ABSTRACT
In July 1985 a group from the United Kingdom’s Water Authorities and WRc visited the Federal Republic of Germany to see Root Zone Method (RZM) treatment systems designed by Kickuth. The group agreed that the process had potential for sewage treatment for small rural situations, but it was clear that there were several areas of uncertainty. Group objectives were to define work needed and conduct research and development to produce a design and operations manual for reed bed treatment systems (RBTS) by 1990. A number of international contacts were made to exchange experience and data on RBTS systems, and in October 1986 the European Emergent Hydrophyte Treatment Systems Group was formed. It has recently been accepted as a European Community Expert Contact Group. The following advantages have been claimed for RBTS: low capital costs; simple construction involving no mechanical or electrical equipment; low maintenance cost; consistent effluent quality; and environmentally acceptable with potential for wildlife conservation.
