Using reed bed system for wastewater treatment and reuse in urban semi/urban community in Gaza - Palestine

The paper presents the outcomes of a study of a reed bed system for decentralized wastewater treatment in an urban community within the in Gaza Strip, Palestine. The study demonstrated the appropriateness of the system for small communities or single households in remote areas, and a BOD removal efficiency of close to 80%. Reed bed units have been shown to be a cost-effective system for disposal and treatment of wastewater, providing opportunity for effluent reuse. The biological complexity of the system within the root zone of the reed bed results in powerful water cleansing capability which is often much less constrained than in many chemical or mechanical treatment systems.