Reed‐Bed Treatment for Municipal and Industrial Wastewater in Beijing, China

The reed-bed system is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of treating sewage from small treatment works. A pilot-scale plant, which treated 500 m 3 /d of municipal and industrial wastewater, was studied in Beijing, China. The aim of the project was (i) to test the ability of the reed beds to remove pollutants for long-term operation in cold weather conditions, and (ii) to evaluate its environmental, ecological and financial values. The results of operation demonstrated that this system has the ability to remove the pollutants. One of the attractive features is that the reed beds can partly convert the pollutants into plant biomass with the natural energy from sunlight. The reeds can (a) be harvested each year, (b) provide a wildlife habitat, and (c) improve the quality of the ecosystem. Capital and operating costs of the system are comparatively low.