At a Glance
The first constructed wetlands wastewater treatment system for a subdivision to be built in Vermont, Ten Stones Community paved the way for many others.
Project Description
Biohabitats designed an innovative constructed wetland wastewater treatment system for the Ten Stones community subdivision. The developer’s original design called for a more traditional leachfield with a large area set aside for replacing the eventually failing field. No city sewer infrastructure was nearby and it would have been cost prohibitive and impractical to connect to centralized sewer infrastructure. As an alternative to the leachfield or sewer connection, Biohabitats proposed a constructed wetlands to treat the 3,900 gallons per day of effluent and then dose the field.
The resulting system became the first constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment for a subdivision in Vermont, allowing for monitoring which helped regulators understand the system.
In response to client objectives and site conditions, Biohabitats developed a low-cost solution which blends with site aesthetics, and addresses site challenges such as shallow soils over bedrock, hilly terrain, and limited space –all while meeting state water quality standards for ground discharge. The wetland enhances the site and property values with ornamental vegetation and low operation and maintenance costs for the homeowners.