eco-logical water solutions – a no dependency

ECO-LOGICAL WATER SOLUTIONS– A NO DEPENDENCY APPROACH

Working with nature to clean wastewater

Beth MorganWinston Churchill Fellow 2013

ECO-LOGICAL WATER SOLUTIONS – A NO DEPENDENCY APPROACH

This report has been written by Beth Morgan for Rooting and Fruiting.Address: 7 Joshua Street, Todmorden, Lancashire OL14 5EFEmail: [email protected]: www.rootingandfruiting.co.ukFacebook: www.facebook.com/rootingandfruiting

Published under Creative Commons Licence, by attribution, non-commercial, share alike. This means that we keep our copyright but allow other people to copy and distribute the work provided they give credit. Commercial use of the work is not allowed, and no modifications can be made to it.

While all the information in this booklet is believed to be true and accurate, the author cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may have occurred. Please accept my apology for accidental omissions.

Front cover image by Gaurav Khare from (Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI would first of all like to thank the Winston Churchill Trust for believing in me and giving me this opportunity, for supporting an applicant with a family and being patient with the difficulties I have faced with my health. This has been a truly rewarding and inspiring journey.

I was assisted by many charismatic professionals during my trip and I am very lucky to have established friendships and working relationships in South Africa. In particular I would like to thank my mentor, Bernelle Verster (Merah Mas Biotech) who strongly influenced the principles that underpin this report.

I would also like to thank, in no particular order:

South AfricaClaire Janisch (BiomimicrySA), Sue Swain (Biowise), Justin Friedman (Greenhouse), Shannon Royden-Turner (In/formal South), Natasha Rightford (Wetland Expert), Margeux Thomas (Biomimcrysa), Nadia Senetra (Distel), Carla Swanepoel, Sarel Prinsloo & others (Millstone Farm Cafe, Oude Molen Eco Village), Lynda Muller (Environmental Manager and Wetland Expert), Orlando Filander (Spier Farm Manager and Water Champion) Pierre Depaepe (Aquatics Specialist), Helen Harper (Oude Molen Ecovillage), John Holmes (Oude Molen Eco Village), Price Anderson (Lynedoch Ecovillage), Max Rome & Lauren Valle (John Todd Ecological Design), Philip Ravenscroft & Jonny Harris (Maluti GSM), Carrene Sands (Stepping Stones Eco School), Jane Horn, Rod Anderson & Juliet Le Fleur (Oak Hills Eco School), Graeme Barnhoorn (ArfEco), Bert Reynolds (Fungifun), Tony Budden (Hemporium)

Particular thanks to Martin Austin for his ongoing support, collaboration and for help shaping my words, Odis Austin (son and amateur mycologist), Rachel Adams (report editing), Leona Johnson (report editing), Kay Wells (friend, Winston Churchill Fellow), Jesper Launder (Medicinal Herbalist and collaborator), Mark Simmonds (Coop business consultant and inspiration), Peter Hague and Hebden Bridge Rotary Club (Funding), Pextenement Farm (Business support).

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CONTENTS

FOREWORD ________________________________________________________________ 4

1 INTRODUCTION _____________________________________________________________ 5

1.1 Water in the UK – questions posed _______________________________________________ 5

1.2 Why South Africa? ____________________________________________________________ 6

1.3 Aims of Research _____________________________________________________________ 7

2 ENCOUNTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA _______________________________________________ 8

3 UNDERSTANDING WATER – A BRIEF DISCUSSION _________________________________ 11

3.1 Wastewater treatment ________________________________________________________ 11

3.2 'Safe' water versus 'healthy' water _______________________________________________ 13

4 UTILISING NATURAL TECHNOLOGIES TO CLEAN WATER ___________________________ 13

4.1 Plant – Phyto ________________________________________________________________ 14

4.2 Fungi - Myco ________________________________________________________________ 16

4.3 Bacteria ____________________________________________________________________ 17

4.4 Other aspects of natural technologies ____________________________________________ 17

Granular 17

Rhythm/pulsation 18

4.5 Technology case examples _____________________________________________________ 18

Biohaven Floating Islands/Floating Treatment _____________________________________ 18

Mycofilter ___________________________________________________________________ 23

EM (Environmental Micro-organisms) _____________________________________________ 27

SOG filter ___________________________________________________________________ 29

Flowform ___________________________________________________________________ 32

5 A SYSTEMS APPROACH – COMBINED TECHNOLOGIES _____________________________ 35

5.1 Case examples - a whole systems approach _______________________________________ 35

Bioremediation, Berg River – Design Stage ________________________________________ 35

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Eco Machine ________________________________________________________________ 39

The Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS) ___________________________________________________ 42

Phototrophic Soil Maker (PSM) __________________________________________________ 44

Riparian Corridors ____________________________________________________________ 45

Lynedoch Eco Village/Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch – Utilisation Stage ___________ 47

Biolytic Filter ________________________________________________________________ 52

5.2 Other features of a systems approach for consideration _____________________________ 53

6 THE CREATION OF AN INTEGRATED AND ECO-LOCICAL GOVERNANCE ______________ 53

6.1 Understanding the psychological, social and cultural impacts of water _________________ 54

6.2 Essential techniques for creating public interest, understanding and changing behaviour & attitudes_________________________________ 56

Deep Ecology _______________________________________________________________ 56

The 'Small Science/Small Research' Approach & Open-Source Information ______________ 57

Education & Hands-on Learning _________________________________________________ 58

Community Engagement, Participation & Collective Action __________________________ 61

Recreation, celebration and marketing ___________________________________________ 66

7 CONCLUSION _______________________________________________________________ 68

8 NEXT STEPS ________________________________________________________________ 69

9 ABOUT THE AUTHOR ________________________________________________________ 71

10 GLOSSARY _________________________________________________________________ 72

9 APPENDICES _______________________________________________________________ 73

Appendix 1: Permaculture Philosophy and Principles _______________________________ 73

Appendix 2: South Africa's Water – Additional Information ___________________________ 74

Appendix 3: Beginners Plant List for Floating Islands _______________________________ 75

Appendix 4: World Café Principles ______________________________________________ 76

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FOREWORD

Water provision is a diverse subject: the relationships within are invariably complex and its effects are far reaching. Water stress has profound global economic and social implications.

As with any research the reality of my journey brought with it many realisations and shifts in perspectives and what transpired from my trip was a very different set of experiences than what I originally proposed. I had intended to examine a much broader range of small-scale and portable water treatment systems, but due to the depth of research into Bioremediation wastewater treatment and the number of projects I visited that were utilising this technique, this has to a greater extent been the central theme of my report. I have also delved much further into holistic or, as I call it, 'Eco-Logical' governance of water, with a focus on community engagement and action. Both these I believe to be fundamental to affecting change in the UK and extremely relevant to the work I am currently developing with my business, Rooting and Fruiting.

In the last five years I have come to understand that the diversity of my skills and work experience in social care, creative arts, project management, community development and food growing have a united impact, and after undertaking a Permaculture Design Course in 2010 I finally found a philosophy to underpin my direction and a set of principles to guide me.

Bill Mollison describes that;

“Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive systems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. It is the [holistic and] harmonious integration of the landscape with people providing their food, energy, shelter and other material and non-material needs in a sustainable way. ” 1

Completely moved by the opportunities Permaculture can offer I view this report as an aspect of the discipline. Bioremediation is a technique vital to Permaculture, but Permaculture's true value is the very hands on approach it uses and its promotion of proficiency, collaboration and local solutions.

This is not intended as a scientific paper, but as a practical guide for people who, like myself, are beginners and require an introduction to and exploration of ecological and ecosystems approaches to water treatment, who see a way to solving key human challenges by combining human and environmental intelligence, and who envisage water as a vibrant, inviting and vital resource where, fundamentally, we are all the driving force behind a sustainable water environment.

This is a starting point, not a destination.

1 Mollison B., Permaculture: A Designers Manual, Tylagum, Australia: Tagari Publications, 1992.

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1 INTRODUCTIONEverybody has a connection to water, it can't be denied.

In 2006 I travelled to India to work with street and slum children. I still vividly remember the queues for supposed clean water that came from an old rusting tanker in the slums of Mumbai, and the megaphone announcement that fresh water would only be available for a few hours on my travels in Delhi. This lack of water was despite the heavy rainfalls each city received every year: a juxtaposition that has lodged firmly in my mind. Following on from my travels I am still reminded of a water borne illness that has affected my health to this day.

However you don't have to travel outside the UK to see that water features prominently in peoples lives. In each project I become involved with water plays a dominant role: from collecting rainwater in simple water butts and building ferrous cement water tanks for farming, to watching in anticipation as a family I lived with drilled a bore hole to supply all water needs, to witnessing the floods in my local town and its impact on the community.

1.1 WATER IN THE UK – QUESTIONS POSED

The UK is a compact and densely populated, highly urbanised coastal country. Generally speaking public supply of water and sanitation in the UK is characterised by equal distribution and access. With lots of rivers there is a serious flood risk.2 Water transport is characterised by complex engineering but biological simplicity.

As Future Water: The Government’s water strategy for England ( 2008, p. 13) poses:

“[Water] is vital for our health and wellbeing, drinking and sanitation, and for agriculture, industry, and transportation. Beyond these uses, water brings countless other benefits to society. We use it to swim in, sail on, water our gardens, and take pleasure in the plants and animals that depend on it “ .

The fact that our taps almost always produce water when we go to use them tends to create a façade of abundance. Despite water's predominance in our everyday lives, and even in light of the impact of expanding industrial and agricultural activities and as climate change threatens to cause major alterations to the hydrological cycle, the general public appear to be complacent to the fact that the UK is facing its own significant water challenges, predominantly shortage, leakage, flooding and toxicity3. There is also governmental and private sector inertia to challenge too.4

Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species ability to control and adapt to changing environments. With the increasing popularity of Ecological Engineering there seems to be more dynamic, responsible and responsive solutions to the water crisis but what are the principles of these

2 Future Water. The Government's strategy for England (2008), Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Command of Her Majesty.

3 Quality of Life Policy Group Chairman, Rt Hon John Gummer MP Vice-Chairman, Zac Goldsmith, Blueprint for a Green Economy. Submission to the Shadow Cabinet ( 2007) p.217.

4 Available from: www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/Water-Bill-shows-Whitehalls-inertia/825612#.VIW7JXv3t7k

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technologies and how do they work?

During The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio, 2012 water was demonstrated to be the basis for sustainable development: 'the common denominator of all global challenges: energy, food, health, peace and security and poverty eradication.'5 It is my understanding that these challenges are as much a cultural problem as a technological one; people's behaviour towards and interactions with water are just as vital in creating a more efficient, productive and resilient water supply and environment in the UK. This raises some important questions we must engage with in order to support positive change:

• In what ways can we make technologies tangible to communities so that innovations are also led from within in order to promote self sufficiency?

• How do society, politics, culture and communities intersect with water provision and waste water?

• How do we create more exposure and more excitement around water in order to bring credence to the water crisis and spur public awareness?

Ultimately I ask, can water treatment systems function as central community assets, economic and social, as opposed to appendages designed to sit on the recess of society?

1.2 WHY SOUTH AFRICA?

5 Rio+20 from a Water Perspective. Available from: http://www.unwater.org/news-events/news-details/en/c/207616/ (accessed on 1 February 2013)

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Figure 1: A sign in a car park for a popular Muizenberg surfing beach, warning of potential dangers of stormwater entering into the sea.

http://www.unwater.org/news-events/news-details/en/c/207616/


Covering 1,221,037 km², South Africa is five times the size of the UK yet the population size of 51 million people is slightly less than the UK with 64 million. It is a semi-arid country, and its cities are built around economic activity, mainly mining, and not necessarily access to water.

During apartheid, the infrastructure was built for a fraction of the population. After the first democratic elections in 1994, the infrastructure had to cope with service delivery to the entire population, as well as increasing loads due to economic development. Wastewater management has struggled to keep up. For example, 74 percent of all rural people are entirely dependant upon ground water, effectively local wells and pumps.6 As a result, the South African population – from poor to affluent - are very aware of water usage and its care.

Toxicity is a key issue. Eutrophication and contamination load has lead to an overall decline in river health especially in the Western Cape.

It is these circumstances, and I assume many more, that have fuelled the country and particularly the Western Cape region to take positive action and find more innovative solutions to address the water crisis. Community participation has been seen to be intrinsic to long term sustainability of these systems amongst organisations such as Biomimicrysa.

Fungi Perfecti7, the world's leading mycology organisation, had informed me that South Africa could provide an example of a Mycofiltration - the use of fungi to clean water of contaminants and excess nutrients – of which there are not many outside of the US. In addition, South Africa could also provide an insight into other ecosystems approaches to water treatment, particularly but not limited to, innovative solutions unconstrained by traditional technocratic approaches. I felt it would be these examples that would help me answer some of the questions I had for UK water. I gratefully received a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship in 2013 and set out for Africa at the end of the year.

1.3 AIMS OF RESEARCH

My research can be grouped into three main themes:

Ecological technologies • Background to ecosystems approaches for cleaning water;• Summary of a range of technological approaches with emphasis on adaptation for small-scale

work, using recycled and accessible materials.

Combined ecosystems approach• Defining systems approaches with relevant technology details.

Human relationships with water • Determining the impact of psycho-socio cultural and political impacts of water;• Examining methods to engage people with water and change attitudes and behaviours.

6 UN Water. Water a Shared Responsibility (2006) Available from: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001454/145405e.pdf#page=519

7 Fungi Perfecti, foundered and led my the world's leading Mycologist, Paul Stammets - http://www.fungi.com

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http://www.fungi.com/

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2 ENCOUNTERS IN SOUTH AFRICAMy trip involved 5 weeks in and around Cape Town, including several trips to Stellenbosch and Pahl located 45 minutes outside the capital city. My research incorporated interviews, community site visits, technological surveying, community participation and educational engagement. A further week was spent in Knysna, approximately 500km outside of Cape Town along the famous garden route. There I visited a River Health Programme incorporating meetings and activities with a range of stakeholders. I had the opportunity to deliver workshops in Mycofiltration and examine how Mycofiltration and other biological treatment systems could be utilised.

During my trip I visited the following people, organisations and communities:

Bernelle Verster www.merahmas.co.za Cape TownBernelle, founder of Merah Mas Biotech is a Bio Process Engineer who is passionate about water, social entrepreneurship and creating products from nature. The core of her work is wastewater Biorefineries which involve the recovery of valuable products - including water and nutrients - from wastewater. In 2012 she was named one of Mail & Guardian‘s 200 Young South Africans8 and is known by many as the 'water maverick' because of her outspoken views on water and some of her forward thinking initiatives to build awareness of water and sanitation issues in the public eye. Bernelle acted as my mentor, instigating and assisting many of my visits in South Africa. She acted as a sounding board and gave intellectual advice, one of which was introducing me to Organization Unbound.

Organization Unbound - w w w. organizationunbound.org Cape TownA dynamic organisation “ [exploring] ways that social purpose organisations and movements can live out, in their daily practices, the changes that they are trying to create in the world and by doing so seed deeper patterns of institutional transformation”.9 Despite not being able to meet with the team in person during my trip I have continued to follow their work and believe their findings and strategies have value for this report in the areas of public debate and community mobilisation.

BiomimicrySA - www.biomimicrysa.co.za Cape TownThis arm of the global Biomimicry movement is led by Claire Janisch, a Environmental Process Engineer who works in the areas of strategy, technology & education. Claire was selected in the Mail & Guardian's 200 young South Africans in 2010 and 2011. She was a finalist in the Most Influential Women in Business & Government awards in 2012 and was awarded Regional Network Leader of the Year award at the global Biomimicry Conference In 2013. Claire supported my interactions with all the Biomimicry professionals in South Africa and was overseer for the Bioremediation project meetings I attended. I felt very lucky to train under her on a two-day Introduction to Biomimicry Workshop and I really regard the value she places on Biomimicry education for children. She is co-creator of Genius Lab, an experiential learning organisation inspiring innovation and future thinking for organisations and individuals, particularly children.

