Waste
Minimisation and Recycling
Constructed
Wetland Systems
Compost (Dry)
Toilets and Greywater Treatment
Ecologically
Engineered Systems
Agricultural
Applications
Industrial
Applications
Treatment
of Surface Water
Landscaping
In nature there
is no waste because one organism's waste is another's food. Waste implies
an incomplete cycle, an inefficient process and an unused resource. Waste
minimisation is the first step in waste treatment since it is necessary to
reduce the amount of waste to be treated.
Once waste reduction
has been achieved, the next step is to find how this waste can be recycled
and used as a resource directly as a product or combined with another by-product
to produce an asset. The ecological approach which encompasses this process,
is then applied to treating the remaining 'waste' which is then used as a
food source for the plants and organisms within the pond, wetlands or woodlands,
creating a thriving and beautiful habitat.
Polishing of
sewage from existing sewage works, packaged plants and septic tanks for households,
hotels and small communities. Constructed wetlands are ideal for sites which
have slopes, although they can be constructed on flat sites.
These systems
require an area of 3 m2 per person to treat the effluent to tertiary standards
and require a discharge to either soakaway or water course. Planted soakaways
with plants and trees provide a productive and effective outlet for the treated
effluent.
Populations served
can range from one person to one hundred people, although populations under
60 are more common. Constructed wetlands alone or in combination with ponds
are used to treat sewage from large communities, visitor centres, agricultural
waste, contaminated surface water, landfill leachate and contaminated land.
Wetlands are being designed to dewater and treat sludge.
Ponds and
Wetland Systems: Ideal for treating screened primary sewage for communities,
with digestion of the effluent occurring at the bottom of the pond. No septic
tanks are required and sludge is not produced.
Pond systems
require a surface area between 5 m2 to 8 m2 per person with flat to gently
sloping terrain. These systems can serve populations from 30 to above 1,000.
Ponds with wetlands are used to treat sewage from large communities, visitor
centres, agricultural waste, contaminated surface water and landfill leachate.
Pond systems
may become more cost effective than constructed wetlands for treatment of
large populations and volumes. Lake Aid Systems, floating wind-powered aerators,
help to ensure an oxygenated, well-mixed, healthy environment which creates
an effective, efficient treatment system.
The above ecological
systems are landscaped into their surroundings, create diverse habitats which
attract wildlife and can become parks and community features.
Compost toilets
reduce water consumption and avoid unnecessary contamination of water, and
are especially encouraged to minimise the amount and strength of waste requiring
treatment. Dry toilets are valuable when water is scarce, for difficult sites,
visitor centres, where there are irregular loadings and where land is not
available for adequate treatment. In this case, constructed wetlands are designed
for the treatment of greywater, (from sinks, baths, showers, kitchens). Though
accepted in USA, Canada and Europe, a major cultural shift is required here
before this system will be widely accepted.
An intensified
ecological treatment contained in a greenhouse. We have built this type of
facility for the treatment of cosmetic waste for The Body Shop International
plc. Diverse small-scale pond and wetland habitats are created. Greenhouses
are recommended when land area is confined, peak treatment is required during
the autumn and winter months, in locations which are extremely harsh, and
where the waste is particularly difficult and requires containment.
The ecological
approach can and has been applied for treatment of farm effluents. Waste minimisation
is necessary to first remove all solid wastes which can be re-used on the
land and to intercept the surface water before it reaches farm yard surfaces.
Dirty water from a dairy farm, for example, can be treated in a pond and wetland
system which can further feed, for example a range of fruit trees or willows
for biomass production.
Waste minimisation
and recycling is a critical component of industrial applications which has
cost and size implications which, depending on the quantity and quality of
the resultant effluent, can mean the difference between having or not having
an ecological treatment system on site. Most large industries will require
a conventional engineered process as a first step to reduce the loading and
volume of the effluent in a confined space. The effluent can then be 'polished'
in an extensive ecological treatment system. In some cases, particularly with
effluents with a large volume, but low loading, an ecological system may be
more appropriate, efficient and cost effective.
The River Purification
Boards in Scotland and the National Rivers Authority in England are now specifying
that many new developments and roads draining into sensitive environments
will require treatment for surface water. Contaminants such as oil, petrol,
dog faeces pollute water courses and therefore, are targeted for treatment.
There is also some scope to attenuate the flows on different parts of the
site, i.e.. under car parks and in wetlands, reducing the proportion of flows
to be handled, resulting in a reduction in the size of treatment system required.
Porous pavements for car parks and hard surfaces will also attenuate flows.
Living Water is pioneering ecological systems for surface water treatment,
which are designed to be able to handle and treat high volume and flow rates,
ameliorate these flows and yet maintain enough water within the system to
sustain the wetland plants during dry weather. There is scope to landscape
areas within the site which are both functional and beautiful creating an
improved environment for both people and wildlife.
Living Water
can provide a landscape design service as part of a treatment system design
or separately. We specialise in creating aquatic, wetland, meadow and woodland
habitats with native species. We feel it is important to integrate the treatment
system into the surroundings, and wherever possible provide a landscape structure
as a solid base upon which the appropriate natural succession can establish.
There is potential for wetland and woodland creation and restoration as part
of treatment systems and soakaways, all of which provide diverse habitats
and attract wildlife. Landscaping is also used to prevent ingress of surface
water, grass, weeds and leaf matter entering the treatment system. Functional
landscape design can be incorporated into developments creating wildlife corridors.
Flowforms, sculptured water features, can be included to enhance water quality
and people's enjoyment of water. Flowforms have both outdoor and indoor applications.
| Living
Water - Treatment Systems & Applications |
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