What is K.E.W.T ?
The Kele Effluent and Wastewater Treatment (K.E.W.T.) System was developed by Ben Kele and Gavin Kele with the assistance from the Plant Science Group of the Central Queensland University(CQU) and is being commercially marketed through GBG Project Management.
The K.E.W.T. system is unique insomuch as it uses a mixture of biological treatment systems to treat the effluent and allow it to successfully supply water and feed nutrients into the growth of selected vegetation.
The concept is derived around a system of inground filter beds, connected by pipes within inground concrete pots
The K.E.W.T. System filter beds are recirculating evapotranspiration channels whose evapotranspiration volumes are determined by plant and soil surface area. Trees will have a much higher evapotranspiration volume per square meter of ground area than grass. This means that evapotranspiration channels that use the appropriate tree species can have a much smaller environmental footprint than systems that use grass only. A recirculating evapotranspiration channel such as the K.E.W.T. system is an even more efficient design.
The K.E.W.T. System recirculating evapotranspiration channels are complemented with a series of native/exotic plants and bamboos, which further treat the effluent and allow the plants to feed on the nutrients. The plants use the treated effluent as their primary water source.
The K.E.W.T. system has many features to make it environmentally responsible:
- Greenhouse Gas Friendly
- Produces Carbon Credits
- Inground, Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal
- Variety of Trees and Plants are propagated as part of K.E.W.T.
- Reduces the amount of land needed for treatment and disposal
- Sealed system which can be installed 10 metres from water courses
- Completely odorless and aesthetically pleasant
- No Leakage into Groundwater – No Runoff into Waterways
- Approved by the E.P.A.
After undergoing stringent testing and monitoring by the University and the E.P.A. at 7 trial sites throughout Central Queensland, over a 5 year period, the technology was approved for use in Queensland. We are currently looking at test sites in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The system not only treats effluent to a tertiary stage, but it disposes of the water through a series of garden beds, using carefully selected plants.
The K.E.W.T. system is not designed for single household use. As a guide, it is economically viable for 30 equivalent persons (EP) and above. However, we have designed systems for 20 to 6,500 EP and there would appear to be no upper limit providing the land is available and other conditions are suitable.
In many applications, the K.E.W.T. system is a realistic alternative to traditional Sewage Treatment Plants (STP’s) at a fraction of the cost and with real benefits to the community.
