Reply-To: "Myk Rushton" From: "Myk Rushton" To: Subject: Constructed Wetlands/Reedbeds Revision notes Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 19:58:48 +1300 Organization: Ecotech Culture [Start...] Ecotechnolgy Revision notes. General notes, abstracts, straight from books/reports, others. No refs. Constructed Wetlands/Reedbeds (UK) ========================= 06 october 96 Definition: A constructed wetland/reedbed (CW/R) is a designed and man made complex of saturated substrates, emergent and submergent vegetation, animallife, and water that simulates natural wetlands for human use and benefit. (Constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment: Municipal, industrial, agriculture, 1989, D.Hammer. Ed.) In schematic form CW/R's are man made inclined floor beds (1-8%) filled with a porous matrix in which rooted aquatic plants and microbial activity are used as a method of effluent treatment [Snip - Figure 1.] Schematic image showing: rooted aquatic plants; litter layer, thermal insulation; inlet pipe, dispersed flow, inlet cambian, crushed stones - biofilm layer; slope 1-8%; porous matrix (substrate), Hydraulic conductivity (HC), gravel > HC, soil < HC, Impervious liner, can be puddled, Roots and rhizomes, only large during summer, die back during winter (temperate). The Germans, major investors in CW/R over the last 30 yrs both R&D, have/had the greatest number of CW/R often very small ones for treating leachate, domestic waste from individual houses or attached to farms. The US also has CW/R systems particularly the southern states (Florida) where they have a longer growing season. The plant root systems are active for a longer period of the year. In the UK there are @400 CW/R with two of the major nine water authorities, Severn Trent, Yorkshire Water (which has some very simple systems) being the major players. Other water authorities have tried in the past to build and run CW/R with little success and no further investment. The majority of CW/R are used in secondary and tertiary treatment of sewage effluent and are generally added to conventional systems. However, they are also being used to treat highway/carpark runoff before it reaches storm drains. In the UK CW/R are known as reedbeds because of the common name of the aquatic plants used i.e Reed mace, /Typha ltifolia/ Effluent suitable for treatment by CW/R ============================== *Domestic waste water * Animal slurry *Silage liqueur *Leachate *Urban run off *Pretreatment of water entering sensitive areas. Plants. ===== There are two main species of plant generally used in CW/R systems in the UK. Typhacaea /Typha latifolia/. Tall (max 2.0M), stout, Agressicely creepting perennial. Leaves, long, flat, greyish. 10-20mm wide. Flowers in two tight contiguous spikes, 10-15mm long, the straw coloured male immediately abut the much stouter chocolate brown, sausage shaped female, Jul-Aug. /Typha angustifolia/. Slender than /T, Latifolia/ and differing in its narrower leaves 5mm wide, and the male and female spikes being well apart. Typha spp. Are found extensively in the northern hemisphere and south towards the equator. Grimineae /Phragmites australis/. A common, v.tall, stout, coarse perennial, forming extensive beds with its creeping rootstock. Leaves greyish, smooth-edged to 50cm wide, collapsing in winter. Lingule a line of hairs. Inflorescence a spreading panicle. The numerous unawned, usually dark purple spikelets with 2-10 florets and long silky hairs along the axis. Flowering Aug-Oct/ New shoots arising from rhizomes Phragmites spp. Are very wide spread throughout the world and the most commonly used in CW/R systems. Plant selection =========== *The aquatic plants used fulfil several requirements adaptable to local climate *High photosynthetic rate and biomass *High oxygen transport ability *Tolerance of pollution *Pollutant assimilative capacity. If not in the plant tissue. around or in the root structure *Resistance to pests and disease *Easy of management *Planting density? Characteristics ============ * Inlet pipe allows even distribution of effluent across width of bed i.e. gutter type construction, rate of flow v.slow. * Inlet filled with crushed rocks (forming cambion), 60-150mm dia, which act as a large filter absorbing large solids. Effluent travels down, assisted by gravity, and across the inlet further into the system. Eventually, after construction, a biofilm of bacteria and fungi develops on the surface of the stones e.g. similar to a contemporary trickle feed system. * Material flows horizontally across the CW/R. The system shown in figure 1 is a subsurface design with the material crossing the bed through the porous matrix of the substrate. It is also possible to design & build surface flow CW/R that have the advantage of not requiring substrate. however, these type of CW/R are not as effective per unit area as subsurface systems, therefore more land is required. * Size per bed 3-5m*m pe-1 (pe = people equivalent - 6 people = 1 cow. Tendency for