Domestic

Domestic reed beds and wetlands are suitable for the treatment and storm water management of waste waters. Domestic reed beds offer flexible designs for secondary and tertiary treatment prior to discharge to surface waters/or to groundwater via percolation/polishing filters.

Applications

• Domestic reed beds for single or multiple dwellings whether homeowner, developer or council.
• Overloaded or failing existing systems (town, village, group estate schemes).
• Ideal and easy add-on to old or new septic tank systems or for polishing existing overloaded systems.
• Can be used in combination with compost (dry) toilets, urine separation systems, grey and black water separation and other alternative primary treatment arrangements.
• Minimal slopes required.
• Wetlands/ponds and/or willow beds can be used after secondary treated effluents to ‘polish’ and reduce contaminants further if and where necessary.
• Added protection to wells and water supplies.
• Grey-water treatment for reuse in garden or household.
• Rainwater harvesting to pond/wetland, acting as a reservoir prior to use for irrigation or recycling.
• Percolation testing/site assessment/site characterisation service also available.
• Remedial works and percolation/polishing filter designs for failing systems.

In domestic situations a reed bed is placed after primary treatment (e.g. from a septic tank). Domestic reed beds are sized at 5m2/pe for secondary treatment (i.e. < 20/20 BOD5/SS). However by upsizing using an additional 1m2/pe, tertiary treatment (<5/5) is achieved. If secondary treatment is already achieved with a tank/treatment system, tertiary beds can be used and sized accordingly.

Past experience

2003-present

We have numerous examples of single house domestic systems (reed bed, pond, wetland, willow beds) throughout the north-west and beyond.

Multiple houses, Co. Fermanagh – tertiary reed bed

Housing estate, Co. Wexford – tertiary reed bed.

Organic Centre, Co. Donegal – secondary reed bed and tertiary wetland

Pending:

Multi house, Co. Donegal – secondary reed bed and tertiary wetland