Reed beds are used to treat waste water from the homes at Hockerton Housing Project.
There are many advantages of a wetland treatment system over conventional sewage treatment, including:
- Resistant to shock loadings
- Power supply not essential
- Low maintenance, low cost
- Low odour
- Rich wetland habitat for wildlife
- Aesthetically pleasing
The water treatment process
Solid matter settles in a septic tank, before liquid effluent enters a floating reed bed system. It takes about three months for waste water to pass through our reed bed, to ensure purification.
The outflow into our main lake is tested, and reaches EU bathing quality standards. From there it flows in to the river that borders the development.