downsizing. Ratio 3:1 (Length:width) *The inclined bed of the system assists in the movement of effluent across the bed. The slope may be between 1-8% with a preference for lower values. *Flow rate (horizontal velocity) maximum 0.0001ms. V.Slow. *Depth @0.6m, Maximum rhizome and root structure depth 0.3m (gravel greater) * Control of input in a separated supply system is relatively easy guaranteeing a steady effluent supply. Heavy rain fall causes variation in input volume possibly causing overflow. High (bund) walls and secondary systems to absorb ovrflow are included in designs. *Important that the surface of the bed is level, regular flooding, by sealing outlet, helping to kill of terrestrial weeds until aquatic plants are established. *The impervious liner of the CW?R serves to seal the bed and prevent leakage. Man made materials i.e. low density polythene or bentonite (v.fine clay) and geotextile layering are used but some systems are puddled. *The substrate must allow flow of the liquid (hydraulic capacity) through its matrix at a sufficient rate which allows treatment to occur. Liquid passing through he matrix to fast will undergo no chemical/biological changes i.e. the hydraulic capacity (HC) must be correct for the design. *Mixtures of soil and gravel seem to be the preferred substrate providing a suitable rooting medium with good HC (soils low HC, gravel high HC). Pea gravel <10mm dia usually recommended. *Longer effluent retention time enhances treatment. Not necessarily important, based on size. *soils (esp. clays absorb metals due to their high cation exchange capacity (CEC) (exchanging positive metals with toxic metals in the liquid). This can lead to acute accumulation which will require removal and disposal of the substrate i.e. absorption of lead and release of calcium. Clays can be selected to absorb particular metals. The accumulation of toxic metal cations as a result of cation exchange is NOT bioaccumulation. *Organic material i.e. litter layer or composted settled solids in surface systems) can also remove metals. eventually the CEC of the substrate can become saturated and it is necessary to test the cation levels in the substrate and replace it if necessary with contaminated substrate being removed (land fill, processing - metal extraction?) *The lifespan of a CW/R is undefinable, and dependant on the effluent type being treated. Several beds are usually designed side by side in compartments which can be isolated individually for maintenance. *The substrate contains the roots and Rhizomes of the aquatic plants. The rhizomes branch laterally and vertically to produce more leaf growth above the surface and stem growth below. The roots, which absorb material, create extensive networks. The root hairs provide a large surface area interface with the soil. The type of plants used take oxygen down through the leaves in to the underground rhizomes/roots and into the surrounding substrate. This creates an aerobic zone around the roots in an otherwise anaerobic environment allowing two populations of bacteria to grow, aerobic in the rhizosphere and anaerobic below the rhizosphere. In winter the upper portion of the leaves dies off providing thermal insulation of the substrate; organic material input (gradually increasing the depth of the substrate 5-20mm / yr), and the roots die back. The rhizomes are unaffected. The growing season of the plant is a major factor in the overall efficiency of systems. Advantages ========= *Relatively low capital costs. Compared with standard sewage/effluent methods/plants. Surface flow > land > cost. *Relatively simple construction. Subsurface > cost *Relatively low maintenance costs. Monitoring: effluent; substrate; vegetation *Robust process. Vulnerable during initial phase *Environmentally acceptable. Natural principals using plants to mop up pollution from aquatic pollutants *Ecological benefits. Naturally treated water input Disadvantages =========== *Low loading rates Monitoring ======== *Minimum frequency - monthly/seasonally *Parameters monitored: suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, total organic nitrogen the water quality parameters which can be examined include temperature, pH, DO, total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids, CBOD5 (total and soluble), COD (total and soluble), TKN, NH3-N, total P and feacl coliform [...end] <><><><><><><> Mark Lomas : mlomas@tinet.ie Web : http://surf.to/NaturalTechnology Natural Technology Systems, Co.Clare, Eire. Reed Bed Wastewater Treatment. Eco-Construction (RBTS= Reed Bed Treatment System, Constructed Wetland BOD = Biochemical Oxygen Demand SS= Suspended Solids) Reduction of soluble organic compounds is the most important aspect of a RBTS, since these processes lead to major reductions in BOD and SS. Complex microbiological effects take place, but, in simple terms, micro-organisms (bacteria, protozoa) use the carbon from the dissolved organic matter for the synthesis of new cellular material, and in so doing produce