Justin Friedman - www.greenhousecreates.com Cape TownOrganisation lead and catalyst for BiomimicrySA, he is also founder of Greenhouse, facilitating green marketing, communications and strategy. He has been involved in many sustainable initiatives including The Future of Food™ film. Justin founded the FLOW (For Love Of Water) initiative in South Africa and assisted in creating the strategy for Water Access and Awareness at the 2010 FIFA®World Cup in Cape Town. Justin was involved in the Biomimicry design team for Love of the Berg River and Bioremediation project and invited me to document the Bioremediation project meetings and community participation work in

8 Referenced from: http://ysa2012.mg.co.za/?s=bernelle+verster9 See: http://organizationunbound.org/about-2/

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http://www.merahmas.co.za/


order that I have a front row seat in all the project developments.

John Holmes, Oude Molen Eco Village www.oudemolenecovillage.co.za Cape TownJohn is an Electrical Engineer by trade, but he is also an entrepreneur working in the area of Permaculture food growing, aquaponics and energy systems and is deeply involved with new development plans for the Ecovillage where he lives. He has created small scale Biodigesters, wind turbines, a tunnel farm and Aquaponics system at his home which emphasises closed-loop cycles to minimise waste.

Shannon Royden-Turner - http://www.informalsouth.co.za Cape TownShannon is an Urban Infrastructure Planner and founder of In/formal South, a company attempting to bridge the gap between technology and humans, research and implementation, disparate disciplines, between formal and informal sectors and between natural and artificial urban ecosystems, creating unique interfaces for the delivery of these aims under the guise of 'Urban Ecosystem Planning'. Shannon has a great vision for a just and fair, enhanced urban environment that reflects natural systems in order both humans and nature can flourish and abundance instead of scarcity is prime. As urban planning lead for BiomimicrySA she project managed their Bioremediation project which included leading the World Café10 community engagement.

Spier Winery – www.spier.co.za StellenboschLocated in Stellenbosch, Spier dates back to 1692 and produces award winning wines and houses a world class hotel and conference centre.11 Part of the ethos of the company is to progress in harmony with the environment and society. They have a number of initiatives to improve land and water management on site including employing Biodynamic farming principles and ethical meat production. Spier has been recognised by various external organisations for fair and ethical trade.12 They have been developing a good model for water treatment that can spearhead ecological water management by some of the other farms in the area and improve local river health. BiomimicrySA have overseen some of the research and design and they have trialled Mycofiltration.

HWT Water Treatment – www.hwt.co.za StellenboschAndrew Hulsman leads his highly regarded water treatment engineering company that specialises in design, construction, commissioning and operating of portable water and effluent treatment plants, especially wine effluent in the Stellenbosch region. He engineered the treatment system for Spier wine effluent and has also created wastewater treatment technologies such as his Sogbog, utilising natural peat turf and its complex biochemistry to filter wastewater and sewage.

Natasha Rightford FranschoekNatasha is an alternative health practitioner, gardener and wetlands expert. She has a strong belief that water is healing and this is amplified through her passionate belief that Bioremediation as well as the use of flow patterns, oxygenation and pulsing, can not only clean but also energise water for positive human and environmental health. Natasha has grown twenty indigenous reed-beds to passively treat both black and grey water and during my stay was undertaking professional pathway training with BiomimicrySA, to catalogue indigenous plants and organisms and develop social enterprises for their Bioremediation project.

Sue Swain - www.biowise.org.za KnysnaSue Swain heads Biowise, a Non-Profit Company that is dedicated to raising awareness and educating on natural systems thinking and nature-inspired solutions. Naturally Knysna™ is also an initiative

10 See: www.theworldcafe.com. More details on p. 50 and Appendix 2, pp. 62-63.11 See: http://www.wwf.org.za/what_we_do/sustainable_agriculture_/biodiversity___wine_initiative/12 WWF et al.

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http://www.biowise.org.za/

http://www.hwt.co.za/

http://www.wwf.org.za/what_we_do/sustainable_agriculture_/biodiversity___wine_initiative/

http://www.spier.co.za/

http://www.theworldcafe.com/

http://www.informalsouth.co.za/

http://www.oudemolenecovillage.co.za/home-oude-molen-eco-village/


conceptualized and developed by Sue, which aims to redesign the city of Knysna like a forest. Her passion and enthusiasm is clearly making headway in addressing the economic divide by creating more localised systems and by improving social capital. Sue oversees the River Health Action Project which involves two schools in Knysna and a number of professionals to collectively address river toxicity which has been impacting the sensitive Knysna estuary.

Stepping Stones Eco School - www.steppingstonesschool.co.za KnysnaInvolved in the River Health Action Project, the school is an independent co-educational Pre and Primary school. The school makes use of Knysna's environment to further the learner’s knowledge to integrate important skills, attitudes and values and in order to spread 'eco-consciousness' to children from other schools. Working with Carrene Sands I delivered workshops to children about using fungi to treat water and collaborated with other professionals to look at moving their River Health project further.

Oakhill Eco School - www.oakhill.co.za KnysnaOakhill is a private school that combines three sub-schools covering the ages 6-16 years. Oakhill is an vibrant and energetic school that aspires to challenge the status quo. Thinking independently, a love of learning and the joy of life are celebrated regularly and the school is keen to demonstrate how the learning journey of each child can be applied to many different roles in life, so that they are open to options. A key ethos of the school is to learn from, contribute to, and celebrate the surrounding ecology and environment.

AfrEco - www.afrecosoil.co.za KynsnaAfrEco Identifies and addresses the need for serious alternatives to chemical agriculture in order to positively influence soil fertility which is at the heart of sustainable farming. AfrEco uses Environmental micro-organisms (EM) for increased soil and water fertility, which was the main reason for my interactions with the company.

Lynda Muller PahlLynda Muller is an independent consultant offering Environmental Management services with over 25 years experience of horticulture. In that capacity she provides the skills of a highly experienced field worker and environmental manager for construction sites, on-site investigations and the management of environmental rehabilitation projects. Wetlands is a key feature of her work and Linda Muller met with me specifically to discuss her passion for and experience of floating wetlands.

Pierre Depaepe - www.riversideaquatics.co.za Somerset West Pierre is an Aquatics specialist and promotes the use of home-made natural floating islands which provide an economically viable way of converting a conventional chemical pool into natural pool.

Lynedoch Eco Village | Sustainability Institute - http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/Lynedoch Detailed Story StellenboschVillage ecological water and sanitation for sustainable development, including the supply of individual households, utilisation of recycled water, employment of water saving techniques, collection and storage of storm rain water, and management of effluent. I met with Price Anderson, the village Head Gardner who has seen much of the water developments on site.

Ecopools - www.ecopoolsonline.com Cape TownDr Jerome Davis, Director of Ecopools, holds a PhD in Bioengineering from Gent University in Belgium. The company has pioneered Ecopools technology, otherwise known as natural swimming pools, in South Africa. By combining biological innovation, design creativity, high authentic Biomimicry and ecological solutions they create indigenous aquatic gardens which naturally clean water. They also offer greywater recycling, energy optimisation and total water management.

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http://www.ecopoolsonline.com/

http://www.sustainabilityinstitute.net/lynedoch-ecovillage10/detailed-story

http://www.riversideaquatics.co.za/

http://www.afrecosoil.co.za/

http://www.oakhill.co.za/

http://www.steppingstonesschool.co.za/


3 UNDERSTANDING WATER – A BRIEF DISCUSSION

Water exists as three aggregate forms - solid, liquid or gas. It covers 71% of the Earth's surface with 96.5% of the planet's water found in oceans. It is vital for all known forms of life and is essential to nearly all natural and technological processes we can imagine. As Leonardo De Vinci (1452-1519) said, “water as the driving force of all nature”.

Amazingly since water existed on the planet the quantity has remained the same. The hydraulic system demonstrates the cycle of water, from the atmosphere to the sea, in a constant circle of reuse. In effect, waste water is not wasted at all, but just water in flux. Over the course of human evolution one of the by-products of human usage is that water has become polluted and contaminated. In low concentrations nature has been able to manage this through its own ecological mechanisms, but as quantities of contaminants have grown, especially from the onset of agricultural and industrial revolutions, they have exceeded the capacity of the natural system to renew itself. This has called for humans to develop technologies to treat water in order to prevent human illness and ecological damage.

3.1 WASTEWATER TREATMENT

As Wastewater Treatment Notes13 summarises, wastewater - combining greywater (from washing pots and showering), blackwater (toilet water containing faeces and urine) and stormwater (precipitation water) - is predominantly treated in a municipal wastewater treatment plant or sewage treatment plant. There has been a predominance for chemical cleaning and energy intensive systems.

The base component of inflow consists of wastewater from households and businesses, classed as sewerage, of which contaminants vary only slightly providing greater predictability for treatment. Most outflow is discharged into streams, lakes, and rivers (receiving waters). Wastewater treatment plants must regulate the following:

• Total Suspended Solids (TSS) High concentrations of suspended solids can lower water quality by absorbing light and caus ing waters to heat up, reducing oxygen levels which can starve aquatic life, increase weeds and change water dynamics. Inorganic substances such as sand, loam and ash cannot be removed through biodegredation and have to be separated. The quantity of organic matter, such as plant matter relates to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) which calculates the amount of oxygen used by micro-organisms in the oxidation of organic matter. High organic load suppresses total dissolved oxygen.

• Total dissolved solids (TDS) Principally inorganic salts like calcium, magnesium and potassium. High levels of TDS are not suitable for irrigation or landscaping due to plant intolerances or for industry purposes because of their corrosiveness.

13 Wastewater Treatment notes, EDX course, provided by Delf University of Technology, 2013. See www.edx.org

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• pH pH is the measure of acidity. Effluent needs to be relatively neutral and somewhere between 6-9. Too high or too low can be damaging to most organisms.

• Coliform bacteria and pathogens Faecal coliform bacteria are measured and although considered low risk to health they act as indicator of disease-causing bacteria and viruses which can damage health. Treatments include effluent polishing ponds, chlorination and high grade filtration.

• Nutrients Mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, which can lead to damaging growth of plants, algae and plankton, which can lead to Eutrophication and oxygen depletion.

• Metals

Heavy metals found in wastewater include lead, mercury and copper mainly due to manufacturing processes and piping. In high enough concentrations they can be detrimental to human health as well as the environment.

In addition, Pesticides, which act as hormone disrupter’s, and pharmaceutical drugs, are increasingly recognised as contaminants as they can have detrimental effects on normal human body functioning.

Acceptable levels of contaminants will vary depending on the wastewater treatment process and the use and health of the receiving waters. Industrial wastewater discharges pose higher rates of variable amounts and composition which may or may not require pretreatment before being further treated by a waste water treatment plant. If the effluent water quality is adequate after pre-treat it can be discharged to surface water.

The contaminants transported by these wastewater flows determine the biological capacity, the ability to treat organic substances and nutrient loads. In addition, the drainage of rainwater or stormwater will also contribute to the total wastewater flow and contaminants to be treated. This storm water flow determines to a large degree the required hydraulic capacity of the system.

Treatment usually comprises:

Primary treatmentScreening and sieving larger materials such as wood and plastic, chambers for grit, silt and sand and sedimentation for the removal of settleable undissolved particles.

Secondary treatment Utilises many treatments which come under the broader heading trickle filters and activated sludge processes. These involve the biological and physical mechanisms for the removal of contaminants.

Additional treatmentsMainly physical and chemical treatments, may be used to remove nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, and contaminants that are extremely small, such as bacteria’s and viruses. Technologies, such as membrane/micro/ultra filtration and other disinfecting technologies such as UV and chlorination are employed.

On a smaller scale wastewater can also include individual housing and business effluent, such as with

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septic tanks, and swimming pool treatments such as chlorination and circulation. Many of the same principles apply.

3.2 'SAFE WATER' VERSUS 'HEALTHY WATER'

Treatment involves cleaning water so that it is low risk of immediate or long term harm from contaminants and therefore safe for human use or in order it can be returned to the environment. New notions of wholesome water14 exist, but with no real explanation as to what this means.

Victor Shauberger, an Austrian forester, naturalist, philosopher, inventor and Biomimicry experimenter, 1885-1958 said “water, is a living substance which is born and develops – normally to change into higher energy forms –but, with incorrect treatment, can also die. Even a restricted volume of water can expand, not in the usual sense as the result of heat, but through growth like an organism” 15 This notion is also carried through traditional medicine, indigenous farming, Permaculture and Biodynamic practices.

Many of the professionals I worked with in South Africa recognised the fundamental need for safe water as a baseline, but much of their aspiration and their excitement around biological mechanisms for the treatment of water was the possibility for creating healthy water: water that is energised, oxygenated, alive, rejuvenating, has vitality and is healing. Ecosystems approaches to water treatment mimic the natural systems of which water interacts with through the course of the normal hydraulic system. For example, the slow transition through trees in forests cools water and provides minerals and nutrients. Faster flowing water through cascades creates oxygenation which naturally cleanses the water. Resulting water is both clean and healthy, and there is interest amongst the professionals I have been working with regarding the impact this can have on human and environmental health, and at no extra cost.

4 UTILISING NATURAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR CLEANING WATER

By definition, a technology is the collection of tools, methods and techniques used by humans to create modifications to natural systems to improve our interaction with the world16. Engineering is the discipline that researches, designs and implements new technologies, but may collaborate with other disciplines. This is especially true for Ecological Engineering which includes collaborative input from biologists, chemists, horticulturists, mycologists, agriculturists, plant scientists, geneticists to name but a few.

Method: BiomimicryBiomimicry is an emergent discipline of an ancient practice of mimicking nature, which is rapidly growing and evolving. It utilises nature in three ways - as a model, measure and mentor - in order to resolve design

14 Department of Food Environment and Rural Affairs. Water for Life (White Paper) (2011). Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-for-life

15 Alexandersson, O., Living Water - Viktor Schauberger and the Secrets of Natural Energy (1982)16 Taken from: Clearly Explained Technology.com at: http://clearlyexplained.com/technology/

13

http://clearlyexplained.com/technology/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-for-life


challenges and improve established systems, so that they are more efficient, resilient and self-sustaining.17 A key aspect of the Biomimicry approach is to ‘create conditions conducive to life’ supporting a healthy water model.

Technique: BioremediationBioremediation is an aspect of Biomimicry, a waste management process used to remove or neutralize pollutants and unwanted substances from contaminated soil, water, air and even man-made structures. It most commonly involves the use of plants, fungi and bacteria. Metabolic processes of these organisms are capable of using chemical contaminants as an energy source, rendering the contaminants harmless or less toxic in most cases.

Factors which may affect the use of plants, fungi and bacteria at specific locations and for specific purposes are as follows:

• Whether it is indigenous (not as relevant to bacteria);• Its ability to adapt to local climate;• Its resilience to changing conditions;• Whether it results in high biomass;• The ease of implementation and maintenance;• The growth span (e.g. trees can be left to grow for long periods of time and don't need to be

harvested)

Plant only:• Whether it has a deep root structure;• If accumulators, where does accumulation take place (root, stem, leaves)

4.1 PLANTS - PHYTO

Phytoremediation has been developed since the 1970's and it is a well established method, with many plant uses scientifically documented and widely circulated.18 Phytoremediation is the use of photosynthesising plants and their associated micro-organisms and chemistry to stabilize or reduce contamination in soils, sludges, sediments, surface water, or ground water19.

Plant species selected for use exhibit the following characteristics:• resistance to a contaminant;• to be able to accumulate, degrade, and less commonly, volatilize, the contaminant.

Sub-sets of Phytoremediation:

Phytodegradation also called phyto-transformation, is the breakdown of contaminants taken up by plants through metabolic processes within the plant, or the breakdown of contaminants surrounding the plant through the effect of compounds, such as enzymes produced by the plants. For example, Johnson

17 From Introduction to Biomimicry, BiomimicrySA Course Notes (2013)18 Edited by Sasek V., Glaser J A., Baveye, P., The Utilization of Bioremediation to Reduce Soil Contamination: Problems and

Solutions (2003)19 Available from: United States Environmental Protection Agency website at

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/accomp/news/phyto.htm

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http://www.epa.gov/superfund/accomp/news/phyto.htm


grass, wild rye grass and hybrid popular can degrade TNT found in explosives. 20

Rhizodegredation utilises hydroponically cultivated deep penetration of plant roots and the associations, symbiotic microbes and fungi (known as mycorrizal), for the precipitation onto plant roots or the absorption of contaminants from solution. Rhizodegredation is generally a much slower process than phytodegredation. Spearmint (Mentha Spicata) for example, contains a chemical which induces Anthrobacter to degrade PCB21.

