How do reed bed sewage systems work?

If your site has poor drainage, an alternative option is a reed bed. These aquatic plant based systems allow bacteria, fungi and algae to digest the organic matter in the effluent. In each case, the effluent percolates through layers of sand and gravel in an enclosed bed.

Do reed beds attract rats?

Reed beds tend to attract rodents, particularly in the winter, so unless you like rats and mice, you may want to consider some kind of pest control system.

Do reeds clean water?

Reeds pump oxygen into their root zone and sustain bacteria which clean the water. The maximum ammonia the bacteria can remove is about 2000mg/litre, and this rate is reduced by about 15% in winter due to colder temperatures.

What is reed bed wastewater treatment?

Reed Beds are constructed wetlands planted with fragmites australis and provide a natural and sustainable form of sewage treatment. Historically, the Reed Bed was the only form of small-scale sewage treatment available and were widely adopted to provide sewage treatment for domestic and commercial applications.

How are reed bed sewage treatment systems used?

Typically these systems are used for secondary treatment of sewage after a septic tank or settlement tank, or tertiary treatment of sewage treatment plant effluent, but usually involve the use of electric pumps unless the site has reasonable gradient. Multi-stage reed-bed systems, incorporating two stages of vertical flow.

Where are reed bed systems used in Australia?

Turlinjah is a small community of 70 people on the NSW South coast of Australia. Previously sewage was collected… If you have land space and water treatment issues, then you should be using a reed bed system instead of high cost, energy consuming water treatment systems.

Where are reedbeds used for effluent management?

Subsurface flow reedbeds are a proven technology for effluent management. Several single household reedbeds have been installed in South Australia. An approved reedbed for four houses has been operating successfully since 1987 at the property of the Village Community Cooperative, Willunga (system is shown in Appendix 2).

What can a down flow reed bed be used for?

Down-flow reed-beds are normally used for treating septic tank effluent. Unless the site has a decent gradient, it is not usually possible to avoid the need for electrical power when designing a reed bed system. Even simple horizontal flow designs usually need control systems in order to ensure that surge flows don’t swamp the system.