Shaw Forest Wetland Treatment System

14 July 2011

Event hosted at one of our working wetland treatment systems

Last night, Matt Simpson assisted key staff from Swindon Borough Council in hosting an event arranged by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) to visit the Shaw Forest Wetland Treatment System. WWT Consulting designed the system to treat leachate from the nearby landfill site. The design faced a number of challenges in terms of providing sufficient treatment of the leachate before safe discharge to a nearby stream, the location of a main sewer through the site, public access required via a footpath and cycle path, and an electric pylon and a nearby railway line constraining the site. The system comprises a mix of wetland plant communities and has been highly successful in terms of treatment, providing flood storage, biodiversity benefits and providing an amenity resource for the local community.

Thank you to Richard, Bob and David from Swindon Borough Council for putting on a great event and for arranging such beautiful weather. It was great to meet all the IEMA members and to spread the word of the additional benefits that appropriately designed wetland treatment systems offer, beyond just water treatment.