permaculture

["roxann" <roxann@ancientearthwisdom.com>]

Hi All,

We are installing our septic system for our new house. Where I live there is 
not public sewer system, so that is not an option. We want to put in small 
ponds downstream from the effluent and I'd like to use plants to clean the 
water more before it finally will enter the environment. What plants are good 
to grow in the ponds that will take up nitrates/nitrites/phosphates? I work 
in a water quality laboratory, so I will be monitoring regularly. Do you know 
the aquatic plant that takes over bayous in s. louisiana? they've got air 
pockets in the stems and make a purple flower? i can't remember the name of 
them. but they make an excellent compost when you pull them from the water 
(and i don't know why they aren't doing this with them, rather than spraying 
herbicides and killing in place). i wonder if they also will take up 
nutrients from the water and then when i compost them they can be utilized 
for the garden.

are cattails good nutrient uptakers? 

i have the space to put in successive ponds with cascading features to each 
lower pond, which should help with aeration, too. it will not all be 
installed at once, since i do not have so much time or money to do it with, 
but i'd like to put a plan in place so that the eventual goal will be reached 
by the time the water reaches the end of the line.

thanks for input,

roxann, nw ar
http://blog.ancientearthwisdom.com