The problem — why on-site treatment unlocks the project
Residential wastewater flows in a variable daily pattern — peaks in the mornings and evenings, quieter middays, weekend and seasonal swings — and concentrations of ammonia and COD are often high. Left unmanaged, that creates three concrete business risks:
- No sewer, or a sewer at capacity. Many developments — rural or in expanding urban fringes — have no connection, or the main sewer is full. Without on-site treatment, the land simply can’t be developed.
- Variable occupancy and phased build-out. Loads change as the development fills and as phases complete; a system that can’t flex risks non-compliance or wasted early capital.
- Compliance and community standards. Discharge permits set strict limits for BOD, COD, suspended solids and nutrients, and residents expect no odour or nuisance.
The solution is a modular plant sized to the development, able to grow with it, and reliable enough to run with minimal attention. That’s exactly what we build.
The solution — treatment systems built around your development
The right solution depends on your unit count, your build phasing, and where the treated water is going. We build in coordinated stages:
Discharge to sewer (indirect)
Where a connection exists but pre-treatment is required — or the main sewer is near capacity — biological pre-treatment reduces the load to meet local limits.
Direct discharge (to the environment)
For developments with no sewer, FBBR (Fixed Bed Biofilm Reactor) biological treatment produces a high-quality effluent for discharge to a watercourse or infiltration system, holding performance through variable occupancy. Lower effluent values can be achieved with our range of tertiary treatment options such as nutrient removal, filtration and disinfection.
Greywater and water reuse
Treated greywater from showers, basins and washing machines can be reused for gardens and toilet flushing, and treated water used for landscape irrigation — reducing demand on potable supply across the development.
The technology we supply
Every ClearFox housing system is assembled from proven, in-house process modules — so you get the exact treatment chain your development needs, and nothing you don’t:
- Mechanical Screening — removes coarse solids at the front end.
- Fixed Bed Biofilm Reactor (FBBR) — the robust core: handles over- and under-load automatically, produces little sludge, runs on low energy, and scales from 10 to 3,000 m³/day to suit developments of any size.
- Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) — acts as an equalisation basin, absorbing the daily and weekly peaks of residential flow.
- ClearFox® Nature (non-electric) — a power-free option for small or off-grid developments.
- Containerized Systems — the whole treatment chain, factory-tested and ready to connect, with underground options for minimal visual impact and preserved amenity space.
Why developers choose ClearFox®
Releases land for development
Where utilities can’t service a site, our turnkey on-site plants provide the compliant treatment that makes the land buildable — removing the single biggest planning blocker.
Built for phased construction
Modular, containerized capacity can be added incrementally as phases complete, minimising upfront capital while guaranteeing a clear path to full build-out.
Compact and unobtrusive
Underground and compact installation preserves plot value and amenity space, with low-odour operation that meets residents’ expectations.
Low OPEX, low attention
Energy-efficient FBBR technology with automatic operation and optional remote monitoring keeps running costs and management burden low for the eventual operator or management company.
Guaranteed compliance
We give a process guarantee that your system will meet the required discharge values.
Built in Germany, proven worldwide
An ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified manufacturer with a track record you can rely on:
- 40,000+ treatment systems delivered
- Installed in 50+ countries
- Treating 25 million litres of wastewater every day
Rental options available
For construction-phase facilities or a bridge before the permanent plant, ask about our rental and leasing service.
Proven decentralised treatment
We don’t treat residential wastewater in theory — we’ve delivered reliable on-site plants for fluctuating loads worldwide:
- Decentralised on-site treatment for fluctuating loads, Bulgaria: reliable treatment where loads vary and no sewer connection exists.
Browse more of our work: ClearFox Projects
How we work — from sample to commissioning
- Wastewater analysis. Send us your unit count, occupancy and phasing. Our in-house laboratory and engineers return a detailed report — analysis to non-binding quotation within one week, anywhere in the world.
- System design & engineering. We size the treatment chain to your development’s flow, load, phasing and discharge or reuse target.
- Built and factory-tested in Germany.
- Installation, commissioning & training. Fast on-site setup and hands-on training for the operator or management company.
- Operation, maintenance & remote monitoring. Ongoing support and external access to keep performance on spec.
See our full service offering: ClearFox Complete Services
Ready to plan your housing development treatment system?
Whether you’re releasing a site with no sewer, building in phases, or planning for water reuse, our engineers will find the right solution. Send us your development details and we’ll come back with a tailored, cost-effective proposal.
FAQs
We can’t get a sewer connection — can our development still go ahead?
Yes. A turnkey on-site treatment plant provides compliant treatment and discharge, allowing land that utilities can’t service to be released for development.
Can capacity be added as we build in phases?
Yes. Modular, containerized systems let you add treatment capacity incrementally as phases complete, so you don’t over-invest early but always have a clear path to full capacity.
How variable can the residential load be?
Very — with morning and evening peaks, weekend and seasonal swings, and high ammonia and COD. Our FBBR and SBR technologies are designed specifically to absorb this variability.
Can treated water be reused across the development?
Yes. Treated greywater can be reused for gardens and toilet flushing, and treated water for landscape irrigation, reducing demand on the potable supply.
How much space and visual impact does the plant have?
Minimal. Systems can be installed underground and compactly, preserving amenity space and plot value, with low-odour operation.
Who operates the plant once residents move in?
The system runs automatically with optional remote monitoring, so an operator or management company can maintain it with minimal effort and low running costs.
