The Reedbed System

Waste into Water - A Natural Miracle!

Our Reedbed Water Treatment System treats all waste water from the farm, staff cottages and the conference centre. It operates entirely naturally – no chemicals or machinery. The waste water flows, in order, through:

• a vertical flow reed bed
• a deep settling pond
• a cascade of oxygenating flow forms
• a horizontal flow reed bed
• a wildlife pond
• a lake
• a willow bed

 

Carp, waterfowl and pondlife thrive in the  tranquil lake and the water is very clean and clear - it actually meets European bathing standards! We have attracted a vast biodiversity too, so this is a great way to clean water!

The Settling Pond

Flowforms

The Wildlife Pond

The Lake

How does it work?

As the water proceeds through the different stages of the reedbed system, the nutrients contained in the waste are converted by microbes and consumed by plants, while pollutants and any harmful bacteria are reduced to safe levels.

The first reedbed is a very active ecosystem destroys bad bacteria and also converts ammonia into nitrate, a much safer compound which plants and algae can use.

When the water arrives at the settling pond, naturally occurring bacteria take up nitrates and release harmless nitrogen into the air, reducing pollution in the water.

Pollutants are further reduced as the water splashes down the aerating flowforms (see below) and stream to the reed pool and wildlife pond. Here a long standing time kills off germs.

The reedbed system was created in spring 2002, but despite its relative infancy, this new habitat has already proved a magnet for wildlife, supporting breeding pairs of Moorhen, Mallard and Coot. Visits by Grey Heron, Peewits (Lapwings), Tufted Duck and Little Grebe have also been recorded, while the diversity of aquatic invertebrates rapidly expanded.