stabilised by-products such as water and carbon dioxide. In an aerobic situation, such as a vertical flow reed bed, aerobic chemoheterotrophs oxidise organic compounds and release ammonia, while chemoautotrophs oxidise ammoniacal nitrogen to nitrite and nitrate (nitrification). Thus : Organic Matter (C+H+N+O) + Bacteria + O2 >> New Cells + CO2, NH3, H20 In anaerobic conditions, a two-step process occurs, mainly involving anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria. Organic matter + bacteria >> alcohols, acids, new cells >> CH4,H2S,NH3,CO2,H20 + new cells The methane-forming bacteria operate at optimum between pH6.5 and pH7.5, and it is preferable to promote this range, since gases formed in more acidic conditions are more unpleasant (eg. Hydrogen Sulphide, Ammonia). 4. Nitrogen : The main mechanism for removal of nitrogen is nitrification (ammonia > nitrite) followed by denitrification (nitrite > nitrate). Nitrates are either converted to harmless Nitrogen gas by bacteria in anoxic zones or taken up by plants in the treatment system. Other methods of nitrate removal include volatilisation and adsorption, although these are of lesser significance. Organic nitrate is easily mineralised to ammoniacal nitrogen, whether in aerobic or anoxic conditions. There follows microbial nitrification, where Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter microbes convert ammoniacal nitrogen to nitrite and nitrate. Biological denitrification is carried out by several genera of heterotrophic bacteria, including : Achromobacter; Aerobacter; Alcaligenes; Bacillus; Brevibacterium; Flavobacterium; Lactobacillus; Micrococcus; Proteus; Pseudomonas and Spirillum. Although a temporary step in the de-nitrification process produces nitric oxide and nitrous oxide, these are usually converted and passed into the atmosphere as nitrogen gas. The above is extracted from something I wrote for convincing planning departments that our reed beds do the job. It doesn't help with designing or sizing them, but our website will soon be carrying this type of practical info. If anyone's experimenting with aquaculture or nutrient recycling systems, we'll help out by e-mail, but I'd suggest buying a cheap pond test kit and playing about with the basic tests for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and sizing the bed for a particular application. If you're looking for re-use of nitrate eg. in feeding greenhouse crops, you'd want to hold back the treatment to give high nitrate, but if you were wanting to dispose of effluent to a watercourse, you'd also want low nitrate. <><><><><><> On Fri, 22 Oct 1999 02:05:26 +1300, "Myk Rushton" wrote in the alt.permaculture newsgroup: After our discussion on reedbeds I came across the following in the Bamboo Specialist Nursery (NZ, Auckland) catalogue Sewage filter bamboo: P. makinoi, C. marmorea, P. hindsil, P. aurea, P. hebonis. all species shown are suckering and C. hebonis is considered invasive in warmer climates. ==== From: James Mortensen Newsgroups: rec.gardens.bamboo Subject: Re: Bamboo varieties for sewage filtering in constructed wetlands Date: Thu, 21 Oct 1999 23:02:55 -0500 Not sure what P. (or C.) hebonis. Also, what do you mean by "suckering." At least 3 on the list are monopodial and invasive. Jim Mortensen jmbamboo ==== From: "David Priem" Newsgroups: rec.gardens.bamboo Subject: Re: Bamboo varieties for sewage filtering in constructed wetlands Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 00:27:33 -0500 For sewage filtering. Darwin Nelson, who has a large bamboo farm in South Texas is experimenting with bamboo for just this purpose. One of the bamboo species he is trying is Semiarundinaria fastuosa. There may be some others he is trying as well. David <><><><><> This section answers the most frequently asked questions regarding RBTS. Marshlands are Nature's kidneys, just as forests are her lungs. They clean water using processes as old as Life itself : What is a Reed Bed System ? An excavated or constructed container, filled with gravel and sand or soil. It is planted with a variety of aquatic plants, with an emphasis on species such as the Common Reed (Phragmites Australis) and Reedmace (Typha Latifolia). There are two main types of gravel-based reed bed (such as those designed by Natural Technology Systems) : a.Vertical Flow Reed Beds (VFRB's) : These can handle large quantities of sewage, and are most effective at reducing BOD by oxygenation, and Suspended Solids. The liquid flows onto the surface and percolates downwards and quickly away, before the airspaces between the gravel fill up with air again. b.Horizontal Flow Reed Beds (HFRB's) : These are continuously full of water (to just below the gravel surface), encouraging zones of anaerobic activity which are effective at stabilising ammonia and nitrates. How Do They Work ? The reed bed is preceded by a settlement/septic tank, which settles out and liquifies the sewage. A two-chamber tank, conforming to local Building Codes, is recommended. As