Performance of pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland coupled with a microbial fuel cell for treating wastewater

•Realistic conditions than most of previous CW-MFC designs.•Artificial electron acceptors in anaerobic condition prompt the oxidation.•On average 33% higher COD removal in HSSF-CWs with MFCs.•Treatment improvement reconfirms the earlier lab-scale results of CW-MFC.•Bigger scale implementation of the concept is possible.