Phytovolatilization is the uptake and transpiration of a contaminant by a plant, with release of the contaminant or a modified form of the contaminant from the plant to the atmosphere. For example, study shows that Poplar trees (Populus) can volatilise 90% of the trichloroethylene (TCE) they take up. 22

Phytoaccumulation are those plants that concentrate one or more chemical elements in its tissue. These chemicals can have positive effect, once accumulated. This includes minerals and nutrients that improve nutrient value for human consumption and can also enrich topsoil once the plant decays. It is this use that features highly in permaculture systems as soil fertility is seen as a key aspect of food security and sustainability. On the other hand, these plants can also accumulate hazardous chemicals mainly heavy metals, and are therefore unsafe for human consumption. Typically accumulators will take up greater than 1% of their mass in metals 23. Rhizofiltration, an aspect of Pytoaccumulation, can demonstrate that certain plants have the ability to remove up to 60% of their dry weight as toxic metals 24. For example, a study involving pilot-scale research found that the roots of Sunflower (helianthus annuus) reduced levels of a number of toxic metals to concentrations near or below regulated discharge limits within 24 hours 25.

Plants high in toxic loads are not a commercially viable plant and if left to their normal growth cycle will then cause environmental contamination. They therefore need to be incinerated or further composted and recycled to extract the chemicals for further use. This process is known as phyto mining. Industrial Hemp, not to be confused with its relative Marijuana, is proving to be one of the best known examples. Hemp is an annual fibrous plant that grows in any agronomic system and in any climate, it produces its own fertiliser requiring no herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or insecticides to grow well. It requires a third of the water which cotton requires to grow and will grow an astonishing 8-12 feet in 3-4 months and only require 10-13 inches of water. It also acts as a carbon sync.

Hemp can pull high quantities of organic contaminants from water as well as remove radioactive elements, metals and pesticides26. If only pulling organic contaminants the resulting hemp is a very valuable product with every part of the plant having a use: the pulp, fibre, protein, cellulose, oil, or overall biomass. Hemp products are completely biodegradable. The plant also produces an easily absorbed protein which could have dramatic effect as a sustainable food source. 27 An understanding of where accumulation occurs has relevance for whether it should be used or not, especially in considering its use as a commercial crop. For example, Hemp is a plant that accumulates toxins in all parts and so under toxic conditions, no part of the plant can be used. On the other hand crops which accumulate more in their

20 Mirsal I. (2008), Soil Pollution: Origin, Monitoring & Remediation, p. 27821 Steven C. McCutcheon, Jerald L. (2003), Phytoremediation: Transformation and Control of Contaminant, p. 330.22 Evans G. G., Furlong J. (2011), Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Application, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, p. 152.23 Cunningham S. D., Vangronsveld J., Metal-contaminated soils: In situ Inactivation and phytorestoration. , pp. 151-182.24 Available from: http://www.hawaii.edu/abrp/Technologies/rhizofi.html25 Salt, D.E., Blaylock M. , Kumar N.P.B.A., Dushenkov V.,. Ensley B.D.,Chet I., and Raskin I., Phytoremediation: A novel Strategy for

the Removal of Toxic Metals from the Environment Using Plants, 1995, Biotechnology, 13 (5), pp. 468-474. 26 Linger P., , Müssig J., Fischer H., Kobert J., Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) growing on heavy metal contaminated soil: fibre

quality and phytoremediation potential, Industrial Crops and Products, Volume 16, Issue 1, July 2002, Pages 33–4227 Video - Tony Budden of 'Hemporium SA' - The Global Benefits of HEMP. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=BxkDUBj3riY

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxkDUBj3riY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxkDUBj3riY

http://www.hawaii.edu/abrp/Technologies/rhizofi.html


roots, but not in their leaves could still provide a viable crop. Some tests have been done to look at where uptake accumulates. For example, the metal concentrations of Arsenic and Chromium were examined within Brake Fern (Pteris vittata) which determined Chromium treated groups showed high concentrations in roots compared to shoots, whilst Arsenic treated groups showed high concentrations in their shoots. 28

4.2 FUNGI - MYCO

Mycofiltration is “the use of intentionally cultivated networks of fungal mycelium (mass of branching, thread-like hyphae ) to facilitate water quality improvements in engineered ecosystems” 29 Mycelium, the vegetative part of the fungi, grows and digests its food source, usually wood and related debris such as leaves, but amazingly can be utilised to treat a vast and unusual array of other materials such as oil and tea waste, of which Paul Stammets has comprehensively outlined in Mycelium Running30. Mycelium has also been shown to degrade plastics.

As mycelial growth occurs it creates a membrane or mat of interlocking cells. Micro-cavities form which fill with air and water providing an aerobic infrastructure with a vast surface area. This acts as the perfect environment for the following mechanisms:

• catching of micro-organisms, pollutants and silt;

• blocking of the activity of micro-organisms, usually by preventing reproduction or by holding it inter-cellularly.

• digesting of micro-organisms, by producing antibiotics and enzymes specifically adapted to this job, or chemical toxins including hydrocarbons such as oil, PCB’s, pesticides, nitrates, heavy metals, as well as excess nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium31.

For example, White Rot fungi containing over 2,000 species32 has been proven to degrade a number of toxic chemical compounds by the production of extracellular enzymes that break down many organic compounds, often those not readily degraded by bacteria.

Please see an Introduction to Mycofiltration on the Rooting and Fruiting research page of the website, available Spring 2015. This provides a comprehensive summary of the subjects contemporary scientific and practical research.

28 Maruthi Sridhar B. B., Fengxiang X. Han F. X., Diehl S. V., Monts D. L., Su Y. (2011), Effect of Phytoaccumulation of Arsenic and Chromium on Structural and Ultrastructural Changes of Brake Fern (Pteris vittata), Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology, vol.23, no.4C, Campos dos Goytacazes.

29 Taylor A., Flatt E., Beutel M, Stamets P., Wolf M., Brownson K., Mycofiltration Biotechnology for Urban Stormwater Bacteria Removal, Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Paper, Seattle, WA, 2014. Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/265250052_Mycofiltration_Biotechnology_for_Urban_Stormwater_Bacteria_Removal

30 Stamets P. (2005), Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World, Ten Speed Press, p.160.31 Available from: Mycelium – The Big Picture!, http://mushroomwave.wikispaces.com/Mycelium,+The+Big+Picture!32 Edited by Sasek V., Glaser J A., Baveye, P.(2003), The Utilization of Bioremediation to Reduce Soil Contamination: Problems and

Solutions

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http://mushroomwave.wikispaces.com/Mycelium,+The+Big+Picture!


4.3 BACTERIA

Bacteria live in the most diverse of conditions and some of the most extreme places on earth. For every contaminant, there is a specific strain of bacteria which can live in it and break it down. For successful use of bacteria for Bioremediation - the highest rate of degradation/accumulation - conditions for bacterial growth need to be optimised. Bacteria procure energy and turn food sources into biomass, water and carbon dioxide. By adding substances that help them grow and break down the products more efficiently.

For example, a number of species of bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa being one, can degrade Methyl Mercury found in certain pesticides and which is highly toxic because it accumulates in living tissues.33 Interestingly this bacteria is naturally found on coffee beans and perhaps could be combined with excellent fungi degraders, such as Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) that can grow on coffee.

4.4 OTHER ASPECTS OF NATURAL TECHNOLOGIES

The following brief descriptions explain two additional technologies that are relevant to this report and to a systems approach. They can also be directly used, or the methodology can be applied, in low-tech scenarios.

Granular filtration Granular filtration - often by sand, high density carbon or Diatomaceous earth and, with increasing research, Biochar - is a process where water flows through grains or particles in order to retain suspended solids (sand, clay, metals etc.). In addition, biochemical reactions take place to decompose substances and remove pathogens. An important aspect of granular filtration is the biofilm, a microbial community held in an excreted polysaccharide coating in aqueous conditions which is highly absorptive. It adheres to the granular media creating a combined matrix of grains and treatment bacteria that clean the water. In one particular study, which studied filtration by combined biofilm and granular activated charcoal for the treatment of rainwater demonstrated a substantial increase in metal iron absorption as well as Nitrates. 34

In combined systems, granular filtration (often sand) is used for polishing water to meet water quality requirements by removing excess solids and nutrients. It is relatively low cost and low-tech, but research is necessary to get required results. For example granular media quality (composition and pore size) can have dramatic effects on the quality of the treatment.

See: Sand filtration. Similarly, Geotextile – a permeable woven and unwoven biodegradable fabric used in conjunction with soil or other particles – that often enhance the Bioremediative properties of the granular technology. 35

33 Ortiz-Hernández M. L., Sánchez-Salinas E., Dantan González E., Castrejón Godínez M. L., Mechanisms and Strategies for

Pesticide Biodegradation: opportunity for waste, soils and water cleaning, Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie. 29 (número especial sobre plaguicidas) pp. 85-104, 2013.

34 Rasid R.A., Biofilm and Multimedia Filtration for Rainwater Treatment, journal of Sustainable Development, Vol.2 No.1, March 2009, pp.196-199.

35 Parneet P., Tota-Maharaj K., Investigating the influence of geotextile layers as biofilm granular filters to treat stormwater, 2014.

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Rhythm/pulsationA whole field of study has emerged from an understanding that “water, as the basis of living fluids within plants, animals and human beings...flows rhythmically with or without the regulation of the heart ”36. The Living Water Institute based at Emmerson College, Sussex, has in particular propelled the conveyance of rhythm an essential aspect of all life processes. Their aim has been to examine how rhythm can be introduced into captured and fragile water in order to enhance is healthy healing qualities, owing largely to the fact that the act of rhythm and pulsating increases the oxygen capacity of water. Both natural rhythm and oxygenation are beneficial to micro-organisms and improve flora and fauna, reducing stagnation. 37 See: Flowforms (details contained within technology case examples below).

4.4 TECHNOLOGY CASE EXAMPLES

Technology Name Biohaven® Floating Islands/Floating Treatment Wetlands (Lynda Muller)

Case Example Val de Vie

Treatment Type Phytoremediation – all sub-types

Treatment for

Images

Particularly good for open water, such as retention ponds designed to catch storm run-off water; polishing for sewage treatment; damaged wetland; fishery improvement.

In addition these can be home- created and maintained using low grade easily sourced materials to serve small-scale industrial, agricultural and household needs, such as for farming pollution run-off and household greywater.

36 Schwuchow J., Wilkes J. A., Trousdell I., Energizing Water: Flowform Technology and the Power of Nature, 2010.37 Schwuchow J., Wilkes J. A., Trousdell I., et al.

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Figure 2 (left to right): Floating Island strip treating a natural swimming pool also containing fish; previous close-up.


Background Reed bed technology has long been recognised for the ability to cleanse wastewater. It composes of three main elements: soil dwelling microbes, the physical and chemical properties of the soil, sand or gravel, and finally the plants themselves.

Floating reed and plant systems mimic a natural phenomenon found in many parts of the world and naturally comprise wetland plants and mud or peat. Many scientific papers have been published to demonstrate successes. 38 Compared to the reed beds, floating systems create greater exposure of roots to the wastewater by allowing them to hang freely. This maximises degradation by:

• Increasing the bioavailability of contaminants;• Creating a vast surface area (much greater than any man made material)

which provides an extensive microbial community that supports a diverse food chain;

• Increasing oxygen production from the root tips which speeds up nitrification.

Technology Description

The advantage of engineering these systems is that plants can be specifically chosen for their ability to fix and transform specific nutrients and other contaminants, as well as manage suspended solids and algae dominance. In

38 For example, Lord, W. and Patoprsty, W., Innovative Stormwater Floating Islands as Wetland Plant Nurseries, World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2014: pp. 2225-2234.

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Figure 3 (Clockwise from top left): Val de Vie retention pond with fully functioning Biohaven® floating island; Lynda Muller checking over a Biohaven® floating island beginning to upturn; dry pond and damaged Biohaven® floating island due to systems not being properly managed; clear water from Biohaven® treated retention.


most circumstances emergent wetland vegetation are utilised, but other plants can be incorporated and also function well. Matrix’s can be created to prevent the floating island breaking down over long periods of time and can be designed to function for a specific task.

Val de VieVal de Vie area was originally a harsh clay and sand mining area, which has also been used for intensive farming. Invasive plant species have proliferated39. The area had been redeveloped and now encompasses an enormous estate, combining luxurious homes with leisure facilities and amenities. The estate's ethos has been to embrace a responsible and nurturing socio-environmental culture and has been described as an environmental benchmark in sustainable housing design as a part of environmental rehabilitation. Whether this is true is not, the incorporation of different water features as integral components of the new Val de Vie landscape is interesting. I met with Linda Muller who has developed a number of floating islands in South Africa including importing and implementing Biohaven®40 technology for Val de Vie developments in 2011. The Biohaven® comprises a recycled plastic matrix, similar to a cigarette filter, which is extruded under heat. Wetland plants are planted into the matrix.

Islands were used to stabilise water quality, which was established within weeks, and provide some additional habitat to the retention ponds. The islands have created remarkably clear water and have supported the pond beds to become vegetated with native species typical of the area.

Unfortunately Linda found the systems to be economically unsuitable due to

39 See: http://www.emmagazine.co.za/, Dec/Jan 2013/14, Vol 8, p. 16.40 See: www.floatingislandinternational.com

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Figure 3: Author's impression - diagram showing components of a floating island system

http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/

http://www.emmagazine.co.za/


importation costs and thus only the very affluent are able to afford them. Despite this they continue to be utilised in parts of South Africa.

Linda had created a number of low-tech versions:

Linda also thought that ‘plastic straw' in fruit packing material would also work well once packed into a cotton pillow.

John Todd Ecological Design - Floating Raft Restorers for Bioremediation project:

• Simple tethered but buoyant square bamboo frame with bundled reeds attached to treat contaminated storm wastewater.

Pierre Depaepe - natural floating islands to reduce the cost and chemicals involved with swimming pool disinfection:

• Matrix of coir geotextile, coco peat and coco fibre with bamboo canes for added structure and recycled plastic bottles or wine bottle corks for floats.

Pierre's version is the first I've seen to utilise a variety of both aquatic and non-aquatic plants, including herbs and vegetables. Bioponics is the term for hydroponic aquaculture. Green leafy vegetables like chard and spinach, as well as herbs like basil and chives, appear to work well.

21

Illustration 2: Figure 4 (clockwise from left): Lynda turning a home-made planted netted matrix containing fish floats; close-up of previous; alternative matrix using plastic weaved material, similar to a scouring pad, with a lightweight casting resin (usually inert polyurethene foam) sprayed and set to create buoyancy;


Advantages • Efficiency – only require 10% of water coverage to clean water. Provides a surface area that would be achieved by a wetland more than 100 times this size41;

• Easy practical installation;• Much cheaper to implement, operate, and maintain than conventional

wetlands;• Aesthetic beauty;• Naturalises well;• Improved Biodiversity;• Production of a large biomass;• Production of goods: fuel, food, medicines, fibres etc.;• Unaffected by fluctuations in water levels;• Can be installed in deep water;• Efficient at reducing total suspended solids • Can be moved;• Easily scaled up or down by using modular systems;• Utilise low cost, locally sourced, reused and natural materials.

41 See: http://blog.dhec.co.za/category/floating-islands-cat/

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Figure 3: Natural Floating Island treating a non-chemical swimming pool by Pierre; close-up of previous showing bamboo matrix; and showing celery shoots as part of a Bioponics system.


Considerations • Natural materials still take 3-10 years to decay, during which time pockets of trapped gas may add to flotation and the structure may be consolidated and bound together by root growth.

• See Appendix 2 for beginners plant list.

Further Reading Floating Island International: http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/products/biohaven-technology/

Research Papers:http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/research/research-papers/

Pierre Depaepe video how-to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Comprehensive Phytoremedation Plant list see:http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/famulari_research/index.php

Technology Name MycofilterCase Example Spier Winery

Treatment Type Mycofiltration

Treatment for Wastewater contaminated with pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides & herbicides.

