Reed Beds
WCI was one of the first Pollution Control companies to design and construct reed beds in the United Kingdom. We have now been constructing reed beds for over 15 years and have over 1040 reed bed cells installed throughout the British Isles.
What is a Reed Bed?
A reed bed or constructed wetland is a natural form of domestic or industrial waste water. Reed bed systems are an effective, sustainable and low maintenance method of sewage treatment. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye the bed(s) requires no electricity and once matured provides an ecological habitat for a wide range of species.
Types of Reed Bed
There are two main types of reed bed. Horizontal and vertical. The most common is the Horizontal flow reed bed which is a lined shallow structure which is constantly flooded to just below the gravel line. The effluent enters at one end and travels horizontally through the reeds `bacteria rich` root zone before being discharged on the far side of the bed.
The vertical flow reed bed is a lined, deeper structure made up of layers of various sized gravel planted with reeds. It is a free draining. Effluent is delivered to the top of the bed in batches which floods the surface of the bed and drains through. Each batch traps oxygen in the bed leading to an aerated system. Horizontal flow beds are most commonly installed for basic domestic properties but can be teamed with vertical flow beds, which use less land area, as part of a hybrid system in order to achieve effective BOD, suspended solids and ammonia reduction.
If you think a reed bed might be suitable for your property and would like to talk to one of our engineers please contact us now on 01984 623404.
How does a Domestic Horizontal Flow Reed Bed Work?
1. The primary or septic tank settles out the solids and allows liquor to pass to the reed bed for further treatment.
2. The reeds (Phragmites australis) have the capability to transfer oxygen down through their roots which creates allows a diverse range of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria to flourish and `breakdown` the sewage.
3. The resulting effluent can be discharged to a watercourse or soakaway as specified by the Environment Agency (EA) `Consent to Discharge`
What Maintenance does a Reed Bed Need?
Year in, year out, little maintenance is required. The primary tank will be need to be emptied every 6-12 month or when necessary. Until the reeds are fully established it will be necessary to weed the bed(s). This ensures that the reeds are the dominant species in the bed and the coverage is in excess of 70%, as specified by the EA Consent.
After 3-5 growing seasons the established reeds can be cut down to encourage new growth from the rhizomes
If you think a reed bed might be suitable for your property and would like to talk to one of our engineers please contact us now on 01984 623404.