EXCLUSIVE TO PUMP CENTRE MEMBERS
0.3 Hours CPD
Description
Derek Ross, Treatment Operator at Scottish Water (Horizons), presents an overview of aerated constructed treatment wetlands (CTWs), also known as reed beds, and explores what is involved in maintaining them as nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment.
Derek works as a Treatment Operator within Scottish Water’s Horizons team and brings hands-on, operational experience of the wetland assets covered in this session.
The session draws on a collaborative monitoring and research programme run between January and August 2026 by Scottish Water and the University of Strathclyde. It assesses treatment efficiency, seasonal variation and operational performance across four sites: Cowdenbeath, Dunning, Methven and Orphir.
Key Topics Include:
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Understanding how aerated CTWs work, from biofilms, media and plants to aeration and drainage, and why they offer a smaller footprint and greater resilience than passive wetlands
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Reviewing 2026 monitoring results for BOD, suspended solids and ammonia, with a look at the Cowdenbeath CSO wetland and its biodiversity benefits
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Learning the operational challenges and lessons learned, including clogging, ponding, vegetation management and aeration failure, and why low-energy treatment is not maintenance-free
Hosts
Derek Ross (Treatment Operator, Horizons, Scottish Water)