Technology Background

Spier Mycofilter was a collaboration between BiomimicrySA – as part of their broader program of work exploring biomimetic water treatment applications – and Fungi Perfecti. Fungi Perfecti is well renowned for progressing Mycofiltration technology, demonstrating the use of both Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) and King Stropharia (Stropharia rugosoannulata) in effectively removing a range of contaminants including E.coli and Colliform bacteria.42

A specific challenge of the project was that the Biomimicry team wanted to use a workshop to engage local professionals interested in understanding and installing a mycofilter. Katie Brownson from Fungi Perfecti was invited to work with the team and in 2011 installed a simple Mycofiltration technology. Fungi Perfecti provided the Oyster spawn. King Stropharia was requested to be collected from a South African grower.

For trial purposes a section of a stream that flows into one of the larger rivers at Spier was trialled. The stream contained effluent from a range of sources including a local school, so urea load and cooking remnants such as fats were high. All the rivers within Spier land are affected by bacteria such as E.coli.

42 Taylor A., Flatt E., Beutel M, Stamets P., Wolf M., Brownson K., Mycofiltration Biotechnology for Urban Stormwater Bacteria Removal, Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Paper, Seattle, WA, 2014. Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/265250052_Mycofiltration_Biotechnology_for_Urban_Stormwater_Bacteria_Removal

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http://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/famulari_research/index.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twFG-uelsoA

http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/research/research-papers/

http://www.floatingislandinternational.com/products/biohaven-technology/


Technology Details

24

Figure 4: Author impression of schematic view of burlap Mycofilter

Figure 6: Artists impression of the resulting Mycofilter trench created over a period of time, which is dependant on environmental conditions and original materials used. Woodchip and dressing layer should be periodically re-established and there may be a critical point where the trench needs to be dug out and new burlap sacks employed to create optimal conditions for water treatment.

Figure 5: Author impression of cross-section of river with burlap Mycofilter trench


Technology Description

Fat, a detrimental contaminant, was first collected in a netted tube (left) and had to be emptied manually on a weekly basis. The Mycofilter was then established.

Popular wood chips were prepared by cold water sterilisation but this didn't work very well and hydrogen peroxide was used instead. The filter was made up of burlap sacks/Hessian bags containing layers of the wood chips, wheat and spawn (material, in this case wood, fully colonized with mycelium). The bags were incubated for just over a day and then they were stacked across the stream. Stones were used to help stabilise them. The area was covered with more Hessian to protect the mycelium from the sun.

For the purpose of the trial, Orlando Firlander, Spier Farm Manager, explained that the technology worked well and although only in place for 6 months the water quality did improve. King Stropharia turned out to be a different species of fungi and as a result was not employed. Decomposition of the chips by the Oyster mushroom was nearly complete after just six months, with mushrooms being produced around the same time.

Maintenance was needed to keep weeds low, so the mushrooms could fully establish. Unfortunately heavy rain during October and November washed the Mycofilter away.

Plans had been progressed to create a larger-scale Mycofilter to treat the wine effluent, approximately 30,000 litres. Components of the original design had been worked up and the new design employed a large tank made of stainless steel cages containing inoculated straw bales that would allow the effluent to flow through them. There was the understanding that the tank would need to be replenished with straw bales every 2-3 months.

Advantages • Fungi can treat such a vast range of contaminants, some of which are not readily decomposed by any other natural method, such as petroleum;

• Low short and long-term operation costs;• No energy requirements.

Limitations • Work best when the mycofilter is fully myceliated in order that they can tolerate drenching;

• Flow rate is therefore a big consideration. They work best when water trickles through. Slowing water can help achieve this. For example, by widening a river;

• They need to be supported to thrive in the early stages, especially with weed growth in and around the mycofilter;

• Structures that support growth and that increase resilience and

25

Figure 7: Fat collection at Spier


robustness are essential in areas affected by adverse weather.

Considerations • What was not mentioned, and I am yet to find in my research, is the application of fungi systems growing in conjunction with plants for the treatment of water. Interesting relationships between fungi and plants and trees have been scientifically explored. There are numerous examples whereby fungi and plants work symbiotically but they can also work in unison without there being symbiosis. Can we promote these relationships to facilitate a more variable contaminant clean-up and maximise space by utilising plant and fungi species together?

Further Information Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World, Paul Stamets (2005)

Radical Mycology - a grassroots movement and social philosophy based on accessibly teaching the importance of working with mushrooms and other fungi for personal, societal, and ecological health: http://radicalmycology.com/

Mushroom Mountain – http://www.mushroommountain.com/

Amazon Mycorenewal Project – Growing a sustainable mushroom production for remediation, nutrition, and medicinal applications in the Ecuadorean Amazon: http://amazonmycorenewal.org/

Funguyst – for a valuable mycofilter diagram using stone gabions for support and the addition of Environmental micro-organisms for additional treatment: http://www.funguys.co.za/mushroom-cultivation-tips/80-mycotechnology/79-mycofiltration-ecological-cleanup-biofilter.htm l

Please note: No one person has been solely responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of Spier's water treatment and therefore the following information has be gleaned from a number of professionals and collated using my knowledge of Mycology and Mycofiltration, and may not be exactly precise.

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http://www.funguys.co.za/mushroom-cultivation-tips/80-mycotechnology/79-mycofiltration-ecological-cleanup-biofilter.html



http://amazonmycorenewal.org/

http://www.mushroommountain.com/

http://radicalmycology.com/


Technology Name EM™ (Environmental Micro-organisms)Case Example AfrEco

Treatment Type Combination micro-organism

Treatment for Improve fisheries, aquariums, swimming pools, natural waterways and septic tanks.

Images

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Figure 8 (clockwise from top left): EM cultivation in barrels; distinctive film floating on the ferment which looks like the yeast or even fungal mycelium, but this is actually the filamentous branching growth pattern that results from the extensive colony of Actinomycetes bacteria; photo with Graeme and his colleague; the productive large-scale farm in abundance without agricultural chemicals.


Background Developed by Pro. Dr. Terou Higa in the early 1980s, EM™ technology is a trademarked product containing a fermented mixture of naturally occurring coexisting micro-organisms, which can improve the health of soils, plants, water, humans and animals through increased nutrition, resistance and immunity. They can be used for solving all kinds of environmental pollution of the air, land and water43.

There are five main micro-organisms

1. Lactic acid bacteria produces lactic acid, which reduces PH which acts to suppress harmful micro-organisms and encourages rapid breakdown of organic substances. Lactic acid bacteria can also suppress the reproduction of a certain harmful fungus.

2. Phototrophic bacteria (photosynthetic bacteria) utilises solar energy to metabolise organic and inorganic substances, which plays a major role in carbon and nitrogen cycling. They act as nitrogen binders, ideal for the treatment of Eutrophicated waters. Metabolites produced are directly absorbed and utilised by plants.

3. Actinomyceteses bacteria suppresses harmful fungi and bacteria and supports the growth of the phototrophic bacteria.

4. Yeast, a natural fermentation starter which lives in sugar-rich environments, are anti-microbial and produce chemicals such as amino acids and polysaccharides. They become the feed for other micro-organisms and plants in situ.

5. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) breaks down the organic substances quickly, suppressing foul smell and preventing damage caused by harmful insects.

Technology description

Graeme Barnhoorn runs the Sassenheim Estate, a large flower farm between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Graeme had fully converted his farm from chemical to organic agriculture using EM™ , which positively impacted the health of his workers who had suffered breathing and skin related problems from all the fungicides, herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilisers previously employed. Outflow from the farm no longer impacts surface water. As a result, he established AfrEco. Graeme showed me one aspect of his work, fermentation of EM™ and discussed with me how he has utilised this within water projects.

Graeme had worked with children from The River Health Project in Knysna in order to improve water health of the rivers flowing into the famous estuary, which is ranked one of the most important in South Africa and was made international hope spot in December 2014, recognition of its decline in water quality and the fact it is a special conservation area critical to the health of the ocean. EM™ was used to inoculate naturally sun-dried clay balls. These were released into the river near the schools located about 1-2 miles from the estuary. Unfortunately it was perceived that difficulties in recording effects limited the ability to determine any positive outcomes.

Advantages • Easy to produce

43 See: http://www.emrojapan.com/

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http://www.emrojapan.com/


Limitations • Require warm temperatures to develop;• Requires a starter from a reputable organisation.

Considerations • EM™ is an effective alternative to chlorine bleach for mould abatement and was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for remediation after the Katrina hurricane disaster. This shows it's possible use alongside other methods for flood clean-up.

• Compost teas are an alternative and are not trademarked. For how-to see:https://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Tea/tea1.htm

Further Information EMRO: http://www.emrojapan.com/

Effective Mircoorganisms Ltd. (UK): http://www.effectivemicroorganisms.co.uk/

Bioremediation Techniques and Details: A Response to Iowa Flooding: Effective, Non-Toxic Solutions to Remediate Flood Damage. Available from: https://organizingforpower.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bioremediationpamphlet-iowa.pdf

Technology Name SOG filterCase Example HWT offices

Treatment Type Biomass/granular biological (including Pytormediation and possible Mycofiltration), chemical and physical remediation.

Treatment for Domestic sewerage - variable flow & high organic load

Background Peat is a highly organic and complex material containing partially degraded plant fibres, most commonly Sphagnum moss which is superior for filtration compared to other mosses. The physical aspects of the large surface area created by the mass of fibrous roots provides open cavity spaces and facilitates aeration, and is a vast media for micro-organisms. This results in a high water retention and ion exchange capacity, and retention of the effluent that percolates through.44 Chemical components of peat, including Amino Acid groups and alcohols, work alongside the physical properties to filter water and has known uses in septic tank effluent and urban run-off treatment.

The most common effects on water and associated organisms are:

• Softens water by acting as an ion exchange;• Acts like a sponge absorbing nutrients and hold them for the plants as

a reserve;

44 See APTHQ at: http://tourbehorticole.com/en/peat/uses.php

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http://tourbehorticole.com/en/peat/uses.php

https://organizingforpower.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bioremediationpamphlet-iowa.pdf

https://organizingforpower.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bioremediationpamphlet-iowa.pdf

http://www.effectivemicroorganisms.co.uk/

http://www.emrojapan.com/

https://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Tea/tea1.htm

https://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Tea/tea1.htm


• Contains substances that are beneficial for plants;• Is anti-microbial;• Is anti-algae;• Positively affects the reproductive health of fishes;

Some of these properties may be attributed to the production of tannins.45

Images

Technology description

The Sogbog contains a Solids inception tank pumped up to the top of stacked trickle filter containing peat medium. It takes 48 hours to trickle to the base where it flows to a collection sump for re-use for irrigation purposes.

45 Scheurmann, I., The Natural Aquarium Handbook, 1985. Translated for Barron's Educational Series, Hauppauge, New York: 2000.

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Figure 9 (Clockwise from top left): Andrew Hulsman and Bernelle Verster looking at the SOG filter, top crate with top off revealing peat used in the filter, clear water output, full stacked system where wastewater is pumped to the top and allowed to drip through the layers.


Advantages • Based on proven technology (Peat filtration has been used for many years in various parts of the world);

• Removes heavy metals, hydrocarbons and suspended solids from contaminated water46;

• Low energy (only uses one pump);• Low visual impact;• Easily scaled-up through modular design.

Limitations • Peat mining is invasive and causes long term environmental damage despite HWT classing this as an “eco-friendly solution to a problem that could potentially be harmful to the environment”. Moving peat to different locations in the world is not cost effective or sustainable. HWT imports from Ireland;

• Unpredictability - different peats offer different notable qualities. Peats taken from the same bog taken from separate layers can have different chemical and physical properties. Light peats and dark peats have different characteristics. For example, light peat is more porous and dark peat has greater ion exchange.

Considerations • Biolitix Filter technology (see p. 53) could be a viable alternative using a similar biomass;

• It may be possible to revitalise peat run-off found in lowland waterways;

• Andrew Hulsman, HWT, was sure that fungi mycelium had been growing on the surface of the Sog biomass and throughout the different modules. However, considering fungi relationships with peat have not been readily documented and alongside the high acidity of the environment, it is difficult to ascertain and further research is required. The alternative explanation the root system of Spagnum Moss can be seen regrowing on the surface which looks similar to

46 (Cohen et al., 1991)

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Figure 10: Typical installation of SOGBOG filer installed post solids inceptor


fungal mycelium. Alternatively, the chemical changes that could occur by placing peat into the new system may change the chemical composition of the peat thereby allowing fungal mycelium growth.

Further Reading HWT Water Treatment: http://hwt.co.za/sewage-treatment/domestic-unit/

Technology Name FlowformCase Example Spier Winery

Treatment Type Pulsation/oxygenation

Treatment for Water polishing, chlorine removal

Illustrations

Background Flowforms, originated by John Wilkes, are the artistic and technological representation of natural rhythmic and metamorphic processes in nature, specifically the 'flowform rhythm' - a pulsating figure of eight pattern emulating a flow pattern found in many organisms. They take the from of sculptured vessels with several figure of eight forms in a cascade. There are three common characteristics: a smaller entry "bowl" which receives water from source, flows

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Figure 11: Close-up and distance image of combined Flowforms for polishing water in the finishing pond.

http://hwt.co.za/sewage-treatment/domestic-unit/


into two larger basins where the figure of eight movement takes place, then an exits with a drop into an outlet pond or waterway.

The proportions are based on scientific imagination and mathematics and allow persistent rhythms to be viewed. This is a harmonious process utilising natures ability to oxygenate, reconstruct and energetically treat water. 47

The proportions of the form, flow rates through the form and the type of material all impact the Flowform activity and treatment.

Since the 1970's approximately 2,500 Flowforms have been installed in over 50 countries. Despite being wrongly classified as pseudo-science, which is generally endemic to the view of natural water-based treatment, science has begun to provide evidence to verify the worth of Flowforms (see Energizing Water 2010, p. 64) . As Schwuchow J., Wilkes J. A., Trousdell I. (2010) suggest, when compared with orthodox mechanical oxygen pumping they provide equal oxygenation, but are superior in that:

“(f )lowform treatment appears to be a more efficient and durable way to achieve oxygen saturation, due to the more natural weaving and folding movements of water which enrich its internal micro-structure.”

In addition, and more interestingly, Flowforms hold oxygenation much longer and do not damage micro-organisms that also work to detoxify pollutants.

Technology details Flowforms have been notably used in combined systems with reed beds treating effluent.

Case Example: Spier Estate wastewater treatment plantSpier's waste water treatment plant was implemented in 2006 in order to treat the demands of the increasing growth of the estate in various sectors. Waste

47 Schwuchow J., Wilkes J. A., Trousdell I., Et al.

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Figure12: Path of vortices Photographic superimposition of regularly developing left-sided (image 1 from left) and right-sided (image 2) paths of vortices. As the mirror images (first two images from the left) are moved together and over each other in images 3, 4 and 5 (from left to right), the two path of vortices overlap, creating a striking similarity to Flowform shapes. (Healing Water Institute 2008)


water sources include restaurant, winery, laundry and industrial effluent, and domestic sewerage from the hotel and houses.

The plant comprises:• Inlet screen to remove solids, fats, oils and grease;• Flow balancing, effectively a retention tank;• Bioreactor – activated sludge with a mixed community of micro-

organisms in an aerobic aquatic environment for the organic treatment of the screened and settled sewerage;

• Indigenous wetland to degrade nutrients and organic material effectively polishing the water and providing back-up capacity if the Bioreactor is organically overloaded;

• Circulation pond consisting of 15 flow forms that pump water in flow form rhythm, creating multiple vortices in the water.

Not only is the circulation pond stunning it has, according to Andrew Hulsman at HWT Water Treatment who engineered the system, shown in analysis an improvement in a number of parameters, such as dissolved oxygen.

It was refreshingly honest that Andrew had the ability to put science aside and say that he had a strong feeling about the technology. Other professionals whom I came in contact with and had experienced Flowforms first hand also showed remarkable enthusiasm for them, and time and again told of their ability to add something extra to water cleaning, mainly sparkle and vitality. Andrew also added that he believed that water treatment needed pizazz in order to gain the attention and joy of the public and he said that Flowforms could be one method in achieving this.

