Sustainable Design: Rieth Village

Wastewater Treatment | Constructed Wetland | Recirculating Sand Filter

Constructed Wetland

After the wastewater from Rieth Village passes through a septic tank to settle out solids, it then flows into a submerged bed constructed wetland. The water percolates through the gravel bed and the water is "treated" by this natural system.
A rubber liner keeps the wastewater from percolating down into the surrounding soil. Water is distributed through pipes at one end of the wetland and collected at the other in a perforated pipe system.
The distributing and collecting pipe systems are covered with large gravel to insure that the perforations do not clog with the smaller gravel from the middle of the wetland or plant material.
The wetland is planted with five different wetland plant species. Pea gravel at the surface of the wetland provides the growth medium for the plants.