Building a Reedbed Filtration System

In Rajanovce/Rajnoc, raw sewage has been flowing directly from a pipe into a nearby stream, polluting the water, harming the environment, and endangering community health. Water is a precious resource in Kosovo threatened by various factors including lack of wastewater treatment. Clean water means healthier people, a safer environment, and a better future. That’s why, with the help of ESC (European Solidarity Corps) volunteers, we built a reedbed filtration system to help clean the wastewater before it reaches the river.  Step-by-Step: How We Built the System  1.Clean-Up and Clearing​We started by removing trash and thick brush near the sewage outflow. This not only cleared the area, but also allowed sunlight to reach the plants that would soon do the filtering. This took around 1 day.   2.Excavating the Basins​Next, for around 1.5 days we dug out the sludge and sewage, shaping the ground into a series of basins that help slow the flow of water and allow natural filtration.  3.Building Dams and Layers​We constructed small dams to control the water flow, then added layers of gravel to begin the filtration process. These layers trap solids and provide a base for plant roots. Adding the gravel took 1.5 days.  4.Planting Indigenous Reeds​In 1 day we collected and planted two types of native reed species for their ability to survive local conditions and clean water naturally by absorbing nutrients and breaking down pollutants.  5.Creating a Filtration Pond​At the beginning of the pipeline, we installed a filtration pond with a basic screen filter to catch larger debris before the water enters the reedbed system.  Why It Matters  This simple, nature-based solution uses nature to clean water. The reeds, gravel, and controlled basins work together to filter pollutants, improve water quality, and protect the downstream environment. 

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Training course: Earth Wood & People

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Open Call: ESC Quality Label Workshop

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