Choosing Ecological Sewage Treatment describes several off-mains sewage treatment systems and shows you how to deal safely with the sewage of up to about 50 people
– Understand nutrient recycling and the 'big circle' of sewage
– Find out which system is right for your situation: includes reed beds, septic tanks, cesspools and leach fields
– Learn how to separate, collect and use urine and the water from your kitchen and bathroom
– Become water wise and cut down on waste.
Experienced practitioners Grant, Moodie and Weedon give a thorough tour of the subject, provide the most up-to-date advice regarding sewage regulations and illustrate their subject with case studies of systems they have installed themselves.
Foreword
Introduction
1. The Big Circle
2. Treating Sewage
3. Sewage Treatment Systems
4. Monitoring and Regulations
5. Avoiding Generation of Blackwater
6. Using Domestic Water Wisely
7. Back to Life
Last Word
Case Studies
Resources
Index
Nick Grant trained as a design engineer and, apart from a spell at CAT in the 1980s, has been self-employed for most of his adult life. He met Mark while living in a community in Dorset, where they built their first reed bed system. They formed Elemental Solutions in 1996 providing design and consultancy in all aspects of wastewater and water efficiency. Nick and his partner Sheila built their own 'eco-house', which reawakened an interest in wider aspects of eco-design and building in particular. Currently most of his work is as an energy consultant specialising in the Passivhaus approach to ultra efficient building. Recent projects include three Passivhaus schools, as well as a wide range of housing from one off selfbuild homes to flats.
Chris Weedon, BSc, ARCS, DIC, PhD Chris trained as a biochemist and worked at CAT (1992-96) having previously spent four years in R&D as a microbial physiologist in the pharmaceutical industry. Whilst at CAT he monitored and developed the reed bed systems and established the sewage treatment consultancy. He is now the director of Watercourse Systems Ltd, designers and installers of aquatic plant wastewater treatment systems. In 1997 he developed the Compact Vertical Flow reed bed, now widely used in Europe, with over 60 around the UK, one of which serves his family home in Somerset.
Mark Moodie spent six years training in medicine and homoeopathy before graduating to sewage in 1990.