The 12 Chapters

This can be broken down into many different aspects, but from the initial analysis to construction and management / maintenance, we can take care of it all. Chronologically it looks like this:

We make a thorough analysis of the situation. On site and in the office, but possibly also in the lab, the water and soil are analyzed.

We determine the required capacity and the analysis results calculate the technical specifications of the filter.

We not only calculate the design and construction costs, but also management and maintenance are meticulously mapped out if desired.

We organize a multidisciplinary team and manage it if desired. Training people on the spot is also part of our possibilities.

We build the wetlands ourselves from A to Z or provide construction supervision on site or remotely. Have you already looked at the construction kits? (page 'For whom')

ECOFYT can analyse the data after the wetland system is activated. Again on the spot, if we carry out maintenance, but the modern systems can also be 'read' remotely. For optimal results, certain elements of the system can be adjusted afterwards. Management also includes maintenance on both the mechanical / electronic parts and the wetland system itself, with the vegetation.

Together with scientists from all over the world, we publish our knowledge and share our findings with everyone in the industry, because the more well-functioning constructed wetlands  there are, the happier we become.

We instruct the owner and / or his / her staff for good practical management of the system and write a fully customized manual. We also teach colleagues and students the theoretical side of things. We do this in Delft, Wageningen, but the people of ECOFYT are also (guest) lecturers in France, Thailand, the Horn of Africa and in many other places.

A number of books have also been written by ECOFYT regarding the (self) building of constructed wetlands. You can find it here: to our webshop.

Buying a constructed wetland is of course more expensive than simply letting your water run out into the 'free' nature. Fortunately, the latter is no longer allowed at all. And the construction is much less capital and material intensive than a mechanical water purification installation, it requires hardly any electricity and no other additives. And the maintenance is extremely low. And generations after us are reaping the benefits of environmental gains.

The answer to the question "What do I pay for a constructed wetland?" is as difficult as answering the question "What does a car cost?" Without input, we still want to give an indication. Very relevant: is everything outsourced to us or has a lot been done by the client himself? Is it in the Netherlands or, for example, in Bangladesh? We assume the Netherlands here and then a private system for the purification of domestic waste water for an average family. This costs approximately between 12 and 20 K €. But for self-builders we have a fantastic offer! 

If you make money, you can also spend it. If you reserve a little for charities, the impact of what you are doing is much greater. There are those small steps you can take. We love to send Christmas and New Year's wishes, for example. But we do that digitally, so by email. We do our best to come up with a nice card, but the most important thing is the difference in costs: it concerns more than 1000 cards, worldwide. We estimate what that would have been in design, printing and postage costs and then deposit that amount in charity. Those goals include WarChild and the MAX foundation. For the latter, we have already helped finance a few new water sources. Really, it can be done in a playful way ...