Waste Water Treatment
Suggestions for Integrating the Living Machine with Campus Life
By: Professor Lynn Polasek
Biology Department LAVC
Sustainable Science Project
• Goals • Support Education • Save Money • Process Wastewater Safely & Reliably• Beautify the Campus• Role Model Sustainable Practices
What is a Living Machine?A series of interconnected man made ponds that cleans up wastewater.
Eco-engineering Practices for the Future
Depending on its size, it can process varied amounts of wastewaterfrom 300 gallons/day to 750,000 gallons/day
The Processed Wastewater Meets Tertiary StandardsBiolochemical Oxygen Demand 10-20mg/L
Total Suspended Solids 10-20mg/L
Total Nitrogen 10-26mg/L
The Value of the WetlandsA Living Machine is like a man made wetland
• Form Stable Communities that Process Waste– Linked via biological processes
• How one living species effects another
– Linked via chemical processes• Photosynthesis• Respiration• Biogeochemical Cycles
– carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous cycles
– Linked via physical processes• Climate, water availability, gravity
Wetlands serve as nature’s own H20 treatment plant
• Produces some of the purest water in the world
• Trapping sediment
• Absorbing, diluting & degrading toxic pollutants
• Performing biogeochemical cycles
• Acting as a natural filtration system
• Can even process human sewage and animal waste
They function as the “kidneys of the landscape”Complex roles in regulating water flow & purification
Future Plans for LAVC Campus?Students could be a part of the maintenance of the living machine.
Constructed wetland/wildlife habitat functions as an outdoor classroom & living lab
Representative Living Machine ProjectsThey have been used successfully by businesses for many years!
• YMCA Camp Seymor, WA– 2002
• Smugglers Notch Resort, VT– 1999
• Darrow School, NY– 1998
• Noorder Diereupark Zoo– 2001 Emmen, Netherlands
• 10,000gal/day sewage/reuse
• 40,000gal/day sewage
• 8,600 gal/day sewage
• 220,000gal/day sewage/reuse
A Horizontal Flow Wetland Living Machine SystemNaturally provides filtration & treatment of water for purification
Built Spring 2001 by Lynn Polasek • It works due to the
interrelationships of:– Microbes– Plants– Animals – Sunshine
Producer ChamberPlants, Photosynthesis, Bottom of Food Chain, No Large Predators
Consumer ChamberFlowing Water, Nutrient Consumption, Large Consumers, Aquatic Plants
Decomposer ChamberBio-filtration, Saturated Soil, Nutrient Conversion, Nutrient Recycling
Wetland ChamberNatural Filtration, Bioremediation, Nutrient Rich, Biodiversity
Succession & Extinction Consumer ChamberFall 2001 Fall 2004
Succession-Extinction Producer ChamberSpring 2001 Fall 2004
• System is 4 years old
• Chemical free
• Pest free
• Odor free
A Self-Sustaining Community
• Break down waste using– Microorganisms, small invertebrates & plants
– Diverse flora & fauna populations in a series of environments
• Recycle essential molecules in process that is– Stable
– Robust
– Consistent
– Reusable
• Build new life– Together aerobic & anaerobic organisms will provide a broad
range of biochemical processes that are necessary for a self-sustaining community.
The microbes do most of the chemistry on the planet.
They set the stage for plants & animals to follow.
Types of Living Machine SystemsThey vary widely in size, design & ecological capacity.
• Vertical Flow Wetland Living Machine System
• Tidal Flow Wetland Living Machine System
• Good Water 2 Living Machine System
• Horizontal Flow Wetland Living Machine System
Horizontal Flow Using Small Interconnected Tanks
Biodiversity Provides Ecosystem Stability
Innovative Designs IncludeAn eco-park with a living machine
• Utilizes the forces of:– Water Flow
– Collection
– Catchment
– Water Treatment
– Water Re-use
• Ecological Capacity– Create more eco-
capacity to the area than before
Water and Waste Reclamation
• Treat Storm Water• Treat Waste Water• Showcase the Effluent• Provide Wildlife Habitats• Restore Ecological Balance
– Geology
– Topography
– Hydrology
– Soils
– Biotic Communities
– Human Goals
Tidal FlowBOD & TSS < 5mg/L and TN <10mg/L
• Superior nitrogen removal• Compact footprint • Series of 4-6 tidal flow cells
– Periodically flood/drain
• Achieve tertiary standards• No mechanical aeration • No clarifier• Bio-solids digested in place• Computer controlled• Plant friendly• Odor free
Good Water 2BOD & TSS 10mg/L and TN <20mg/L
• Replicates nature more• Biological nutrient removal
– Plant roots grow on racks
– Biofilms grow on roots
– Biosolids retained on roots
– Invertebrates thrive on biofilms & biosolids
• 4-6 aerated tanks– No clarifier
– Ends with vertical flow
• No free water surface
Vertical Flow BOD & TSS < 20mg/L and TN <26mg/L
• No free water surface– Reduces risk human contact
– Reduced mosquito breeding
• Compact• Viewing/sampling sumps
– Different parts of system
• Re-circulating gravel filter• 3 Tanks
– Planted wetland cell
– Filter septic tank
– Re-circulation tank
Produce high quality effluent with potential for reuse.
Agricultural (non-edible) & landscapeIndustrial activities: cooling & process needsGround water rechargeRecreational/environmental use
Parks & wildlife habitatsNon-potable urban uses:
Toilet flushing, construction
Stable operation.
Aesthetic appeal.
Oberlin CollegeAdam Joseph Lewis Center for
Environmental Studies
• Wastewater flow:– 2 underground anaerobic
reactors
– 2 covered aerobic reactors
– Indoor series of reactors• Hosts aquatic plants/orgs.
