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Features & Advantages

Wetlands (reed beds) or subsurface flow wetlands (artificial wetlands) are an ecologically sustainable method to treat all domestic type waste water. They use natural processes for treatment, require no electricity or chemicals and can be utilised on near flat sites using gravity flow. The treated effluent is of a suitable quality for use in your garden or toilet flushing (with disinfection) and retains valuable nutrients.

Reed beds are constructed from readily available materials including gravel and coarse sand, an impermeable liner and of course reeds, which grow hydroponically. Inlet and outlet waste water pipes are positioned below the gravel surface so the standing water level is always below the gravel. This stops mosquitoes and children accessing the waste water and stops odours escaping the reed bed. Reed beds are :

  1. Effective sediment traps
  2. Breakdown organic material and
  3. Produce high quality waste water for sensitive environments
  4. Remove nutrients such as Nitrogen & Phosphorus.

The reed bed is sized according to the number of persons whose waste water is directed to it from either a septic tank or wet composting toilet system. Beneficial micro organisms (bugs) provide most of the wastewater treatment by aerobic and anaerobic processes.

Maintenance of a well designed and constructed reed bed is minimal. Annual reed growth should be cut back and can be reused as mulch for the garden.

Click here to see a cross section of a Eco-Reed Bed.

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