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

– marcc@together.net

• 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