Mobile reedbeds cleaning up on Exmoor National Park

The four exemplar mobile reedbeds installed on Exmoor National Park, by Aardvark EM Ltd in conjunction with funding from the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund, to treat and clean wastewater are proving very effective.

Water quality affects us all, whether for recreation or as an essential for life and Exmoor National Park enjoys a high water quality standard in its rivers, streams and ground waters. However, unlike other areas of the UK most of the wastewater produced is discharged directly to the ground and often with only limited treatment such as through a septic tank or a soak-away.

To improve the quality of released wastewater, Exmoor National Park through local company Aardvark EM Limited, have established a project to develop lightweight mobile reedbeds to treat and clean effluent, which can be deployed almost anywhere within hours of receiving a request and are cheap to run.

Exmoor in its rural location enjoys a good water quality standard in its rivers, streams and ground waters, but unlike other areas of the country most of the waste water produced is discharged to ground with only limited treatment, e.g. through septic tanks and soakaways. Recently the UK signed up to the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) and as a result all UK watercourses and ground water resources have been assessed. The results have been published by the Environment Agency and they make for surprising reading for the area. Several locations on Exmoor are deemed to be at risk of failing to meet the requirements of the WFD.

Four of these Mobile Reedbed Units (MRUs) are now up and running on Exmoor National Park at different locations treating four different wastewater types; Leisure (campsite at Westermill Farm, nr. Exford), Industry (Styles Ice-cream, nr. Roadwater), Domestic (nr. Treborough) and Aquaculture (Torre Fisheries Ltd, nr. Roadwater).

Each Mobile Reedbed Unit is monitored weekly and the treatment efficiency analysed over the next 12 months drawing to a close in May 2007. So far each unit is showing significant success in treating the wastewater with improvement across all the key indicators such as dissolved oxygen and dissolved solids, ammonia and nitrogen levels.

Aardvark will be organising open days to discuss the project and reedbeds in general throughout the year. For more information please contact the project manager, Adam Robbins on 01984 624989, or visit the company website www.aarvarkem.co.uk.

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Notes:

The Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund is provided by Defra and administered by Exmoor National Park Authority. It provides grants to organisations, individuals, community groups and businesses who wish to explore and develop practical projects which enhance and conserve the environment, economy and way of life in the National Park. It also aims to develop and test new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living in this area of great beauty and diversity

Aardvark are a local based company in Wiveliscombe, they specialise in water, waste and energy and work for a number of local clients as well as national and international PLC’s. More information may be gained from their website www.aardvarkem.co.uk

Aardvark have developed an new and innovative reedbed system, more information can be obtained from their dedicated website www.rentareedbed.com

Water Frame Work Directive, for more details please visit the Environment Agency website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/444217/444663/955573/ there is a list of references and plans which show WFD results to include areas at risk of failing.