reed:reed_beds

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-# Reed beds+This topic is part of [[gt:water|Water & sewage]]. 
 +====== Reed beds ======
  
  
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-## What are reed beds?+===== What are reed beds? =====
  
 In a low-impact context, they’re wastewater treatment systems that use growing wetland plants as the active component in getting effluent clean enough to discharge back into the receiving environment. Alternately called treatment wetlands, constructed wetlands or reed bed treatment systems, they have the potential to be low-cost, zero energy input, low-tech, high-efficiency systems that can be used to help protect streams and rivers from almost any source of effluent or dirty water. In a low-impact context, they’re wastewater treatment systems that use growing wetland plants as the active component in getting effluent clean enough to discharge back into the receiving environment. Alternately called treatment wetlands, constructed wetlands or reed bed treatment systems, they have the potential to be low-cost, zero energy input, low-tech, high-efficiency systems that can be used to help protect streams and rivers from almost any source of effluent or dirty water.
  
-### How reed beds work+==== How reed beds work ====
  
 Despite appearances to the contrary, reed beds and constructed wetlands work in a very similar way to conventional treatment systems. Primary settlement takes place in a [septic tank](/sept/septic_tanks); secondary aeration is provided by the plants, which draw oxygen down to the roots via the leaves, where it becomes available for aerobic bacteria; tertiary polishing is carried out if the reed bed is built large enough, providing further removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Despite appearances to the contrary, reed beds and constructed wetlands work in a very similar way to conventional treatment systems. Primary settlement takes place in a [septic tank](/sept/septic_tanks); secondary aeration is provided by the plants, which draw oxygen down to the roots via the leaves, where it becomes available for aerobic bacteria; tertiary polishing is carried out if the reed bed is built large enough, providing further removal of nitrogen and phosphorus.
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 - volatilisation - volatilisation
  
-### Different types of reed bed system+==== Different types of reed bed system ====
  
 The terms reed bed and constructed wetland are often used interchangeably, but there are a number of distinct system types within the general category of treatment wetlands. Although these different system types can be used in series on any given project, the design protocol for each type should not be used interchangeably. The different reed bed types are usually categorised as follows: The terms reed bed and constructed wetland are often used interchangeably, but there are a number of distinct system types within the general category of treatment wetlands. Although these different system types can be used in series on any given project, the design protocol for each type should not be used interchangeably. The different reed bed types are usually categorised as follows:
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-## What are the benefits of reed beds?+===== What are the benefits of reed beds? =====
  
 With our current global challenges of climate change and species extinction, reed beds and constructed wetlands can offer a zero energy input way to get our sewage clean, and also provide reliable sewage treatment at a time when continuation of reliable ongoing electricity supply to our municipal and domestic sewage systems is not guaranteed, thus helping to preserve the habitat integrity of our rivers, lakes and coastal waters for biodiversity. With our current global challenges of climate change and species extinction, reed beds and constructed wetlands can offer a zero energy input way to get our sewage clean, and also provide reliable sewage treatment at a time when continuation of reliable ongoing electricity supply to our municipal and domestic sewage systems is not guaranteed, thus helping to preserve the habitat integrity of our rivers, lakes and coastal waters for biodiversity.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 There are a number of stages to any reed bed project. The more you can do yourself, the lower the overall cost. Reed beds and constructed wetlands generally require planning permission, so if you are good at preparing site drawings, system drawings and good at sourcing design information, this is something you can do yourself. Otherwise you may wish to hand over to a consultancy that specialises in constructed wetland and reed bed design. The excavation, lining, pipework and manhole construction all require input by somebody skilled in that kind of thing. You may hire a mini digger and do it yourself, or you may wish to hire a groundworks contractor, landscaper or sewage treatment system specialist. Planting with the right plants is the final stage (to be carried out before connecting the septic tank!). If you have a boggy field nearby with the right plants, that will be the lowest carbon footprint approach. You may also buy from specialist suppliers if you are stuck. Planting isn't rocket science, but be sure to put the green bit up and the rooty bit down (it happens...). The _Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds_ gives guidance on all of these stages, so if you want to do it yourself, it may be a good book to start with. There are a number of stages to any reed bed project. The more you can do yourself, the lower the overall cost. Reed beds and constructed wetlands generally require planning permission, so if you are good at preparing site drawings, system drawings and good at sourcing design information, this is something you can do yourself. Otherwise you may wish to hand over to a consultancy that specialises in constructed wetland and reed bed design. The excavation, lining, pipework and manhole construction all require input by somebody skilled in that kind of thing. You may hire a mini digger and do it yourself, or you may wish to hire a groundworks contractor, landscaper or sewage treatment system specialist. Planting with the right plants is the final stage (to be carried out before connecting the septic tank!). If you have a boggy field nearby with the right plants, that will be the lowest carbon footprint approach. You may also buy from specialist suppliers if you are stuck. Planting isn't rocket science, but be sure to put the green bit up and the rooty bit down (it happens...). The _Permaculture Guide to Reed Beds_ gives guidance on all of these stages, so if you want to do it yourself, it may be a good book to start with.
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### What size should my reed bed be?+==== What size should my reed bed be? ====
  
