Frequently Asked Questions

It is said that reed beds require little maintenance. How true is this?

Relative to the packaged systems which have more mechanical parts, reed beds have less to go wrong, be maintained or be replaced. Assuming in particular that you have adequate fall on your site then there will be no need for pumps for example.

A newly planted reed bed however should be weeded for the first two years, so that the weeds do not out compete with the reed plants. There will be little growth in winter, so the root network will only be fully developed by the third year. Once establishd the reeds will block light to other unwanted plants. Scutch grass may encroach on the bed in the long term. We suggest building a footpath round the bed to help prevent this problem.

Will Herr Ltd organise the building of reed beds on our new site?

No. Our small business does not carry out the full contract. The civil works on site should be done by your local builder. Details of levels etc. will be sent to you prior to our first visit to site. Ideally we will simply check that the levels are correct, that the tanks are in place and that the piping has adequated falls. Herr Ltd is primarily a manufacturer of reed bed components giving additional initial support and if necessary advice. We will also commission the system.

The client will need to engage a local builder, to do the digging, pipe laying, loading gravel, back filling and any block work for composting chambers or small grease traps. A local source of washed gravel will be needed also.

When do reed beds not work?

As a general rule red beds don't work whenever they are inadequately sized or whenever solids clog up the gravel. Don't just dig a hole, fill it with gravel and simply plant reeds. Such an approach may well clean up some of the pollution but probably will not meet minimal local authority standards for discharge. People who do not empty their septic tanks often enough may well let solids or faecal matter or grease eventually clog up the reed bed.

Do Local Authorities approve of reed beds?

The planners need assurances about any new approach to sewage treatment. They need to know that the owners understand the responsibilities about solids removal as compost or sludge. They need information about the lay out of the system and its likely performance. The Environmental Protection Agency document "Small scale treatment systems" should be referred to as evidence of the suitability and performance of these systems for Irish conditions. If required Herr Ltd will provide references of this documentation for you during the planning stage.

How clean will the final disharge be?

The proposals offered by Herr Ltd is an attempt to maximise the cleaning properties, and the passive nature of a natural system while at the same time minimising the total area of space required. For example faecal coliforms could be reduced further by maximising the time that effluent is retained in the system, in a follow on pond or set of ponds. An additional willow plantation after the ponds, of sufficient area and maturity, might reduce the final water volume to a local stream by some 60 to 80% during the growing season. As the trees grow they will absorb the water around their roots and leave less to go to the river. In winter however the ground around these trees will remain very wet. Assuming there is minimal space available for ponds and willows then the final effluent will be below 20 mg/l of BOD and 30 mg/l SS for more than 60% of the time, assuming a population loading of say 5 people in the house.