the wastewater enters the reed bed, organic material and fine particles are filtered by the gravel, and form a slime on the gravel. Large populations of bacteria and other organisms convert the slime into harmless forms, such as water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen. They also convert nitrates in the wastewater into forms which are more easily taken up by plants. Harmful pathogens, such as E.Coli and Salmonella, are killed off by other bacteria which are much more suited to the reed bed environment. Does the Reed Bed need the plants ? Yes. The plants, which are all native, provide ideal conditions around their roots for the sewage-eating bacteria to operate. Some of the plants pass oxygen down from their leaves to this root zone. The aggressive root systems of the plants, in what is, for them, ideal growing conditions, continually force the gravel apart, maintaining a hydraulic pathway which would soon be blocked up without the plants. How big is a Reed Bed System ? : Using a combination of vertical and horizontal beds, full treatment can be achieved in around 3 m2 per person. The systems are designed to blend into the general landscape of their surroundings, and, once established, become a landscape feature and wildlife habitat in their own right. What services do NTS provide ? : We can either design a RBTS for 'Self-Build' construction by our clients (or their own contractor), or we can contract to carry out the complete installation. With our design and construction information, the actual construction of a RBTS is not difficult. For self-build projects, we can also supply liners, plants, geo-textiles etc. (if they're not available locally), and will 'oversee' the project at critical stages of construction. We can provide design and supervision on-line to anyone with a little common sense (and a tape measure). Our consultancy rates are reasonable. Please e-mail for details. Are Reed Beds acceptable to Planning Authorities ? Yes. We provide all necessary documentation and design drawings to accompany a planning application. RBTS's have now been installed throughout Europe and USA, and although local codes may differ, wastewater is much the same everywhere. In what circumstances is a Reed Bed System appropriate ? On all sites which fail the standard tests for groundwater and/or percolation, or are unsuitable for a conventional septic tank because of proximity to boundaries, wells etc.; In areas which have a problem with contamination of groundwater or eutrophication of watercourses; In developments where mains sewage treatment, or alternative package treatment plants would be too expensive; In commercial/industrial/agricultural situations. [][][][][][] What are the alternatives to a RBTS ? Other domestic package systems exist. They usually involve a big plastic tank with pumps and lots of other moving parts which get clogged or break down, and have a matrix covered in micro-organisms which do the same job as a reed bed system. These are about three times the cost of a RBTS to install, and need regular, expensive maintenance. Dry composting toilets are another option (with a small reed bed system to treat 'greywater' from baths, showers, basins, washing machines etc.) if you can convince your local planning authority (and your mother-in-law). Can a RBTS cure a faulty old septic tank with leachfield or soakpit ? Yes. Most problems with existing systems arise from a high level of suspended solids which eventually clog up the leachfield or soakpit. We can advise on the most effective ways to deal with faulty systems. Is a sloping site necessary ? No. Reed bed systems can be built on flat land, and pumps can make installation possible on almost any unsewered site. If you're off the grid, the small amount of pumping involved can easily be handled by a Photovoltaic panel or run from a renewable power installation. Do RBTS's work in winter ? Yes. BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand - the main signifier of organic pollution) is dependent on temperature. In very cold climates, some special measures may need to built in. Is a RBTS suitable for a holiday home ? If the house is unoccupied for long periods, a horizontal flow bed would be the best option, but it would need extra fertiliser until the plants became established. Do they need a lot of maintenance and specialist knowledge by the householder ? Reed beds need much less maintenance than other package systems. A quick occasional check for blockages can be carried out, but float-switches can be installed to alert the owner to potential problems, and overflows are designed to divert effluent from blocked sections to the next stage. A valve is installed on VFRB's and is switched across every three to seven days. Plants should be cut back to ground level in autumn, and levels in the horizontal stage should be altered occasionally during establishment to promote root growth downwards. NTS provides full instructions and back-up with all systems designed, and a regular