About Us

ur History

Constructed Wetlands Group, Inc. team has spent almost a third of a century helping small municipalities and other end-users to design, implement and operate Reed Beds, saving them money, time and labor in their wastewater and bio-solids management. During this time, we have developed an outstanding reputation for technical competence and reliability as a consultant in the fields of Reed Bed and constructed wetland technology. .In 1972, our predecessor company, along with its affiliate Biological Water Purification, became the sole licensee in North America, Brazil, and Japan, of the wastewater and sludge treatment technology. Dr. Kaethe Seidel, who headed an institute of the Max-Planck-Society of Germany, developed this technology. Her experimental work, covering a period exceeding twenty years, was based on the action of aquatic plants on polluted waters. Dr. Seidel was not only the pioneer of Reed Bed technology, but one of the principal pioneers of all other systems that use aquatic vegetation, publishing her results as early as 1957.

Constructed Wetlands Group, Inc., has continued this work, pioneering the use of both Reed Bed technology and vegetative submerged bed systems for wastewater treatment to municipal and industrial facilities in North America. We have constructed 20 vegetative submerged bed wastewater treatment systems and over 200 Reed Bed bio-solid treatment systems over the past 30 years. To date, we have been responsible for overseeing the implementation of Reed Beds in seventeen states, with end-users that include scores of small municipalities, numerous schools, hospitals, manufacturing facilities, the US Army and Navy, and the National Park Service. Such a broad base of applications and large quantity of successful installations provides Constructed Wetlands Group, Inc.
with unsurpassed experience and expertise in the field.

(Click here for a look at our Reference List)

ur Services

We work closely with you and your engineers (and/or third parties) to successfully implement and operate your Reed Beds, whether new construction or retro-fitting existing drying beds. With our extensive knowledge, experience and professional connections, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily we'll get you up and running.

Butler Reed Bed Aerial

Also, once your beds have been installed we will provide you with clear and detailed instructions, on-site training, scheduled on-site support during and after construction, and unlimited friendly telephone support to assist you in the ongoing operation of your Reed Beds. While the exact services provided vary from installation to installation, they typically include:

furnishing drawings, data, and specifications to the involved engineer(s), reviewing relevant shop drawings and submittals, and reviewing final drawings and specifications prior to submittal to regulatory agencies;

assisting in the permitting process, including meetings with the regulatory agencies;

at least two onsite inspections during the construction phase, primarily to inspect and approve the application of the PVC lining and to approve the gravel and sand before laying into beds;

providing and planting Phragmites australis rhizomes;

onsite visits during the first two years after construction to inspect and provide support, including re-planting if there is any substantial die-off of reeds during this period; and

providing appropriate training and detailed documentation for the operation and maintenance of the facility, generally covering:

	proper level of water to be maintained during start-up and early reed growth;
	when sludge may first be applied to the newly planted beds;
	when water may be drained from the beds;
	proper rate and frequency of sludge application;
	aphid prevention and control;
	methods of harvesting reeds and their proper disposal;
	general procedures for winter operation;
	method and frequency of accumulated bio-solids removal;
	re-start-up procedures following bio-solids removal; and
	emergency protocols;

In addition, for a reasonable fee, we invite you to take advantage of our annual maintenance contract or to retain us on an as needed basis, for any support you may require after the initial construction and two-year follow up period. We particularly recommend this additional support during the digging up and replanting phase at the end of a Reed Bed cycle.

ur Key People:

Scott Davis, President
Scott Davis, President Mr. Davis has over 25 years of experience in the field. After receiving his degree in Biology from George Washington University in 1978 he went immediately into "the Reed Bed business," first as Project Manager and then as General Manager for Biological Water Purification, Inc. In 1988 he signed on to our predecessor company as Executive Vice President and Project Manager on numerous Reed Bed installations. In the mid-1990s Scott assumed full responsibility for all aspects of ongoing operations. With the retirement of the company's President in 1998, Mr. Davis took over ownership and management of the business.

Jennifer Greene, Vice President
Ms. Greene directs the Water Research Institute (WRI) in Blue Hill, Maine, whose mission is to develop a definition of good water not based on negatives (like the absence of pollutants), but based on the nature of water itself. Jennifer received her BA in Biology from Sarah Lawrence College in 1968 and then an MA in education from Adelphi University, followed by additional study and training in Agriculture at Emerson College in Sussex, England; training in the Drop-Picture Method (a method of diagnosing water quality through its movement) at Mathematic/Astronomic Section at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland; and training at the Institute for Stromungswissenschaften (Institute for Flow Sciences) in Herrischried, Germany. Jennifer pioneered work with Flowform Vessels that bring a high degree of aeration to water. Ms. Greene has worked with the Constructed Wetlands Group team since 1985 on numerous installations, and she continues to consult for us.

C. Frederick Weller, Field Manager
Mr. Weller has worked in the sanitary sewer field for 30 years. Fred is a licensed S-4 and C-4 operator (since 1983), and is an active member of the Water Pollution Control Federation and NJ Water Association. He now serves as Executive Director of the Beverly & Delanco Sewer Authority (NJ). Fred has successfully operated the Reed Bed system at the Beverly City Sewer district since 1985. Since then he has processed more then three million gallons of sludge over 13,000 sq. ft. of existing conventional open-air drying beds converted to artificial wetland for sludge treatment, which has generated savings of more then $350,000. Mr. Weller has worked for Constructed Wetlands Group as field manager since 1990, and has supervised the installations of close to 100 successful projects for us.