– Clarifier• Biosolids recycled/removed
– Constructed Wetland
– Effluent disinfected w/ UV system
Oberlin College in Ohio
Rent the Grounds for Special Occasions
The Living LabCombination Greenhouse, Laboratory, Classroom and Living Machine
The Living Lab2003 Taos County New Mexico Series of tanks inside a greenhouse
• Promote ecological literacy– Elementary schools
– Middle schools
– High schools
– General public
• Living Classroom– Hands on lessons
• Ecology
• Agriculture
• Aquaculture
• Engineering
• Environmental Restoration
• Students learn how to:– Harness waste & promote
beneficial relationships to provide clean water, food and shelter.
Living LabInside a Greenhouse
• Powered by the sun-collects– Rainwater
• To grow fruits & vegetables
– Storm Water • To process in living machine
• Study relationships– Bacteria, algae, protozoa,
plants, animals
– Digest organic compounds in waste water
• Produces– Clean water, food, building
materials
Concept of Living LabWaste of one system is food for another.
Students are immersed in an environment that thrives!
There is no such thing as waste in nature!
Creating a Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat• Support Wildlife• Support Native Plants• Provide Human Food• Create Beauty & Comfort• Xeriscape• Protective Landscaping
– Decrease utility bills
• Create an insectary– Attract/support/breed
beneficial insects that kill pests
Providing Wildlife Habitats on CampusStudents research an animal & design its habitat.
• Select plants that provide– Food
– Hiding Places
– Breeding Places
• Provide a Water Source
Outcome • Enjoy Nature
• Support Wildlife & Humanity
• Grow food that is safe to eat– Pesticide free, GM free
• Service Neighborhood– With beneficial insects & birds
• Eat mosquitoes, aphids etc.
• Decrease Utility Bills– Reduces associated pollution
– Deciduous Trees • Can protect a building
– Shade in summer-Sun in winter
• Canopy of treetops– Animal freeway, for avoiding cars
– Safety from some predators
Get People Out in Nature• Student Involvement
– Habitat Design
– Maintenance
• Community Involvement– Planting
– Recreation
– Guided Nature Walks
– Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts• Earn badges planting wildflowers
– Donations
– Virtual Tours• Teaching others via the internet
LAVC as a Community LeaderEnergy Efficient Buildings Effective Landscaping watered by a living machine
Teaching in an Outdoor ClassroomNurture a connection with nature!
Outdoor classroom coupled w/ living machineOnce built, it lends itself toward interdisciplinary learning
• Language Arts– News letters/fundraising/invitations
• Media Arts– Outdoor plays
• Biology– Campus field trips– Life cycles, native plants/animal studies
• Math– Rates of filtration, cost savings,
population counts, growth rates
• Music– Record sounds of nature
• Social Studies– Research past land use
• Art – Draw/paint/photograph nature
Students Learning to Compost & Support our Soils Healthy people rarely need medicine.
Healthy soil rarely needs synthetic chemical pesticides & fertilizers.
Grow food w/ existing landscape
How many kinds of food are growing in this flower bed?
Future Plans for LAVC Campus?Students will be a part of the design & maintenance
Constructed Wetland & Wildlife HabitatOutdoor Classroom
Living Lab
SummarySupport Education
• Living Lab• Outdoor Classroom• Museum • Interdisciplinary Uses• On Campus Field Trips• Community Nature Walks• Energy Efficiency• Supporting Wildlife• Role Model for Community
– Weekend Workshops
Summary Sustainable Agriculture
• Composting • Grow food mixed with the
existing landscape• Buy food locally• Pesticide free food• GM free food• Crop rotation• Use microbial bi-products
for natural fertilizer
– Support our Soils
Summary Financially Self Supporting
• Save Money– Reduce our water footprint
• Rent the Grounds– Outdoor stage community events– Picnic area– Special Ceremonies
• Weddings, festivals etc.
• Become Certified for Wildlife– Harbor endangered species
• Monarch Butterfly– Pollinates our food
• Red legged frog
– Obtain Grants
SummaryCommunity Support
and Involvement • Recreation • Weekend Workshops• Tree & Plant Donations• Scouts Earn Badges• HS Projects for College Credit• Hold Events by Living Machine
– Families walk by points of interest
– Good advertising
– Post informational signs
Summary Sustainable Practices
• Integrated Systems– Reclaim animal/human waste
– Produce resources from waste
– Create beauty & comfort
• Conserve/Reclaim Water
• Xeriscape with Native Plants
• Provide Wildlife Habitats
• Foster Biodiversity
• Grow Food
• Insectary– Service the neighborhood
• Human Appreciation of Nature
Final Comments Living Machines can process any kind of waste water.
• After building and maintaining a living machine for 6 years I can say that with a balanced ecology:– It smells good
– It always looks beautiful & supports wildlife
– It needs a constant water source to process
– It is basically self supporting and requires minimal maintenance• Occasional weeding
• Occasional cleaning of the pipe system from algae growth– Like a roto-rooter clean out
– It’s not a problem if periodic clean out traps are placed along the pipes
References • www.livingmachines.com
– dharma Living Systems
• Biology, the Environment and You, by Polasek– Pearson Custom
• Living Lab Project– DLSinc.com
– (505)751-9481
• Ocean Arks International (Living Machine)
– Ecological Solutions for the 21st Century
– www.oceanarks.org
• How Schoolyard Habitats Serve as Powerful Learning Tools– www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/
• National Wildlife Federation– www.nwf.org
• The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies– Oberlin College– www.oberlin.edu/newserv/esc
• www.worldwildlife.com
• The Earth Box– 469 2nd Avenue North– St. Petersburg, Florida 33701– 1(800) 821-8838
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