In this lab-scale study, domestic wastewater is subjected to a chemical biological adsorption (A-stage), followed by treatment in an innovative roof installed parallel plate microalgae biofilm reactor for nutrient immobilization (I-stage). The A-stage process was operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 h and a solid retention time of 1 day (FeSO4 as flocculant). The I-stage, which consequently received the effluent of the A-stage process, was operated at an HRT of 1 day and exposed to natural light. The overall system removed on average 74% of the total chemical oxygen demand, 82% of the total suspended solids, 67% of the total nitrogen and 96% of the total phosphorous in the wastewater. The design involves a relatively low capital and operating cost which is in the order of 0.5 (sic)/m(3) wastewater treated. These aspects suggest that the A/I process can be used as a decentralized domestic wastewater treatment system. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.