 Below is a rough guide, based on sizing recommendations from the [EPA](http://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/water/wastewater/code%20of%20practice%20for%20single%20houses/#.U00LISgww7s) (Ireland) and [GBG-42](https://www.thenbs.com/PublicationIndex/documents/details?Pub=BRE&DocID=250722) (UK). Below is a rough guide, based on sizing recommendations from the [EPA](http://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/water/wastewater/code%20of%20practice%20for%20single%20houses/#.U00LISgww7s) (Ireland) and [GBG-42](https://www.thenbs.com/PublicationIndex/documents/details?Pub=BRE&DocID=250722) (UK).
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Can I use a reed bed for greywater or stormwater?+==== Can I use a reed bed for greywater or stormwater? ====
  
 In many respects using a reed bed for grey water only has certain advantages over treating both black water and grey water together. The system can be smaller because the influent is not as dirty, and has much lower pathogen levels. If you build the wetland sufficiently large, you can reuse the final effluent for watering a polytunnel (note that whatever cleaners, cosmetics or household chemicals you use will end up in your food, so best to use only natural cleaners etc.). In many respects using a reed bed for grey water only has certain advantages over treating both black water and grey water together. The system can be smaller because the influent is not as dirty, and has much lower pathogen levels. If you build the wetland sufficiently large, you can reuse the final effluent for watering a polytunnel (note that whatever cleaners, cosmetics or household chemicals you use will end up in your food, so best to use only natural cleaners etc.).
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 Constructed wetlands are also excellent for use as SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) to filter runoff from factory yards, roof surfaces and roads. They can be fitted with a variable flow control unit to allow the system to flood during times of heavy rainfall and then draw down slowly in drier weather to balance the flow in nearby streams and to filter the water before reintroducing it into the environment. Constructed wetlands are also excellent for use as SUDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) to filter runoff from factory yards, roof surfaces and roads. They can be fitted with a variable flow control unit to allow the system to flood during times of heavy rainfall and then draw down slowly in drier weather to balance the flow in nearby streams and to filter the water before reintroducing it into the environment.
 +===== Forum =====
  
-## Further resources+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:water|Water & sewage]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/water).
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Constructed Wetland Association](https://constructedwetland.co.uk/) 
 +- [EPA (US)](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/constructed-wetlands-handbook.pdf) handbook of constructed wetlands 
 +- [Oasis Design](https://oasisdesign.net/) - greywater specialists 
 +- [Reedbeds.co.uk](https://www.reedbeds.co.uk/) - FAQ 
 +- [Sustainable Sanitation Alliance](https://www.susana.org/) 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[cptt:Compost toilets]] 
 +- [[sewg:sewage|Low-impact sewage treatment]] 
 +- [[pond:Ponds]] 
 +- [[wlur:Waterless urinals]] 
 +- [[sept:Septic_tanks|Septic tanks & drainage fields]] 
 +- [[ntsw:Natural swimming pools]] 
 +- [[wsew:Willow sewage treatment]] 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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