mail-out to remind clients when specific operations are required. A Pond Test Kit is provided with each system (Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH), and, a feature recently introduced is tracking the results of these simple tests in a computer database.in order to warn of possible problems. In a worst case scenario, with absolutely no maintenance from the homeowner over years, natural balances would ensure that the system remained effective far longer than other package systems. Are reed beds a danger to small children ? The gravel matrix will support several tonnes and is usually near ground level, and so there is no risk of children falling into danger. Gravel based reed beds have no areas of water showing above the surface, and so there is no risk of drowning. Systems which incorporate ponds, usually for aesthetic purposes, are always designed with a gradual slope up from deeper water, and are rarely more than 1metre deep, but these should be treated with the same caution as any garden pond, and can be fenced off if necessary. As regards any health risk associated with children playing near the reed bed, children should be educated not to play within the actual treatment area. However, the health risks associated with reed beds are less than the risks involved in playing around farmyards or on playing fields contaminated with dog excrement. If in doubt, fence them out. Do Reed Beds smell ? Any smell associated with a well-designed and properly functioning reed bed is due to untreated effluent from the septic tank at the reed bed inlet. This is no more of a problem than the smell from the vents on the septic tank itself, but can be eliminated by constructing a porous cover over the inlet dispersal pipe. After entering the reed bed, breakdown of the effluent begins, and when operating properly, the gases produced are mostly carbon dioxide, nitrogen and methane, which are odourless. It is only when the system is not operating properly that noxious odours, such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, occur. What will a system cost ? In a self-build situation, where we provide design and overseeing of the project, a complete treatment system can be installed for between £1000 and £1500, but this depends on local availability of materials. (In the US, materials are generally cheaper than here in Europe). What Back-up do NTS provide ? Design-Only : We provide all calculations, drawings, documentation and construction details, after carrying out a site survey for percolation, levels etc. (or providing remote clients with the necessary information to carry out the survey). We over-see the construction process, and provide a maintenance and testing schedule. We can supply all liners, geo-textiles, plants and equipment. Full Construction : We can only provide this service in Ireland and South West England. In all cases, a Pond Tet Kit is supplied for weekly testing (which takes 5 minutes) by the householder. Results are posted, faxed or e-mailed to NTS for tracking in our database. Worldwide Service : If you can read a tape measure, we can give you all the information required to carry out the site survey, and conduct the whole design & supervision via e-mail. For larger systems, we are available to travel to projects. [][][][][][][] Applications of Reed Bed Treatment Systems : Reed Bed Treatment Systems are being used throughout the world to treat a wide variety of wastewaters. In addition to domestic sewage, they have been successfully employed in the treatment of agricultural and industrial pollution, and are ideally suited to most forms of organic pollution. Although not all wastewater requires treatment, there are several scenarios where a RBTS is the most viable form of treatment : Domestic Sewage Treatment : In simple terms, any site which fails local Building Codes for groundwater level and percolation tests can benefit from installation of a RBTS, and this is usually the most cost-effective solution. Sites which fail because of high groundwater level are often natural wetlands, and therefore a RBTS fits perfectly into the situation. Effluent is treated fully before gradual dispersal to ground via an unlined pond and subsequent plantation of willow spp. which provide a 'sink' to release water gradually and prevent surface flow to neighbouring land. Soil permeability needs to be carefully assessed before 'puddled clay' construction can be specified, since high groundwater is unrelated to percolation characteristics (except in 'perched' water table situations). When failure of the site is due to high percolation, ie. where effluent flows too quickly downwards and could contaminate drinking water supplies, a reed bed system holds back the effluent for full treatment. Final disposal can be as above, with ponds and wet woodland areas, or a minimal percolation area can be constructed without fear of contaminating groundwater. Such sites are, however, unsuitable for 'puddled clay' construction. Sites with low