Advantages • The oxygenation that occurs is equal to mechanical pumping, but also increases the length of time oxygenation occurs;

• Slowing water through pools and cascades allows greater biodiversity;• Great aesthetic beauty that maximises human psychological benefits

due to the well-being effects of natural water – the look and the sound.

Limitations • Expensive

Considerations • Low-tech versions can be made from clay, but this is difficult.

Further Reading Energizing Water: Flowform Technology and the Power of Nature, Schwuchow J., Wilkes J. A., Trousdell I. (2010).

Living Energies: Viktor Schauberger's Brilliant Work with Natural Energy Explained, Coats, C. (2001).

Healing Water Institute (2008), Flowform Water Research 1970 – 2007: A collation of research & related ideas.

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5 A SYSTEMS APPRAOCH - COMBINED TECHNOLOGIES

Most wastewater treatment poses a complex design challenge requiring a combination of technologies in order to have the greatest impact.

The following two case examples summarise how technologies can and have been combined to provide the most appropriate solutions. In the case of the Bioremediation project all the technologies proposed have been further detailed to show how they function and for what purpose they may stand alone. In the case of Lynedoch Eco-village only the Biolytix filter technolgy has been described in full as it poses the most interesting method of cleaning water and most other elements of the system resemble technologies covered earlier in the report .

5.1 CASE EXAMPLES - A WHOLE SYSTEMS APPRAOCH

Bioremediation project, Berg River – Design Stage

Work undertaken by

BiomimicrySA in collaboration with In/Formal South, Greenhouse, John Todd Ecological Design and Maluti GSM.

Location Langrug, Franschoek and Mbekweni, Paarl (Berg River catchment), Western Cape

Water type Storm water with high solid and contaminant load from informal settlements.

Main aim Medium term intervention to improve water quality and ecosystem functioning in the Berg River, as linked to sustainable growth and development in the Province.

Background The Berg River gained attention because of the high levels of pollutants entering the river. Due to most pollution resulting from Informal Settlement outflow, the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning contracted BiomimicrySA to design a capture and treatment system in Langrug, Franschoek and Mbekweni, Paarl.

Langrug: Informal settlement in Franschhoek under Stellenbosch Municipality. It has been in situ for approximately 20 years and in 2011 there were approximately 4,088 people living there. Sanitation mainly depends on two types of systems: flush-toilets and the bush with approximately 49 people using each toilet. However the usage of toilets and taps is highly contentious due to their limited numbers. There are two options in terms of bathing: in the house or open space. The focus of the project within Langrug is to treat water at the site of a school, where sitting water collects. Fire and flooding have been ongoing issues for the settlement. Langrug’s leadership has demonstrated a high degree

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of organisational talent. 1

Greywater sewers are highly unsanitary, creating a foul odour which is delivered untreated to the bottom of the hill and which eventually enters the Berg River. Contact with this water is a danger to human health and the Langrug community noted that children were getting rashes from exposure. This problem was exacerbated by the accumulation of trash within the gutter causing stagnation which functions as a breeding ground for pathogens. Some of the effluent was also dispersed onto the community sports field where it creates a stagnant bog.

Mbekweni: A poor, rural community on the outskirts of the Paarl, mainly a wine farming area with wide spread unemployment except for during the grape picking season. Although not widely examined, the community again share taps and bathing facilities, and toxicity accumulates in the effluent which is released into the Berg river. Problems arise from ineffective drainage through the settlement and beyond, with effluent sometimes being released in a flood plain which feed the Berg river. There has been particular attention paid to an area of the Mbekweni stream where effluent is released and diluted.

Preliminary work Genius of Place:The goal of the BiomimicrySA Genius of Place methodology is to provide a model and measure for resilient design choices. Langrug informal settlement was the focus for this more detailed Biomimicry study, chosen because issues surrounding wastewater, storm water and solid waste treatment were clearly defined and the community was receptive to help. (Further details on p. 58)

1 Available from: http://sasdialliance.org.za/projects/langrug/

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Figure 13: Dirty water and trash accumulation in Langrug, typical of informal settlements (Image courtesy of Maluti Waters ASM)

http://sasdialliance.org.za/projects/langrug/


Treatment Details

Langrug: Wastewater treatment is located on the school playing field and comprises Eco Machine™ technology to metabolize, degrade and sequester organics, pathogens and heavy metals from the wastewater, followed by shallow raceways containing Algae Turf Scrubber to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. In addition, areas designated to soil harvesting, compost production and a fish farm are to be located next to the facility.

Greywater drainage upgrade of the community established system to create a

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Figure 15: Flexible living sewage system (both available from: http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/recent_work.php)

Figure 14: Overview of the Eco-Machine at Langrug

http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/recent_work.php


'living sewer' which combines collection, separation of solids such as litter from liquid waste, conveyance, treatment and disposal. Collection points are evenly spaced every 8-10 meters throughout the community and provide pre-filtration removing food-scraps that can cause the sewers to clog. Treatment involves Micro-Wetlands effectively small, well irrigated gardens that enhance the community and keep the effluent aerated. Convergence of lines at Phototrophic Soil Makers (PSM) further treat the water through the processes of adsorption and decomposition by rhizoremedaition and mycofiltration. Nutrients are removed, quality humus is created and resulting treated water is discharged into the ground. The system is robust, easily maintained and beautiful for residents and also replenishes groundwater.

Mbekweni: Improved stormwater drainage system that includes redirecting effluent away from the river and back through the settlement to a sedimentation basin. Channels transport water to three wet ponds next to the Mbekweni stream. Floating reed restorer rafts provide treatment. Water exits to Mbekweni stream and then continues on to the Berg river. Trash screens and sediment area are located in several places and also in the public space along the Mbekweni stream in order to up-grade the area and prevent contaminant build up. It is anticipated that a public garden will be created at this site which will utilise concrete raceways with riparian corridors (planted banking) to force flow In the summer months the stream will meander between the ridges and plants would grow. With increasing water during winter, the ridges would flood and eventually scour clean plants.

Areas of outstanding excellence

• Project built upon solid research and investigation;• Took notice of and built upon the success of local indigenous strategies

to further technological innovations;• Efficient and creative collaborative team with true care and diligence for

the community;• Multi-stakeholder approach and community development work -

including participation, social enterprise and community ownership – at the heart of the project.

Possible problems • System ownership;• Maintenance relies heavily on the community.

Possible solutions • Policy and legal movements to facilitate joint ownership of systems with clearly defined roles and responsibilities

• Ongoing community development and support.

Further Information The project is currently awaiting approval.

• BiomimicrySA – Genius of place at: http://BiomimicrySA.co.za/projects/projects-overview/genius-of-place

• 110% Green: http://www.westerncape.gov.za/110green/initiatives/list/genius-place-

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http://www.westerncape.gov.za/110green/initiatives/list/genius-place-project

http://biomimicrysa.co.za/projects/projects-overview/genius-of-place


project

• In/formal South: http://www.informalsouth.co.za/portfolio/langrug-informal-settlement-berg-river-bioremediation/

• John Todd Ecological Design: http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/recent_work.php

Technology Name Eco Machine™

Treatment Type Bioremediation

Treatment for Effluent with high contaminant load

Image

Technology Details An Eco Machine™ is a registered trade mark of John Todd Ecological Designs based in the US. It comprises a number of tanks in series housed within a greenhouse. The cells utilise all the major groups of biological life allowing them support one another to maximise cleaning. Organisms used in isolation have been be shown to become stressed and a greater number of life form utilised creates a better range of treatments.

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Figure 16: Cellular living machine designed by John Todd (Available from: http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/)



http://www.informalsouth.co.za/portfolio/langrug-informal-settlement-berg-river-bioremediation/

http://www.informalsouth.co.za/portfolio/langrug-informal-settlement-berg-river-bioremediation/




Effluent is conveyed through the system by gravity. As water flows into the system and separates into tanks, different velocities and different environments are thus created and will suit different types of life – solids slow into certain tanks and lighter material continues.

The system usually comprises:

1. Holding or settlement tank – solids settle out;2. Equalisation tank – to control flow3. Anaerobic tanks - De-nitrification and luxury uptake of phosphorus 4. Constructed wetlands – rhizoremediation and biofilm micro-organisms

in a matrix;5. Aerated lagoons – aerobic degredation usually by mixed plankton and

algae;6. Sand filter – catch left-over solids with biofilms for further degredation;7. Dispersal tank – outlet.

Systems have been carefully created to suit specific project criteria. In addition, John and associates have undertaken much research to create optimum conditions for plants and set-up have incorporated a range of media for plants to grow in, as well as pump systems to maximise aeration.

The resulting system creates a beautiful water garden that can include a range of plants with an advanced treatment achieving high quality clean water.

Eco Machine™ is particularly good for the Langrug scenario because of the variable flows caused by the fluctuations in water usage and drastic changes in rainfall. It can be designed from local materials and reusable waste such as reclaimed bricks. Reeds and wood slats can be used to create the floating wetlands. With no metal parts such as pipes and valves, there is less likelihood of parts being stolen, a key concern for the settlement.

In this system, the cells are in a dendritic formation; every cell receives input from two cells and outputs to at least two cells. Cells can be operated in 'treatment' and 'fallow' mode. Once solids accumulate, cells are taken off-line, allowing the soil to be further composted when mixed with the plant matter from the wetland rafts, worms and a compost activator. The system easily functions to create and sustain micro-enterprises - Once the compost is fully decomposed it can be removed and sold. Algae scrubbers provide food for a fish farm.

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Diagram

Advantages • Deal with variable flows and high contaminant loads;• Can utilise locally sourced and reused materials;• Contains no pipes, valves or metal parts that could be of value and

stolen from the system; • Low energy -no power or motorized parts;• Can be utilised on small and large scale;• Maximised closed-loop nutrient cycles;• No sludge;

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Figure 18: 'Fallow' treatment process signalled by 'solids build-up in 'treatment' cells followed by water removal, compost and plant production (both from: http://www.toddecological.com/ecomachines/recent_work.php)

Figure 17: System showing cells in 'treatment' and 'fallow' state.



• Easily designed to include micro-enterprising activity – reeds for weaving, medicines, production of fruits such as lemons etc. and compost.

Limitations • Safety - tanks are open and therefore tanks have to be created in a way that people can't fall in;

• Require computerised monitoring, which adds greatly to both the capital and running costs2.

Considerations • Low-tech similar versions can be produced. A combination of three cells is the minimal requirement;

• The Eco-Machine can be designed to function, and resemble a real river most inkeeping with a true ecosystem.

Further Information John Todd Ecological Design: http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/

Also see Worrell Water Technologies' Living Machine® system: http://www.livingmachines.com/Home.aspx

Technology Name The Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS™)

Treatment Type Phytoaccumulation and phytodegredation

Treatment for Municipal, agricultural and industrial wastewater. Primary for nutrient contamination but also capturing and degrading of toxic organic contaminants.

Technology Detail ATS™ was was developed by Walter Adey when he recognised the solar energy capture and water modifying properties of algal turf on reefs. Algae is the most prolific and fastest growing photosynthetic organism on earth. Algae is periphytic, thereby accumulating on the surface of plant roots. Mimicking the ecological process on the reef he created an engineered environment that took advantage of the accumulation on a fixed surface (screen, rope, matrix) or as he names, an algal scrubber, to collect algal growth. Algae can then maximise accumulation of excess nitrogen and phosphorus.

2 Kwok, A. G. and Grondzik, W. T., The green studio handbook: environmental strategies for schematic design. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2007.

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http://www.livingmachines.com/Home.aspx

http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/






Diagram

Advantages • Algae is very easy to cultivate at home.

Limitations • Some Algae species produce toxins, some of which are neurotoxins, so species must be selected carefully.

Considerations Algae is a valuable source of food, fodder, medicine and biofuel.

Further Information The Algal Turf Scrubber (ATS): http://www.algalturfscrubber.com/

Walter Adey: http://www.walteradey.com/

Smart Microfarms presents: Algae Growing Systems for Home& Backyard at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZW0NpvxTH8

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Figure 3: Algal Turf Scrubber (Available from: http://www.algalturfscrubber.com/index.htm)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZW0NpvxTH8

http://www.walteradey.com/

http://www.algalturfscrubber.com/



http://www.algalturfscrubber.com/index.htm


Technology Name Phototrophic Soil Makers (PSM)

Treatment Type Rhizodegredation, Mycofiltration

Treatment for Greywater high in nutrients, organic material and other contaminants.

Description PSM's are deep pit tree wells where greywater is purified through the processes of adsorption, decomposition and root-associated micro-organisms and fungal communities. The PSM removes nutrients and organic material from the greywater converting them to humus and allowing purified effluent to infiltrate back into the ground. Plants such as Alder (Alnus spp.) and Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae spp.) appear promising due to their tolerance of marginal environments, partly because of Mycorrizal relationships with fungi and Actinorhizal relationships with nitrogen fixing bacteria3.

Advantages • Compared to a conventional septic field this mechanism of discharge creates steeper gradients of soil moisture and a more dynamic

3

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Figure 19: Diagram showing the 'Living Sewer' (Availble from: http://www.toddecological.com/ecomachines/recent_work.php)




subterranean condition;

Limitations • The decentralised nature of this system can create more maintenance work;

• Not always easy to measure the discharge which infiltrates into subterraneans.

Considerations • PSM's can be used within a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) which use ecosystems approaches to minimise surface water run-off and flood risks by utilising natural water systems such as ponds and swales. SUDS are becoming an increasingly popular tool in 'green' urban design and are also applicable to Brownfield site remediation, where contaminants enter local water courses and soils are often compacted, which increases flood risk.

Further Information John Todd Ecological Design - http://www.toddecological.com/eco-machines/recent_work.php

Forest Research - http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/infd-8aehpx

SUDS and Trees - http://sudsnet.abertay.ac.uk/presentations/National%20Conf%202012/Session9_SUDS%20and%20TREES%20Integrating%20landscaping%20and%20surface%20water%20strategiesDuffyBowieDalrymple.pdf

Technology Name Riparian corridorsTreatment Type Pytoremediation

Treatment for Stormwater

Diagram

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Figure 20: Riparian area (Brentrup, G. & Hoag, C. J. 1998)

http://sudsnet.abertay.ac.uk/presentations/National%20Conf%202012/Session9_SUDS%20and%20TREES%20Integrating%20landscaping%20and%20surface%20water%20strategiesDuffyBowieDalrymple.pdf



http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/infd-8aehpx





Description The term ‘riparian’ means the land located either side of a stream, river, pool or other natural water body, which functions as part of the natural flood plain. They naturally filter sediments, nutrients and remove contaminants depending on the types of plants incorporated. These strips of land have a vast diversity of plant species making it particularly attractive to birds and other wildlife, and are natural habitats for migrating birds. In natural systems trees often act to help manage river flooding and maintain and support the riparian corridor.

Engineered versions riparian corridors act as buffer strips to control, intercept, or re mediate contamination entering a river or groundwater pond, landfill for example. Plants and woody vegetation are most commonly incorporated but riparian corridors can also include woodland trees, particularly suited to wet environments.

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Figure 22: Author's impression of green willow banking and infilled section ready for planting to create Riparian Corridor

Figure 21: Author's impression of a floating island tethered to banking to create a Riparian Corridor


These systems can be created using a network of floating islands, whereby plants are held in a matrix and then tethered to create bankings, willow weaved or gabion bankings which are then filled with soil and planted into, or natural banking that is specifically redesigned for a specific purpose.

Advantages • Protect banks from erosion;• High absorption capacity for flood waters;• Creates dense biodiverse habitats;• Maintains cooler water climates, reducing Eutrophication;• Help manage water flow; • Aesthetically beautiful;• Long-term maintenance costs are low as the corridors become self-

sustaining and resilient.

Limitations • Initial set-up - labour, replanting, possible repairs, and early monitoring - is expensive.

Considerations • Can create excellent bee habitat. Some species, such as Goat Willow (Salix caprea) for example, are one of the first sources of pollen and nectar in the spring providing an early food source.

