Reed beds are a natural process. They can provide habitat for wildlife, birds and  reptiles. They fit well into the countryside.

As a tertiary stage to existing treatment plant, reed beds will provide a valuable improvement to final polishing of effluent.

Reed beds are a useful method of treating storm flows on  smaller sites.

Reduction of levels in, BOD, COD, TSS, NH4N, TON,

Total P, Total Coliforms, metals and hydrocarbons.

Common Reed, Phragmites australis is a dominant and versatile herbaceous perennial. Up to 3.5mtr tall it is a plant that whilst liking it’s roots in a damp situation will tolerate being in a flooded state as long as its foliage is left clear of the water.

The plant has the ability to pass oxygen down through  the stems to the roots. Thereby enabling it to live in boggy conditions. At the rhizomes (roots) enzymes develop at the root nodules. In turn a natural antibiotic is produced, attracting contaminates and effecting a breakdown process to clean the immediate water around the plant.

The plants habitat is predominately lowland, between 10 and 70 degrees latitude. Predominately found  in Europe, America, Africa and Australia. Has been found at 3000 ft in Tibet.

The roots of reeds by passing oxygen down into the body of the root zone provide a living environment where aerobic oxygen dependant bacteria can live and thrive by growing rapidly. (These bacteria are what enables the reed bed to function through the winter months, even though the plants have died back into themselves for the winter period). These bacteria are required for the efficient breakdown of many compounds. The reed plant meantime can uptake nutrient to support itself from the wastewater effluent, thus providing nourishment for itself to continue growing and expanding.