Knowledge Garden Wetland Treatment System

WWT Consulting produced concept and detailed designs, and supervised construction of a wetland treatment system for a new build Pathfinder School.

The wetland treatment system, developed from initial ideas on integrating function and learning from Stakeholder Design, was designed to treat wastewater from the Arts and Science block whilst also providing an educational facility as part of the UK Government’s Project Faraday to update science teaching in schools.

The design incorporates a series of treatment beds in a kidney shaped system with sampling ponds to provide locations to test the water and monitor the biodiversity. A final wildlife pond, with a pond dipping platform, allows students to access the pond and conduct invertebrate sampling of the habitats.

The design also includes surface water attenuation for extreme storm events, to limit the effects of flooding from climate change, and a greywater return to provide water for flushing the toilets, so the school's water consumption is reduced and the students can see the full cycle.

We continued to work with the school for a year post construction to provide maintenance advice and to assist in maximising the educational potential of the system. We also provided ideas and worked with students on interpretation to ensure that they and other visitors to the school understand and appreciate the value of the wetland treatment system.