percolation, likewise, benefit from a RBTS, although final disposal becomes the over-riding concern . In this case, pond and woodland areas are designed with reference to percolation/permeability rates, and the direction and rate of outflow are controlled so as not to cause a nuisance to neighbouring property. All new septic tank installations can benefit from inclusion of a RBTS. The life of any percolation area will be greatly improved. Hotels, Estates,Villages etc. Treatment systems can be designed to handle the effluent from groups of dwellings, using the same criteria regarding ground conditions as for domestic systems. The size of a reed bed is not directly proportional to occupancy (population equivalent, or 'pe'), and so overall size (square metres per person) reduces at higher loadings. In addition to treating wastewater in difficult ground conditions, reed beds can be very attractive in remote situations where it is unlikely that central (mains) sewage treatment will ever be installed, due to cost. Existing sewage treatment which no longer satisfies more stringent quality standards, or which, simply, is no longer working effectively (eg. septic tanks where a soakpit was built in the past, or where the percolation area is malfunctioning) are also suitable for treatment by RBTS. In addition, RBTS can be added as tertiary treatment to large-scale 'conventional' sewage works where effluent needs to be of the highest quality. Commercial/Industrial : Many commercial processes produce waste water which can be viably treated by RBTS. Organic pollutants are the most suitable, and so Reed Beds can be specified for processes such as dairying & cheesemaking ; breweries ; food processors and manufacturers ; butchers & slaughterhouses, although systems have been designed to remove everything from phenols to heavy metals. Agricultural : Certain agricultural wastes are suitable for treatment by RBTS. Yard run-off and dairy parlour washings are the most suitable, although it can be viable to treat stronger pollutants (slurry, silage effluent etc.) after breakdown in lagoons. Since certain intensive farming activities now require an EPA license before the granting of planning permission, reed bed systems may become even more viable in the future, although traditional farming practises (deep litter, composting etc.) will prove the best option in the long run. [][][][][][][] Summary of Main Removal Mechanisms In RBTS : Constituent Removal Mechanism BOD Aeration Microbial action Suspended Solids Sedimentation Filtration Soluble organic matter Aerobic microbial degradation Anaerobic microbial degradation Nitrogen Ammonification + microbial nitrification + microbial denitrification Plant uptake Matrix adsorption Ammonia volatilisation Phosphorus Matrix sorption Plant uptake Metals Adsorption and cation exchange Complexation Precipitation Plant uptake Microbial oxidation/reduction Pathogens Sedimentation Filtration Natural die-off Predation UV irradiation Excretion of antibiotics from macrophyte roots [][][][][][][] . Efficiency of Reed Bed Treatment Systems : RBTS are effective in reducing all the major signifiers of pollution in wastewater. Results from a sewage treatment RBTS show that high levels of removal are possible : Influent Effluent % Reduction SS (mg/l) 333 11 96.7 BOD5 544 0.06 99.99 NH4 158 87.5 94.94 PO4 83 26 65.06 F.Coliforms (No/100ml) 5x107 2x103 99.99 Blackwater & Greywater : For the purposes of treatment, wastewater is classified as black or grey. By separating the two at source, overall efficiency is raised by decreasing the loading on the septic tank. Greywater is high volume, low BOD, low pathogen content, and the two types are classified as follows : Blackwater WC's Greywater Basins Kitchen Sink Baths Dishwasher Showers Washing Machine In a new-build situation, it is simple to run a second soil-pipe taking greywater direct to the reed bed. When a composting toilet is acceptable, the greywater reed bed system will also need a combined grease/silt trap to cope with the added loading from kitchen sink and dishwasher. If you have a garbage disposal unit in the kitchen sink, take out the fuse and compost your kitchen waste or build a Wormery. <><><><><><><><><> Water Recycling http://waterrecycling.com/ Water Recycling Reference Databases on the World Wide Web http://waterrecycling.com/referenc.htm (there's an incredible amount of information here) And more from their links page: - Ocean Arks International http://www.mbl.edu/html/OA/mission.html Living Machine at the Findhorn Foundation http://www.gaia.org/findhorn/ecovil/ecolm.html Wetland Wastewater Treatment Plant, Arcata, CA http://www.humnat.org/wastwet.htm The SWAMP project http://www.computan.on.ca/~prodigal/ftgeo.htm Stensund Folk College in Trosa, south of Stockholm, Sweden http://www.algonet.se/~stensund/sec2.htm Advanced Integrated Pond (AIP) systems, St Helena, California http://www.eren.doe.gov/cities_counties Natural Technology Systems http://surf.to/NaturalTechnology email: mlomas@tinet.ie