A BRIDGWATER drainage services firm has installed an environmentally friendly sewage solution in the Somerset Levels.

West Country Drainage Services carried out the work for one of their clients, located in an SSSI area with no power or main sewers in the vicinity.

The company implemented a solution that allows the natural environment of the Somerset Levels to play a pivotal role by installing a septic tank that discharges to a beautifully prepared reedbed, meaning a purified discharge can be obtained.

There are only around 900 reedbeds in the UK, so this addition will add a diverse change in the area allowing local wildlife to flourish.

A spokesperson said: “Reedbeds are dominated by local reeds that allow filtration and trap sediments allowing purified water to pass through.

“They are a dying trend unfortunately as not many companies will install them due to lack of knowledge and resources.

“However, they are the best solution for a lot of off main systems and if we can create more awareness to install them back into our environment we can achieve a flourishing environment for our wildlife.

“Reedbeds can also be very beautiful to look at in this particular project we included Irises to allow some colour to add to the bed.

“These are great talking points for anyone that has them in their property, with their easy maintenance and low costs they benefit more than just wildlife.

“Not to mention the rising ground water levels we have suffered with, these systems are able to assist with flood defence and they are able to withstand a flood and survive unlike a traditional drainage field that may become overwhelmed.”

West Country Drainage Services also says reedbeds provide solutions to problems brought by climate change.

“We are experiencing higher levels of rain fall which in turn creates a higher water table than we are used to,” they said.

“Reedbeds were extremely common in the old days due to durability and ground water factors, as we turn a full circle we need to be thinking of the alternative solutions for our homes.

“Safe proofing and investing in our homes and environment is for us the only way forward.

“Awareness is the only way we can move on from the traditional methods and create a greener world for our next generation of children and wildlife.”