Ponds, Wetlands And Water Features

For the treatment of medium to strong waste waters, pond-based systems can provide a more cost-effective low maintenance method of treatment.

Wetland areas planted with a range of willows and other marginal plants, when incorporated into a treatment system, provide additional nutrient removal and polishing of effluents to river quality standards.

Cress Water's pond systems combined with reed beds and wetland areas produce highly effective waste water treatment systems which are also able to:

• Reduce discharge volumes through percolation and evapo-transpiration
• Remove nutrients through biomass production
• Produce a quality of effluent suitable for recycling

The effluents from these systems can be recycled to maintain ornamental water features and for irrigation. As a result the need to import clean white water for these purposes can be substantially reduced and significant cost savings made.

Through attention to design and landscaping details, these systems can be constructed to form interesting and varied ecological habitats that could, in time, become wildlife sanctuaries and recreational amenities.

Pond-based systems, in contrast to reed bed systems, have a larger footprint, requiring in the order of 10 sq.m. per person equivalent.