• WET (Wetland Ecosystem Treatment) Systems, are constructed earth banks and ponds which can treat wastewater. There are densely planted with wetland trees and marginal plants, both purified by microbiological action and transpired by growing plants. Willow is often incorporated. Coppicing the willow on the system keeps it at the peak growth rate and enables the maximum absorption of organic matter, as well as producing a useful harvest of willow each year.

Further Information Brentrup, G. & Hoag, C. J. (1998), The Practical Streambank Guide Bioengineering Guide: Users Guide for Natural Streambank Stabilization Techniques in Arid and Semi-arid Great Basin and Intermountain West. Available from: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/idpmcpu116.pdf

Abrahams, J., WET systems for waste purification and resource production. Available from: http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/wet-systems-waste purification-and-resource-production

Lynedoch Eco Village/Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch – Utilisation StageWork undertaken by Various organisations including Maluti GSM.

Location Lynedoch, Stellenbosch

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http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/wet-systems-waste-purification-and-resource-production

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/wet-systems-waste-purification-and-resource-production

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/idpmcpu116.pdf

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/idpmcpu116.pdf




Water type Storm water and effluent.

Main aim Long term intervention to improve water quality and ecosystem functioning in the Berg River, as linked to sustainable growth and development in the Province.

Images

Background The Lynedoch EcoVillage is the first ecologically designed socially mixed

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Figure 23 (clockwise from top right): Halophyte filter; overgrown part of the Halophyte filter; 4 x original Biolytix® tanks; water seepage from the Biolytix® system; Lynedoch Ecovillage garden irrigated by treated wastewater; additional Biolytix® tanks created by Lynedoch; Sump system with pumps.


intentional community in South Africa. Located close to Spier Winery in Stellenbosch most people in the area work as farmers. The village includes a private pre-school, Lynedoch Primary School for 475 children from farm worker families, a large all-purpose hall, and the offices and classrooms of the Sustainability Institute. In 2004 a new ecologically designed infrastructure began, which targeted ecological sustainable design for the villagers water, roads, sanitation, electricity and telecommunications.

The collaboration of Lynedoch with the Sustainability Institute based in the village has involved a number of papers regarding water at Lynedoch.

Treatment

Lynedoch is connected to the municipal water supply. Recycled water can be fed into the houses for the flushing of toilets and for irrigation purposes. The treatment of effluent at the Lynedoch EcoVillage consists of a combination of processes. Effluent from the school and the Sustainability Institute are treated via the Biolytix system and then Sand and UV filtration. Resulting water is used for irrigation where nutrients feed back into planted trees, including fruit

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Figure 22: Schematic Representation of the Water and Sanitation System (Dowling T. G. 2007)


species.

Household effluent is firstly treated in a septic tank, specifically for solid capture only. The water is then treated by the Halophyte filter ( a vertically constructed wetland) then polished in a planted dam with a Trunz membrane filter. This water is then recycled in the houses creating a closed-loop cycle.

2014 System Critique

Hal ophyte filter/ Vertical Con s tructed Wetland A secondary water treatment, the halophyte filter is approximately a 1 meter deep trench lined with an impermeable membrane and filled with a matrix of layered sand, gravel and stone, and then planted with emergent aquatic plants good at absorbing nitrogen, such as arum lilies. Treatment is due to microbiological and plant communities as well as the physical granular filtration. An additional iron filing layer chemically reacts to remove phosphorus.

Some of the plants which were provided as a list by the Norwegian design team function well, but they are consistently out competed by weeds, making the system difficult to maintain. The trees directly behind this system are extremely healthy and growing much faster than the other trees planted at the same time in the same area, indicating the absorption of nutrients from the systems overflow.

Polishing damThe dam contains a Swiss made ultrafiltration filter, Trunz, which in the case of Lynedoch has been powered by a windmill and solar panels, filtering water under pressure to remove fine grade organic contaminants and parasites.

The dam itself has currently gone to waste, but they are looking at European funding to put in a polymer lining for the dam. Pierce believes this will close the system as it will store a greater capacity of water which can be polished using a natural ecosystem approach. When the schools are on holiday and water is not

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Figure 24: Section through a vertically constructed wetland by Elemental Solutions (Grant and Griggs 2001)


being flushed through the system there is not enough water building up and being treated and that means water has to be pumped from another dam or two of the bore holes for irrigation.

UV and sand filterThe outflow from one of the sumps flows through a pipe containing a UV light. Unfortunately this has a negative impact of the nutrients in the water and have implications on irrigation. The sand filter sometimes gets blocked but it wasn't clear what with or how this is overcome.

Biolytix ® system – see technology in detail

Areas of outstanding excellence

• Mark Swilling, who is professor at Lynedoch had written a paper and had also help design a proposed grey water recycling system at Oude Molen Eco Village which tied together the two villagers, showing how the social influence of new infrastructure, in this case an eco-villages model, helped facilitate sharing in the development of new territory.

• Lynedoch has shown that it is possible to develop a child-centered mixed social and economic community, which can create all sorts of markets that incorporate rather than exclude the urban poor. It is viewed that the water system has functioned to create better integration and equality.

Problems • Technological interventions have often been provided from abroad as part of research and it has then been able to access information on maintenance and adaptation;

• The system has been upgraded but new innovations haven't always been easily applied to a whole-sytems approach and this often means they fail or others fail as a result;

• Denitrification is not taking place via the wetland and there has been proposed ideas to connect it to the Biolytix system;

• Security is compromising the system with components being stolen;• Not enough economic infrastructure within the village to support new

needed adjustments;• Information regarding the system is hard to access by outsiders making

the sharing of eco-sanitation proposed by the village difficult.

Possible solutions • Fundraising such as with Crowd Funding, whereby donator's are offered a reward – information regarding the system and the eco-village could be provided for wider dissemination.

• Management role for future development of the water system and for dissemination for wider learning – village member trained at the Sustainability Institute and assigned this role;

• Natural security methods as proposed in the Bioremedaition project – dual purpose spiky hedges providing security and food.

Further information • T J Dowling ()Sustainable Development in Water and Sanitation: A Case Study of the Water and Sanitation System at the Lynedoch EcoVillage Development.

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Technology Name Biolytix® Filter

Treatment Type Bioremediation – biological, chemical, physical

Water type Grey and black effluent

Background Information

A tank comprising an organic bed of peat and earthworms and incorporates plastic tubing to provide structure to the bed. This mimics the natural soil ecosystem to clean water and thus combines physical filtration and biodegredation and maceration by worms, insects and microbial activity. The worms in the system do most of the digesting the solid waste.

The Biolytix® filter has been employed at a number of sites around Spier winery, but Lynedoch has chosen to make adjustments to theirs to help make it function better.

Diagram

Advantages • Tanks can be continuously added to manage a greater load without negative impact. However, Lynedoch tried to create a larger system - four tanks as oppose to three, in the hope that it would be more efficient but this system failed;

• The soil retains all the nutrients and can be reused;• Low operating costs;• Low servicing requirements.

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Figure 25: Cross section of a typical Biolytix® Filter System . (Available from: http://www.biolytix.co.za/)

http://www.biolytix.co.za/


Limitations • The main issue is that it relies on pumps and pumps are costly. They need maintaining, often break and need replacing. It is possible to utilise gravity flow but not all the time;

• It doesn't remove all solids and pathogens. At the Lynedoch development the outflow is collected in a sump and then filtered via a sand filter to remove further particulate matter, and pathogens are then removed by ultra-violet (UV) radiation;

• System floods - worms cannot function effectively or die.

Further Reading Biolytix - http://www.biolytix.com/

5.2 Other features of a systems approach for consideration

The following is a list of the other aspects of a whole system approach, which have been touched upon in this report but not covered in detail. Despite this they remain crucial to most systems.

• Collection (possibly one of the most important aspects of our future water provision)• Trash screening• System size• Flow rate and balancing flow• Energy Consumption• Safety• Security

6 THE CREATION OF AN INTEGRATED AND ECO-LOGICAL GOVERNANCE

Governance is an ambiguous term. Whilst infrastructure is the framework and most often referred to in relation to water provision, governance is "the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)”1. It is apt when talking about water because the act of governing, from which the word derives, is to steer a ship. Despite the negative connotations 'govern' has, good governance, albeit an ideal, is crucial to water provision. Steps must be taken to make good governance not just an ideal but, as far as possible, a reality. 2

In recognising the value of ecosystems ability to manage its waste efficiently and creatively, we can also value the ecosystems ability to govern the system as a whole. We are part of an ecosystem which interacts with many other ecosystems: decisions within and between systems are made with fluidity and through tight feedback mechanisms.

1 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific manual: What is Good Governance, 2009. Available from: http://www.unescap.org/resources/what-good-governance

2 Et al

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http://www.unescap.org/resources/what-good-governance

http://www.biolytix.com/


The type of governance I favour, and which I have named Integrated and Eco-Logical Governance, incorporates society, culture and politics but isn't distinguished by them. It must understand the full complexity of cycles, use an approach that is 'open', exchanging information with the wider surroundings, with the ability to integrate the multiple views of the participating factors. It must present opportunities which boost public and environment health whilst triggering employment, supporting livelihoods and contributing to more intelligent systems that can address and overcome problems in order to maintain a functional and ever evolving ecosystem.

Nevertheless, the challenges of governance per se are profound, especially when affected by bureaucratic conditioning. Different interpretations and competing interests are inherent which creates complex challenges for water provision. The only way to move beyond bureaucracy and technocratic methods of water management is to examine peoples and communities beliefs and values and start to work with them; challenging them in a way that can enhance positive feedback mechanisms. A core facet of Integrated Eco-Logical Governance is to understand the psychological, social and cultural impacts of water which create barriers for public engagement. I propose there are a number of essential techniques to overcome these barriers and to recognise opportunities to engage people as well as elicit public empowerment to drive their own changes.

6.1 UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACTS OF WATER

Commonly people like to talk about being connected to nature, but the error in this is that it still suggests we are something separate, demonstrating just how mentally estranged we have become from our natural environment. For the purpose of this report, I have focused on a few key elements in relation to this point, which I feel need to be addressed. It goes without saying that there are many more.

Well-being & the entitlement cultureThe Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) defined “human well-being with five components: basic materials, health, security, good social relations, and freedom of choice and actions, where freedom of choice and actions is expected to emerge from the other components of well-being”.3 We have become dislocated from our ability to provide for our basic needs. Communities have little or no input or control over the systems that serve them. In many ways an entitlement culture and complacency has arisen around water. Much contemporary work has been placed on providing more localised food provision for improving the quality of food and food security, but less emphasis is perhaps placed on water. As The Green Economy paper suggests, localising food is more than just increasing availability and shortening supply chains it is about community integration across all elements of food production and consumption. 4 I would also argue this for water.

Individualism versus collectivismThis common dichotomy is a classic example of the fallacy of the excluded middle. “Individualism and collectivism are not mutually exclusive; that is, they can coexist within a person of any culture.” 5 Certain social and cultural triggers affect the degree of individualism or collectivism within someone6 and in some

3 A Synthesis Report. Available from: http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf4 Quality of Life Policy Group Chairman, Rt Hon John Gummer MP Vice-Chairman, Zac Goldsmith, Blueprint for a Green

Economy. Submission to the Shadow Cabinet p.217, 20075 Neuliep J. W., Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, Fifth Edition, 20116 Green, E. G. T., Deschamps, J.-C., & Páez, D. (2005). Variation of Individualism and Collectivism Within and Between 20

Countries. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 36, 321–339.

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http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf


cultures individualism dominates, like in the west, while in others collectivism dominates. It is neither that individualism nor collectivism is bad, it's more that uncertainty often leads to more individualistic tendencies in the UK and this is a barrier to changing attitudes in water.

It is important to note here that correct language is key to our relationships and in this case collectivism is suggestive of a group that is 'gathered together by an exterior force' so I favour the term collaboration, which simply means to 'work together'. In summary, we must help develop a more local collaborative mentality when certain water stresses or triggers exist, such as with flooding. Governance should help facilitate collaborative change and progress but not direct it, in order that community strength, dignity and autonomy prevail and externalised leadership becomes redundant.

Guilt and uncertainty avoidanceEnvironmental guilt is a very common response to the environmental problems we face. As this increasingly affects many peoples day to day choices – for example, households now recycle over three times more waste than they did 10 years ago7 – these feelings of guilt can become overwhelming, inhibiting and even disabling. Good governance in water should steer away from guilt associations and pose positive solutions in the face of adversity.

Paradoxically to guilt associated action, the knock on effect of an entitlement culture is our resulting inexperience in dealing with crisis and the detrimental affect this can have on well-being, which in turn can create a tendency towards avoidance. The degree to which the members of a particular culture feel threatened by uncertain or unknown situations is called Uncertainty Avoidance8. As the public’s awareness to the problems around water increase this may have detrimental effect. For some, it may appear easier not to act and instead leave it in the hands of an external party. As with many cultures, we need to make uncertainty a normal part of life and people more comfortable with ambiguity, so they may be guided by a belief that what is different is curious, helping foster active engagement.

Negative wastewater associationsAs ecosystems approaches to cleaning wastewater increasingly demonstrate their worth, we are left with the challenge of overcoming the psychological barriers of the associated uncleanliness, known as the “yuk” factor that has proven to be strong and pervasive. 9 An article writing on the subject refers directly to Pennsylvania psychologist Paul Rozin, who studies disgust and contamination and which quotes Rozin explaining a key issue on peoples minds is that "once in contact, always in contact...(e)ven if you convince people you did every conceivable thing to [purify] the water they would still be reluctant to drink it." The article also highlights how we minimise risk associated with the things we like and how this psychological attribute can be used to develop public information campaigning that can push the clear benefits of wastewater. The article gives the example of Singapore reclaimed water project called 'NEWater' which demonstrated the value of it's award winning public information campaign released prior to the unveiling of the project. It specifically targeted the countries people and the value they place on national economics and the ability to provide their own water instead of taking from nearby Malaysia .10 Marketing, education and consultation is fundamental in breaking down strong psychological barriers.

Nature and its affects on psycheUltimately, most of us recognise the calming effects of water and of nature in general and many scientific

7 Available at: http://www.local.gov.uk/productivity/-/journal_content/56/10180/3510540/ARTICLE#sthash.B5YzvA2q.dpuf8 Neuliep J. W. Et al. 9 Mekala G. D., Brian Davidson, Samad M., Boland A., working paper 128, Wastewater reuse and recycling systems: a perspective

into India and Australia, International Wastewater Institute, 200810 Dingfelder S. F., From toilet to tap. Psychologists lend their expertise to overcoming the public's aversion to reclaimed water.

American Pyschological Assocaition, September 2004, Vol 35, No. 8, Print version: page 26. Available from: http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep04/toilet.aspx

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http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep04/toilet.aspx


studies have determined this11. People prefer natural environments, particularly water features, trees and growing plants, to urban ones when given the choice regardless of nationality or culture12. The Blue Gym project (2012), set up to study the health and well-being benefits of aquatic environments, has helped carry out a number of studies across the globe to determine its relevance and apply them. Recent studies have shown that populations in England report better rates of health the closer they live to the coast compared to similar populations living inland with consideration for economic parity.13

With this in mind it seems clear that we could and should harness our strong connectivity to water. By making water provision and water environments the heart of communities as it used to be, especially in urban settings, we can have dramatic effect on mental well-being and promote psychological restoration which can help over come some of the negative effects of our modern pace of life, particularly isolation and stress. In addition, in a western economy driven by markets, the act of observing nature has been proven both theoretically and empirically to restore concentration and productivity14. These insights have important implications for water and environmental policy.

6.2 ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING PUBLIC INTEREST, UNDERSTANDING AND CHANGING BEHAVIOUR & ATTITUDES

The following 5 techniques strongly inter-relate and overlap. They are powerful tools for creating strong and deep rooted associations and a positive culture around water, and are intended to engage people who have different levels of interest.

