population worldwide. In this regard, the treatment and reuse of wastewater aid in achieving water security and environmental protection. In low-income countries of the Global South, the infrastructure for water and sanitation is neither sufficient nor sustainable to meet current and future demands. This lack of resources has caused numerous communities in these countries to face difficulties in obtaining clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. The water treatment landscape in India is characterized by a lack of infrastructure and resources, with only 37% of the generated sewage getting treated. The cost of treatment is significantly high, with a large portion of the total expense going towards the infrastructure needed to collect and transport sewage to centralized treatment plants. Also, these systems demand substantial operational and maintenance costs. In addition, the traditional sewage treatment plants are not designed for the removal of emerging contaminants (ECs) like pharmaceuticals and personal care products, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in wastewater systems. In this context, engineered natural treatment systems (ENTS) are emerging as a viable wastewater treatment and reuse option. In particular, constructed wetlands (CWs) are low-cost, passive natural treatment options with minimal capital investment and technological intervention. Furthermore, their treatment potential and ecosystem services have been proven effective in removing ECs along with organic pollutants and nutrients. This makes them an ideal option for sustainable water treatment and reuse, particularly in the low-income countries of the Global South. This chapter focuses on the performance of CWs in removing a wide range of pollutants from municipal wastewater. Special attention is given to ECs in wastewater systems and their fate and removal mechanisms in the CWs. This study also summarizes some of the successful practical models for the application of ENTS.

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