A natural solution to cleaning brown water

Natural sewage systems process waste and effluent through a system of marsh plants, planted in a way so that when wastewater is passed through them, the plants absorb the pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorous. A work friend of mine, living in Clones, was involved with growing the marsh plants, particularly reeds and introducing them into the environment to treat wastage from businesses and private households. The local council there were very interested in this system and have planted areas to clean the excess water from road run off. Wetland water systems can be used for a wide variety of water disposal including farm run off, silage effluent, and even landfill leakage. These sorts of methods have been used inadvertently for sewage treatment ever since the first towns and villages channelled waste into the natural wetlands that surrounded them. Man - made wetlands for wastewater treatment are less costly than other forms of treatments and have little or no running costs. A household system would only have to measure three metres square and could be constructed for as little as 400 euro.

The advantages of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment are:

· High treatment efficiency possible –It results in good clean water.
· Low capital running costs.
· Minimum maintenance.
· Low energy requirements.
· Tolerant of variable loads.
· Beneficial to wildlife.
· Pleasing to the eye (and nose!)
· No chemicals.
Reeds are suitable for cleaning effluent from existing overloaded systems.