Deep Ecology

The Foundation for Deep Ecology states, “The “deep” movement involves deep questioning, right down to fundamental root causes. The short-term, shallow approach stops before the ultimate level of fundamental change, often promoting technological fixes (e.g. recycling, increased automotive efficiency, export-driven monoculture organic agriculture) based on the same consumption-oriented values and methods of the industrial economy. The long-range deep approach involves redesigning our whole system based on values and methods that truly preserve the ecological and cultural diversity of natural systems.” 15

VALUE: To optimise performance of systems as they work more effectively with ecological and human health. Uses processes of both big and small scale thinking to make sense of the complex interplay of life and the environment, which helps to make more considered solutions on both scales.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Implementing a philosophy that is often ambiguous. Utilise a clear methodology to work by, such as that used by Genius of Place Project - Berg River, BiomimicrySA.

Context: “A Genius of Place review brings an understanding of the pre-tested, locally attuned sustainability

11 Townsend M. & Weerasuriya R., Beyond Blue to Green: The benefits of contact with nature for mental health and well-being. Project conducted by Deakin Univeristy, Austrailia

12 Townsend M. et al13 See: Exeter University Research Summary at http://www.ecehh.org/research-projects/does-living-by-the-coast-improve-

health-and-wellbeing/14 Taylor, A., Wiley, A., Kuo, F. and Sullivan, W., 1998, Growing Up in the Inner City: Green spaces as places to grow, Environment and

Behaviour, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 3–27. 15 See: The Foundation for Deep Ecology at http://www.deepecology.org/deepecology.htm

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http://www.deepecology.org/deepecology.htm


strategies adopted by the local organisms and ecosystems specific to a design challenge...It combines two priorities of the Western Cape Government – the Berg River and the Green Economy – to find an innovative solution to water pollution in the Berg River.” 16

Action: They used the following process that could assist in water governance and in better understanding the broader context of work:

1. Ecological Resilience A ssessment : understanding of the ecological context of the local area, in order to optimise ecological health without compromising the integrity of local functional ecosystems.

2. Ecological Performance Standards (EPS): examining local healthy reference habitats socomparisons / performance indicators can be used to measure success.

3. Ecological Collaboration: literature review focussing on discovering all the Stakeholders working in connection with a project that might benefit from or contribute towards a deeper level ofcollaboration across sectors and disciplines.

4. Ecological Technology Feasibility: exploring global and locally appropriate technology solutions as well as research relevant locally attuned organisms and systems of the area. Conceptualising solutions with a focus on solutions at source.

The 'Small Science/Small Research' Approach & Open-Source Information

Small science and research is performed on a small scale often by people or groups that don't have a background in research. Research is used to improve practice and to build a strong body of evidence to add value to work undertaken. Open-source intelligence is information collected from public sources.

VALUE: Increasing the ability and skills for self-utilisation and proficiency within communities which would otherwise exist within professional institutions. Equips communities to be better able to understand what is successful and improve upon what is not, making better use of time, resources and money, with a greater ability to respond to diverse challenges. Small science is more likely to consider qualitative and quantitative analyses which adds value to holistic water models. The discoveries and failings resulting from innovations on the small scale often facilitate big science which involves better funding and resources with a much wider impact. Open access to information can have the potential to limit information control, improve transparency and facilitate better notions of sharing.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Viability studies place scientific research in high regard. Scientific research for small groups, without access to labs for testing, can be expensive. Without these resources, proving something empirically is often a daunting experience. Bioremediation work per se still qualifies as research and is constantly evolving which is a key challenge to validate its role. For Mycofiltration in particular, research has remained largely isolated to ecological and pharmaceutical explorations and so the remit for research needs to be broadened. In addition, technological advancements are often defined by their location and a much greater challenge is in adjusting these to different eco-regions.

Work needs to be done to gather, record, collate and disseminate work through a more precise and recognised methodology. The Permaculture Association have gone some way to promoting research in this way and they have created a model17 for undertaking research on the small-scale. They use the SADIMETS model (survey, analyse, design, maintain, implement, tweak and share) with the action

16 See: BiomimicrySA at http://biomimicrysa.co.za/projects/projects-overview/genius-of-place17 Available at: https://www.permaculture.org.uk/sites/default/files/page/document/smallhandsmall.pdf

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https://www.permaculture.org.uk/sites/default/files/page/document/smallhandsmall.pdf

http://biomimicrysa.co.za/projects/projects-overview/genius-of-place


research cycle incorporated. The action research cycle consists of four steps – planning, acting, observing and reflecting – with each step being reiterated as required. The Permaculture research process should be interpreted and suited to individual research scenarios.

Education and open-source information are vital to promoting research strategies. Hands-on training is often crucial in implementing models, and the Permaculture Institute is keen to develop this area of work to enhance their strategy. Further, dissemination through a range of open-sourcing media is essential, such as with the questioning of information via forums which allows for idea sharing and experimentation not just scientifically confirmed data, and in making technologies accessible by providing how-to guides, workshops and demonstrations. Open-source comes with it's problems. Quantity and quality of information without validation imposes the need to find ways to qualify work.

Education & Hands-on LearningThe notion of education and applied learning is well known and documented. Education is about acquiring knowledge and hands-on learning is about the practical application of it. Educational experiences must strike out from normal trends and create something new.

VALUE: Educational experiences that have a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, and acts, can create a deeper appreciation of water. It is not nearly enough to instruct people, they need to have experiences to relate to, understand and to apply their learning to. Hands-on learning helps communities to have the skills and confidence to experiment, be proficient and take initiative.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONSThe main challenge for water education and learning is in engaging different minds. People's perspective on life, with their attached strengths and weakness, directly affects the way they interact with information. The following solutions apply:

~ Creating diverse learning opportunities that play on peoples strengths and interests creates a greater potential for engaging with an array of people. For example, as Carreene Sands, Stepping Stones School succinctly said, “Children and young people are amazing because they do not have all the 'rules and regulations' to thinking the way as adults tend to develop. It is wonderful to tap into their creativity. “ The River Health Programme in Kynsna was particularly successful in engaging children from different age-groups, economic, social and cultural background to work together to address local river health. They used the role of creative investigation which allowed the children to think freely and form their own opinions.

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Figure 26: A Mycofiltration lesson led at Oakhill School using interactive drama to engage student.

Figure 27: Drawings created by students at Stepping Stones School after their Mycofiltration workshop.


Engaging with people on the periphery, especially due to economic, psychical and cultural reasons need to be considered. Utilising bridging organisations, like library’s and health centres, for marketing and workshop delivery can help. Creative and recreational facilities, like cinemas, help incite curiosity, where learning and skills acquisition are the by-product of enjoyment which invariably appeals to a much larger audience. Creating these type of shared experiences helps facilitate informal discussions between different minds which can help unite perspectives.

~ Applied learning of a subject is often more effective in engaging with different learning styles and the end result is often enhanced by the fact that there is a greater degree of improved independence and self-reliance creating a format that is better for capacity building. For example, BiomimicrySA used a small-scale demonstration of wastewater Bioremediation for the community affected by the system, making the science behind the system far more accessible to the untrained mind and the proposed idea more real and exciting.

~ Risk taking and new innovation. Educational formats are often stayed which creates stagnancy. Experimentation is key and therefore there must be a tolerance for failure. To understand failures and successes trials must be observed and measured. If something is working, projects must be able to access critical resources – capital, motoring, time - to drive sustainable solutions. Gunter Pauli of the Blue Economy says on his website, “there is no greater power for change than youth prepared to take the risk” and this should not be underestimated.

~ Novel experiences can help generate 'persaz' required to engage people in water. For example, Spier

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Figure 28: Hands-on demonstration of Bioremediation plant treatment of water.


Winery created a number of novel experiences for clients, such as farm-to-table eating experiences to invite customers to understand their environmental ethos and the value it has. Often seen as tokenism or even guilt relief, done right novel experiences can lodge firmly in peoples minds, stirring long term associations.

~ Ecological Tourism not only helps uphold local, regional and national economy but is also a social and political agent that affects a wider natural and socio-cultural environment. For example, the Biomimicry Discovery Park proposed by Sue Swain of Biowise, is a public education facility and eco-tourism attraction which is an interactive and fun way to engage people in finding out how to use the patterns in nature for our own benefit and to work more harmoniously with the environment. The result is an enhanced local environment, a wider understanding of the environmental issues faced locally, with greater support for proposed solutions. Ecological tourism should not be about tokenism, but should be a tool to showcase innovation which can also facilitate stronger community pride.

Community Engagement, Participation & Collective ActionCommunity engagement and participation is about providing opportunities and constructive interactions for people, sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common, to speak openly and work collaboratively to take direct action in decision making. The following groups should be considered when taking this approach:

• Users and beneficiaries – direct community;• Advisers – people who are knowledgeable but not directly affected by the work, such as

technical advisers;• Contributors to Management – NGO's, bridging organisations;• Decision makers – government bodies, funders;• Deliverers – designers, engineers, project managers.

VALUE: An empowered group of stakeholders that work collaboratively can help promote ownership over the vital systems that can support and uphold a community. The bonds that hopefully form amongst stakeholders as they take responsibility over a common functionality, which allows them to collectively gain a greater skill-set to take a unified role in identifying and overcoming other problems. As they perceive their own responsibility within the system their reliability is reduced. Participation and empowerment has the ability to overcome problems from the get-go as oppose to post service implementation.

The following summary has been determined from my experience with Bioremediation Project, BiomimicrySA and is directly related to providing water provisions for communities. A substantial consideration for this project is around ownership.

Context: Rights of people in South Africa in relation to their access to clean water is often violated. Community involvement in South Africa water treatment projects is still quite rare unless undertaken by specific NGOs. From meeting professionals on my trip there seems a real drive for community and rights mobilisation with a view that this could play a vital role in a “more socially-just model of water delivery, which views water primarily as a social rather than a commercial good”.18

18 Bond, P & Dugard, J., Water, Human Rights and Social Conflict: South African Experiences, p2, 2008. Available from: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/lgd/2008_1/bond_dugard/bond_dugard.pdf

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http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/lgd/2008_1/bond_dugard/bond_dugard.pdf


Purpose: My understanding is that BiomimicrySA chose to use participatory methods due to a belief that a community utility is more effective and robust when that community is involved in its design, has knowledge of how it works and can play a key role role in it's operations and maintenance. The purpose of bringing two communities together for participatory work has been to direct stakeholders to have a shared understanding of problems relating to water, but also to look at how individual communities create a unique environment that requires bespoke systems to address and overcome the related challenges. This in turn creates a unique set of attached roles within the system that can be undertaken by the community.

Action: I attended two community participation workshops whilst in South Africa. A previous workshop had been undertaken to introduce the project to both communities. The following groups took part:

• Users and beneficiaries – a range of community members, some with standing such as religious leaders and Sangomers (the traditional healers of South Africa);

• Advisers – University professors and key professionals such as engineers and water advisers;• Contributors to Management – an NGO already working locally and employed to bridge the gap;• Decision makers – regional and local government, such as Western Cape Department of

Environmental Affairs and Development Planning;• Deliverers – Biomimicry South Africa and associates, John Todd Ecological Design team.

Community engagement used the World Cafe19 method to facilitate participation in the design of a bioremediation technology to treat wastewater from two informal settlements, Langrug and Mbekweni.

19 See: http://www.theworldcafe.com/method.html

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Figure 29: Café style set-up for World Café Participation

http://www.theworldcafe.com/method.html


The World Café method is used for large group dialogue. It is a flexible approach which can be modified to a wide variety of needs. The five basic principles place emphasis on creating a setting, which is similar to a café; a welcome that is warm and puts participants at ease; small group rounds with short conversations and table rotations; questions which relate to the specific context of the work; and the sharing of insights with the larger group.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:

~ AttendanceEngaging and working with people's diverse interests is difficult. Providing an environment that is not intimidating and is relaxed in a space that doesn't compromise involvement is essential. Village halls are usually promising. Providing food and drink is essential. Using a flexible participatory method that can be adapted on the day will help create a good flow and interpretation views without seniority is vital.

~ OwnershipAs participation raises the awareness of cause and effect, questions of ownership often result. This proved to be a complicated issue with the Bioremediation project. Another workshop could be facilitated to address this, by involving spokespeople within the community in the discussions with local and regional government to resolve issues and where possible be involved in contractual design. This would work two-

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Figure 30 (clockwise from left): groups of stakeholders designing; technical mapping using plasticine to create 3-D models - images from different groups.


fold to address clarity of expectations and commitment, as well as the pursuit of equity, from all parties involved. This is essential in making a success of the project. Contracts the community can understand will be essential.

As in the case of the Bioremediation project promoting community ownership, or combined ownership with local government/private business, could slow the implementation of the project and so this needs to be gauged and fed back to the community. A phase one could be implemented such as land clearing and work on drains for example to show the readiness of the project. Resolving the issues around maintenance could be ground breaking for South Africa and act as a platform for more community owned resources.

~ Power relationsManaging the role of key players like the Sangomers who were powerful in their community was difficult. Making actions non-specific like the implementation of community gardens within the holistic sewer in shared spaces to off-set any biased.

~ Unrealistic expectationsImplementing a project that has addressed both rights and needs creates numerous objectives to be considered and these may be difficult to meet. A final summary of what can be met and what may need to be addressed later would be a good strategy to make sure stakeholders don't feel let down.

~ Ongoing managementA project that has worked hard to engage the community and other partners at this level needs to consider ongoing management at a strategic and local level. This requires training and continued participatory work with a feedback system with roles and responsibility for all those involved. A key question is always: who carries out the work and who is responsible when something fails within the overall management and governance?

~ Management information systemsDesigning methods for collecting and analysing data for the system as well as how the system is operated and managed by the stakeholders. How records are analysed, and whether it is in a relevant form and where and with whom is information stored are important factors.

The success of community participation depends on involving the right people at the right time and using appropriate techniques to draw out relevant information that can enhance existing strategies and devise new strategies in water provision. The World Café is one of many techniques, but is particularly successful because of the way it sets the scene for participation.

The following areas were particularly key to overcoming challenges:

~ Participatory process brought together a whole range of stakeholders to inform the story telling. This is a cost effective strategy for the design team, but also helped outside agencies to understand the project and prompted them to join in a partnership approach to facilitating work and making it successful for the long-term. This is also a good strategy to show to the community the seriousness of the project.

~ Encouraging a range of people to participate helps strengthen access to the work, relevance and effectiveness of the work, ownership, capacity building and sustainability. Full participation by women is a fundamental principle of any development project. This is often difficult to overcome because

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of the gender discrimination in a lot of cultures. However, women and men came together and both genders played a strong role in the participation workshops. Key figure heads were both strong men and women. Local attitudes were also gauged and worked with not against. For example, the songamers that took part were seen to be key to making the project happen so their need to have a place to grow food and medicines were incorporated.

Children were not involved in the process but there views were felt. Going forward, children could be asked there views directly at school or in other groups and by observation of there needs and behaviours as the project progresses.

By drawing upon experience, priorities and views of the stakeholders through the storytelling process, the true nature of problems and the viability of solutions became much clearer.

Ownership was a key component of discussions and this is understandable when peoples interest in and commitment to projects is proportional to the extent to which they can influence decisions and feel that needs are being addressed. There was a strong willingness to take responsibility and this should be honoured in order to enhance the sustainability of the project. The process thoroughly demonstrated that the effectiveness of the work depends on all parties working together in a coordinated way.

~ The design proposal was aimed specifically at the community to gauge there reaction and to see if they thought the technology addressed their original community challenges. This demonstrated to the community that there needs and rights were paramount. Some of the municipality was invited to attend to specifically address the issue of ownership.

~ Successful participatory processes honour local knowledge, are culturally appropriate and provide opportunities to address issues quickly and in a comfortable setting. The workshops provided a unique environment to elicit key 'local' information which would otherwise remain unavailable. People were made to feel comfortable at the workshop and could use a range of methods to demonstrate thoughts and feelings which meant that people could be more open. In this way simple problems could be addressed and resolved. For example, Langrug stakeholders knew their drain systems well and this information could be used to develop strategies to maintain the Bioremediation technology being implemented. Certain community concerns could be overcome so they could move on and address the true issues of the project . For example, the community believed that the water related illnesses were due to Malaria and so they were informed that malaria was not a problem in the Western Cape.

