Project Title

WETLAND GREY WATER RECYCLING

Code

E4

Project summary

'Grey water' (from sinks and baths - not toilets) can be cleaned biologically by sending the water through wetlands. Wetlands can be highly attractive, therefore enhancing the landscape, and are important for wildlife.

Examples of good practice: Springfield Gardens, Bradford.

Project management

Cutting and removal of vegetation every 2 years. Monitoring of the capability of the site to recycle the supplied quantities of grey water.

Project locations

Possibly on land between Manchester Road and Station Road, Deepcar, where there is already a wetland with Typha (reedmace) and some Phragmites (common reed), but the area is a scheduled development site and there is an ochre water problem here. There are currently few suitable locations within the SRB5 area for such a project to be viable.

Planning permission

?

Project links

Use of Community tools (C1) for vegetation clearance
Community composting (C5)
Recycling centre (E3)
Nature trail (T3).

Economic Implications

Funding - set up costs

Feasibility study to assess: hydrology, ecology, capability of the wetland to handle water supplied, plants to be used.
Pipes and pipe laying.
Planting.

Funding - running costs

Monitoring to ensure efficient recycling is taking place.
Vegetation cutting.

Employment

Environmental stewards could be responsible for much of the work, planting, cutting and monitoring. Local contractors to lay pipes.

Tourism

The wetland would provide an attractive feature and, given good interpretation, could be used as a tourist attraction.

Social Implications

Community involvement

Community consultation and education would benefit the scheme. Reassurances should be given in relation to fears about depth of water and the fears of disease. It should be explained that raw sewage is not being processed.

Schools involvement

Excellent educational resources for wildlife and scientific study, particularly of natural cycling and recycling of water.

Recreational benefits

The wetland would be an interesting and attractive place to visit. Boardwalks and interpretation signs about the process and wildlife could be included in the scheme.

Environmental Implications

Local Agenda 21

This project demonstrates how grey water can be recycled without using intensive industrial processing through the sewerage system and develop areas of high diversity and wildlife value.

Wildlife

Wetlands are relatively uncommon habitats, particularly in this area where they are valuable for increasing the diversity of wildlife. Care should be taken not to damage important existing habitats.

Project viability

Constraints

Local residents' preoccupations with grey water may cause some worries.
Fear of children drowning: therefore, shallow water only.
More research required into possible problems associated with odour, chemicals and the wetlands' ability to filter them successfully.
Litter clearance could be a problem.