Water Recycling http://waterrecycling.com/ Water Recycling Reference Databases on the World Wide Web http://waterrecycling.com/referenc.htm (there's an incredible amount of information here) And more from their links page: - Ocean Arks International http://www.mbl.edu/html/OA/mission.html Living Machine at the Findhorn Foundation http://www.gaia.org/findhorn/ecovil/ecolm.html Wetland Wastewater Treatment Plant, Arcata, CA http://www.humnat.org/wastwet.htm The SWAMP project http://www.computan.on.ca/~prodigal/ftgeo.htm Stensund Folk College in Trosa, south of Stockholm, Sweden http://www.algonet.se/~stensund/sec2.htm Advanced Integrated Pond (AIP) systems, St Helena, California http://www.eren.doe.gov/cities_counties <><><><><><><><><><> REALLY traditional sewage treatment Wall Street Journal Andrew C. Revkin Wall Street Journal Andrew C. Revkin Our Towns LLOYD, N.Y. In his 28 years working at sewage treatment plants, John L. Jankiewicz has not known much excitement. You watch gauges, check the bacteria that digest waste, find cheap ways to dispose of sludge, keep turning gray water into clear water. Once, he found a quarter-carat diamond in a grit-collecting grate. His mother-in-law now wears it, Mr. Jankiewicz said. "She knows where it came from, " he said. "She doesn't mind." But one day last year, he said, while attending one of an endlessly boring series of conferences that are required to keep his license current, he found himself energized by one speaker's message: simple beds of marsh grass can clean waste water as effectively as costly assemblages of concrete tanks, steel pipes and electricity-hungry oxygen pumps. In essence, the speaker was saying that "everything I've been doing for 28 years is a stupid waste," Mr. Jankiewicz recalled. The talk described a "reed bed" treatment system in a small town in the Ecuadorean rain forest that used no electricity and required hardly any maintenance. It was even capable of turning rivulets of offal from a slaughterhouse into drinkable water. All with beds of tall grass. "It sounded far too good to be true, " Mr. Jankiewicz said. So he began tossing questions at the speaker, Dr. Ronald L. Lavigne, an environmental technology expert from the University of Massachusetts, and each one was answered. Mr. Jankiewicz, 49, the water and sewer administrator for Lloyd, NY, population 9,000, persuaded the town supervisor to send him 3,300 miles south to Shushufindi, a similar sized oil-prospecting town deep in the Ecuadorean jungle, to check out the idea. A few months later, Mr. Jankiewicz, who had never traveled abroad, was in a tropical version of the Wild West, witnessing a near lynching as a mob tackled a man with a machete who had attacked a woman. But he also saw the treatment system work. Last summer, he built a pilot-sized version back at the sewage plant in this sleepy Ulster County town of cider mills, orchards and scattered industrial parks. Now Mr. Jankiewicz stood next to the 30-by-50-foot patch of eye-high phragmites reeds that he planted last year and described how the reeds suck water from tons of sludge and pump oxygen through mats of roots to buried bacteria, which break down noxious materials in the waste. No need for machines to do the same thing. Maintenance? He won't have to clean out the bed for eight or nine years. And the plants do their job winter or summer. Dr. Lavigne was in Lloyd to check up on the project. He said different versions of the system are used elsewhere in the Northeast. A fish farm in Massachusetts uses beds of basil to treat waste. Lloyd's man-made marsh sits next to a building housing the energy-guzzling press that is the standard way of squeezing water from sludge. The marsh is doing the same job for about half the cost, Mr. Jankiewicz said. Artificial marshes may not only save money at the treatment plant, but also keep 300 jobs in Lloyd that might have shifted to New Jersey. A German-owned company that makes light fixtures four miles from the sewage plant had a failed septic system. Building a sewer line was too costly, so the company was considering moving out. Now, though, the company, Zumtobel Staff Lighting, is going to use an artificial marsh beyond its parking lot to treat its waste water, Mr. Jankiewicz said. Spurred by Mr. Jankiewicz, two cider mills in the area are building artificial wetlands to treat their annual autumn flood of unusable juice and other waste. In each case, costly, energy-guzzling equipment is being replaced by nothing but plants Mr. Jankiewicz said he has been reading lots of books on global environmental issues lately. It's nice to do something in Lloyd that might, in a small way, reduce the town's impact on the planet, he said. Back at the sewage plant, Mr. Jankiewicz pointed to an adjacent house lot the town just bought so he can expand to a full-sized sludge-treating marsh, bypassing one step in the process. "This is not a delicate experiment," he said. "I've flooded it with sludge, drowned the plants. And it just keeps on ticking. "