What are the alternatives to a RBTS ?  Other domestic package systems exist. They usually involve a big plastic tank with pumps and lots of other moving parts which get clogged or break down, and have a matrix covered in micro-organisms which do the same job as a reed bed system. These are about three times the cost of a RBTS to install, and need regular, expensive maintenance.  Dry composting toilets are another option (with a small reed bed system to treat 'greywater' from baths, showers, basins, washing machines etc.) if you can convince your local planning authority (and your mother-in-law).

Can a RBTS cure a faulty old septic tank with leachfield or soakpit ? Yes. Most problems with existing systems arise from a high level of suspended solids which eventually clog up the leachfield or soakpit. We can advise on the most effective ways to deal with faulty systems.

Is a sloping site necessary ?  No. Reed bed systems can be built on flat land, and pumps can make installation possible on almost any unsewered site. If you're off the grid, the small amount of pumping involved can easily be handled by a Photovoltaic panel or run from a renewable power installation.

Do RBTS's work in winter ?  Yes. BOD  (Biochemical Oxygen Demand - the main signifier of organic pollution) is dependent on temperature. In very cold climates, some special measures may need to built in.

Is a RBTS suitable for a holiday home ?  If the house is unoccupied for long periods, a horizontal flow bed would be the best option, but it would need extra fertiliser until the plants became established.

Do they need a lot of maintenance and specialist knowledge by the householder ? Reed beds need much less maintenance than other package systems. A quick occasional check for blockages can be carried out, but float-switches can be installed to alert the owner to potential problems, and overflows are designed to divert effluent from blocked sections to the next stage. A valve is installed on VFRB's and is switched across every three to seven days. Plants should be cut back to ground level in autumn, and levels in the horizontal stage should be altered occasionally during establishment to promote root growth downwards. NTS provides full instructions and back-up with all systems designed, and a regular mail-out to remind clients when specific operations are required. A Pond Test Kit is provided with each system (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH), and, a feature recently introduced is tracking the results of these simple tests in a computer database.in order to warn of possible problems.  In a worst case scenario, with absolutely no maintenance from the homeowner over years, natural balances would ensure that the system remained effective far longer than other package systems.

Are reed beds a danger to small children ? The gravel matrix will support several tonnes and is usually near ground level, and so there is no risk of children falling into danger. Gravel based reed beds have no areas of water showing above the surface, and so there is no risk of drowning. Systems which incorporate ponds, usually for aesthetic purposes, are always designed with a gradual slope up from deeper water, and are rarely more than 1metre deep, but these should be treated with the same caution as any garden pond, and can be fenced off if necessary. As regards any health risk associated with children playing near the reed bed, children should be educated not to play within the actual treatment area. However, the health risks associated with reed beds are less than the risks involved in playing around farmyards or on playing fields contaminated with dog excrement. If in doubt, fence them out.

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