OVERALL CONCLUSION OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PARTICIPATION WORKWhat has been remarkable to see during only two community participation workshops is demonstration of how profound participatory work can be. There is resounding evidence that BiomimicrySA were successful in facilitating participatory work that conveyed and addressed complex information and issues due to the level of information and interaction from stakeholders. This is owed in part to the fact that they undertook a substantial amount of preparation work including the development of friendships and partnerships and integration of community leaders, key informants and community development organisations. The passionate and multi-disciplinary team are a key feature in their success and they have gone a long way to enable people from informal settlements to take roles that are usually entitled to people outside of those settlements. Bridging this gap is one step towards improved integration.

One defining element of the workshops was the amazing capacity of community members to take advantage of the workshops and act cohesively. They have been able to travel to nearby settlements to

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share in their experiences and address a common goal as well as negotiate with local government and local groups, forming new partnerships. These are relevant skills in capacity building for communities and are essential to moving the project forward.

Recreation, celebration and marketing

VALUE: People believe in an idea when they see direct benefits and learn more when they are having fun. It is possible to use strategies to invite our natural curiosity. As Bernelle Verster points, we don't tend to engage with things that are intimidating and require information in an informal capacity. We also feel more comfortable acting as a group. Marketing specifically targets needs and behaviours and this can be used for positive effect.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:Redefining and revamping the term wastewater is not any easy task. Creative and innovative methods must be employed.

~ Re-defining wastewaterLarge-scale wetland restoration projects are not often financially viable. Globally, the most prevalent water quality problem is Eutrophication.20 Peoples opinions of wastewater are skewed towards negativity.

The opportunity to re-purpose and optimise wastewater streams can capture the hearts of the public and provide a vital strategy to engage people with water. There is already a massive interest in bio-utilisation and food security. For instance, food forests have become prominent in horticulture and exist to mimic nature but maximise food production without using intensive farming. These established 'buzz' areas of food production can be catalysts to query water and promote wastewater recycling. However, this is only reaches a small proportion of the population and usually targets those people already interested in water and the environment. Further strategies need to be employed to broaden benefits.

Example: The Blue Economy & Nutrient CyclingContext: Although there may be some criticism of Gunter Pauli who is founder of Ecover, his business model, The Blue Economy, which promotes innovations that generate multiple benefits and not just increased profits, contains a series of principles which are extremely fitting with the ecosystems approaches to water treatment. One principle relating to wastewater management is the observation that “(n)atural systems cascade nutrients, matter and energy – waste does not exist. Any by-product is the source for a new product.”21

Action: Nutrient cycling is the general process of reusing nutrients. Nutrient farming is still relatively undefined but the following definition is fitting: ” the practice of managing restored or created wetland—usually on drained land used for row crops—to harvest nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the water and carbon from the air. “22 This process can help offset some of the costs of wetland projects. Chemical recovery of nutrients is costly but biological mechanisms such as that with ecosystem cleaning naturally up-cycle nutrients, generally through transfer to plant growth as well as compost production, so that nutrients become densely stored in biomass. These products can then be used as foods, medicines, fibres, building products, biomass energy, animal feed and many more.

20 See: http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/quality.shtml21 See: http://www.theblueeconomy.org/blue/Principles.html22 Hey D. L., Nutrient Farming: An opportunity for change in the environment, Prairie Fire. Available from:

http://www.prairiefirenewspaper.com/2008/08/nutrient-farming

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http://www.theblueeconomy.org/blue/Principles.html

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/quality.shtml


This will ensure the sustainable development of communities facing current economic depression by keeping the production and sales of goods within the same area instead of sourcing food from elsewhere, and by creating more local jobs.

For example: Bioremediation Project, BiomimicrySA's approach was to use a system that also created employment in communities where poverty and unskilled labour is widespread. A systems product such as algae which is high in nutrients was designed to feed into a fish farm to produce food for the community and for sale elsewhere. The plant biomass and the accumulation of soil in the system creates compost for the community and for sale. An additional income from the creation of a wetland nursery, utilising and developing plants within the system, is also proposed. For example, edible plants like Jerusalem Artichokes could be relevant here, particularly because it's stress tolerance, high yield potential, good biomass production23 and additional medicinal properties, such as diabetes management.

~ Repackaging wastewater through large- scale and small-scale events:

Case Example: IndieBio Events, Merah Mas BiotechBy using sport to repackage science and knowledge into small-scale events, Bernelle Verster has helped to creatively develop public awareness of wastewater that is fun and more accessible to a broader audience. Bernelle suggests, “this is an end in itself, to allow people to think about the issues that affect them in a critical way, so that they can form their own opinion”. 24

Case Example: FLOW (For Love of Water) – A Greenhouse Initiative“FLOW is a movement of People, Organisations, Government Departments, Corporates, Media, Educators and others linked through their shared commitment to instil a deeper appreciation, understanding and respect for water...The Movement inspires action across all sectors of society, while reminding each of us that we have a considerable impact on ourselves, each other and the planet. It is our choice. “25 The website provides easy access information, marketing and resource materials, such as videos which help drive the 'for love of water philosophy' and connect a diverse group of peoples views on water with the hope this will create lasting behavioural change.

~ Eco-scaping - play and relaxation to connect with water:

Case Example: EcopoolsEcopools, more commonly called natural swimming pools, offer outdoor swimming containing rainwater that is naturally cleansed by plants instead of by chemicals. The swimming pool is divided into two zones, one for regenerative plants and one for recreation usually separated by a wall generally disguised by clever planting emulating a natural pond or lake, but which creates an uninhibiting and clean swimming experience. The plants grow in a inert media so uptake of nutrients from water is maximised and algae formation is reduced.

They can help improve communities connection to water and nature through recreation and they can be enjoyed throughout the year – in summer for swimming and in winter for walking around. These recreation facilities can demonstrate ecological infrastructure at the heart of our communities.

23 Sawicka B. & Kalembasa D., Assessment of the chemical composition of Jerusalem Artichoke [Helianthus Tuberosus l.] as energy feedstock, 2010.

24 See Merah Mas Biotech IndieBio Events at merahmas.co.za/asst25 See For Love of Water at http://forloveofwater.co.za/about/what-is-the-flow-movement/

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Wastewater gardensReference was also made to a Persian style design for a wastewater treatment plant that could create a place of incredible aesthetic beauty and tranquillity whilst reducing the 'yuk' factor of recycling wastewater. Wastewater from crop-production, raising of livestock, laboratories and workshops, kitchens, showers, laundries and toilets offer more low-key, viable community-central opportunities to create gardens that connect people to the wastewater cycle creating memorable impact.

7 CONCLUSIONEcosystems are at the heart of life as we know it. These living networks emerge from the complex interactions of all the players yielding optimal exchanges of water, nutrients, energy and information. They are the dense networks constantly in motion, refining themselves through continual feedback.

If we are to reverse the of depletion vital resources – of which water and nutrients are central – we must respond like an ecosystem. Ecological engineering offers technologies that uphold healthy ecosystems by creating symbiotic relationships between humans and the environment that benefit both, making a

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Figure 31: Ecopools show pool with a beautiful arrangement of plants creating an tranquil space teaming with life.


more proficient and sustainable water supply. An ecosystem is much more than the sum of its part and thus combined technologies, mimicking the interplay of all the kingdoms of life, are more robust, resilient and better able to manage our changing water environment: improving biodiversity for the preservation, protection, enhancement, restoration and regeneration of life on this planet. Overall, ecosystems approaches to cleaning water offer more viable low-energy, low-tech and low-cost decentralised alternatives to current systems which are unsustainable in the long-term. Albeit there is much work to be done to address some of the limiting factors of ecosystems approaches. For example, continuous computerised monitoring, which adds greatly to both the capital and running costs of these systems, making them less appealing.26

What is most apparent from my trip is just how implicit a dynamic governance for water is. The ability to harness political and social change is vital. As Water for Life (2001) suggests “solutions will have to be found at both a local and strategic level”27. It is not enough to just hope for the best; those who know, have the duty to act. An Integrated and Eco-Logical Governance, as outlined in this report, promotes an understanding of psychological, social and cultural impacts of water, and that social action and responsible, creative and innovative human resourcing can spur public awareness and create social change, crucial for the long-term stability of the ecosystem. A collaborative and participatory approach will help shift the way governments, as well as communities, approach services and service delivery.

Decentralisation can help foster a greater connectivity to water and nature and help reduce waste. By exposing people directly to wastewater, through aesthetically engaging, recreational and educational areas that demonstrate the value of reuse, we can create a much better awareness of our own responsibility in the system.

In effect, ecosystems approaches to water treatment can function as central community assets. In fact, it is imperative that we take this standpoint.

8 NEXT STEPS

I am lucky to have found some great opportunities to deliver workshops and share in my research over the course of the last year. I continue to be blown away by how excited people have become on engaging with how fungi and other biological mechanisms can be used in environmental remediation and I am enthusiastic about building upon this strength.

Local work• Deep ecology and research – we continue to develop our research and we will be creating a

strategy and methodology to suit mushroom growing and Bioremediation to better enable research to be carried out on a small-scale and to make it accessible to others. As we become involved with local collaborative groups like Source in Calderdale will hopefully be developing some research work in river restoration, flood prevention and management. Agricultural run-off

26 Kwok, A. G. and Grondzik, W. T., The green studio handbook: environmental strategies for schematic design. Oxford: Architectural Press, 2007.

27 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Command of Her Majesty 2011, Water for Life: (White Paper) p.17.

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and storm water treatment and management with integrated food growing systems where appropriate will also form part of our incubator projects.

• Education and Hands-on Learning - Delivery of educational workshops and events where Bioremediation features highly including an Introduction to the Amazing World of Fungi for Children, trialled in December 2014 will be rolled out. My first talk on What is Radical Mycology? with the BEAT will be in June 2015. Due to recent funding from the Rotary club be will begin a volunteer project, providing more scope to develop Mycoremedaition techniques.

• Recreation, Celebration and Marketing - Rooting and Fruiting will be creating a mushroom garden for Dig the City, a popular Manchester urban garden festival creating more interest and awareness in the public eye and the opportunity to reach out to people who would not normally attend our workshops and talks.

• Community participation, engagement and collective action - Community development and the uses of mushrooms through Bioremedaition, integrated food growing and mycoforestry practices. We will be working alongside Red Rose Forest (Manchester), Growing Well (Kendal) and Laya Point Permaculture (Ulpha). Our first Bioremediation site survey begins this year.

International Work• Remote development of a Mycofiltration Pilot Project, Kynsna (South Africa) with Biowise to

support the River Health Programme and Hope Spot initiative which supports special conservation areas that are critical to the health of the ocean. The work will support public mobilisation by providing the research, guidance and tools for the public to take valuable action.

Long Term Goal for Local WaterGiven appropriate funding, my long term aspiration is to design storm water and waste water systems through Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, encompassing my research findings and methodology. I envisage areas of the UK becoming specialist facilitators and demonstrators of Eco-Logical thinking and I would like to see Calderdale spearhead water remediation due to the problems it faces with flooding. It is intended that this work will form part of a Permaculture Diploma and Teaching Qualification and will be supported by Professionals Training with BiomimicrySA.

FundingRooting and Fruiting is currently in the process of transitioning to become a Social Enterprise and to further expand our practical and research work we are creating a crowd funding campaign on We The Trees for April 2015. Support is gratefully received.

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9 ABOUT THE AUTHORBeth Morgan | Rooting and Fruiting Founder, Director and Educator

Beth Morgan grew up in and around Manchester. She qualified as an Art Director and worked for graphic design companies including Via Communications in Manchester. Disconcerted by the throw away culture of the design world, Beth went on to pursue a career developing projects with young people and adults with troubled backgrounds. She developed a number of arts and health development projects in the UK, Turkey and India. She continues to do graphics projects for community groups.

Her experiences examining self sufficient small holdings and her role as Community Engagement Coordinator for Action for Sustainable Living in Manchester, where she worked with low income families engaging them in food growing and cooking, coupled with her experience working on farms from an early

age, cemented the decision to pursue more work around food growing, permaculture, agroforestry and community mobilisation.

Beth is driven by the innate relationship between permaculture and the potential for the long-term maintenance of the well-being and health of individuals, communities and their environment; moving away from the ‘plaster’ affect of mainstream social and health care to promoting the growth and development of groups through their connectivity to the foods they eat and environment in which they live. Her understanding and background is fundamental to her drive within Rooting and Fruiting.

Rooting and Fruiting | www.rootingandfruiting.co.uk

Rooting and Fruiting is a family-owned, community-minded business cultivating a 'radical mycology' movement in the UK. We combine fungi research and mushroom growing, producing a variety of organically grown mushrooms in a way that maximises their health benefits.

A major highlight of our work is the development of a bank of UK mushrooms better adapted to our environmental conditions enabling us to promote lower energy indoor cultivation, integrated outdoor food growing systems, mycoforestry and bioremediation.

We study and develop regenerative bio-fungi techniques and technologies for the improvement of the environment, focusing primarily on our local area but also on wider global applications.

A fundamental value of our business is to share our research and findings and raise awareness around the ecological importance of fungi. We strive to recognise important and relevant opportunities to do so, creating innovative ways to make mushroom education accessible to all.

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http://www.rootingandfruiting.co.uk/


10 GLOSSARY

Biodiversity The range of variation found among micro-organisms, plants, fungi, and animals. Some of this variation is found within species but also encompasses the richness of species of living organisms on earth.

Biomimetic Human-made processes, substances, devices, or systems that imitate nature.

Biomass A biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms.

Black water Sewerage and waste water from toilets

Community Populations of organisms of different species that interact with one another.

Contaminant An impurity or something that is unclean and no longer suitable for use

Culture A learnt set of organised thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of a particular people or society in relation to the environment.

Ecological Relating to or concerned with the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

Eco-Logical

Ecological Engineering

Grounded, capable and clear with sound reasoning underpinned by care for the environment.

Ecological Engineering is the the integrated study of ecology and engineering to create society services where human society and natural environments combine in symbiosis.

Effluent Liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

Ecosystem An ecosystem is any geographic area that includes all of the organisms and non-living parts of their physical environment.

Eutrophication The process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive plant , particularly algae. As the plants die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish. Eutrophication is a natural, slow-aging process for a water body, but human activity greatly speeds up the process.

Governance The processes of interaction and decision-making among all the actors involved in a collective problem that lead to the creation, reinforcement, or reproduction of social norms and institutions.

Grey water

Hormone Disrupter

All wastewater other than that from a toilet.

Chemicals that, at certain levels, can interfere with the hormone system in mammals.

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Politics Practice and theory of guiding and influencing many peoples

Pollution The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change.

Natural Resources Natural resources are living and non-living materials in the environment that are used by humans. There are two types: renewable (wildlife, fish, timber, water) and non-renewable (fossil fuels and minerals).

Nitrification The process by which ammonia is converted to nitrites and then nitrates carried out by specialized bacteria. Ammonia is produced by the breakdown of organic sources of nitrogen.

Radical Relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.

Radical Mycology Utilise and promote the highly resilient life-cycles of fungi and their interactions in nature, which serve as powerful learning tools for how humans can best relate to each other and steward the world they live in.

Society A group of people joined together in a voluntary capacity as a integrated group.

Water Provision Access to high quality drinking water, the supply of water to households and businesses, the removal of wastewater and the creation of a healthy water environment.

Water Supply The water available for a community or region.

11 APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1: PERMACULTURE PHILOSOPHY AND PRINCIPLES

Permaculture is a notoriously difficult term to define, probably because it has such a multi-disciplinary approach. It was developed practically by Austrian farmer Sepp Holzer on his own farm in the early 1960s and then theoretically by Australians Bill Mollison, David Holmgren and their associates during the 1970s in a series of publications. It has rapidly gained global momentum since then.

The 12 principles of permaculture are found in most traditional settlements and are as follows28:

• Observe and Interac t Taking time to engage with nature, design solutions to suit our particular situation.

• Catch and Store Energy Collecting resources when they are abundant, using them in times of need.

• Obtain a yield

28 See: http://permacultureprinciples.com/

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Ensure that you are getting truly useful rewards as part of the working you are doing.

• Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback Discourage inappropriate activity to ensure that systems can continue to function well. Negative feedback is often slow to emerge.

• Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services Make the best use of nature’s abundance to reduce our consumptive behaviour and dependence on non-renewable resources.

• Produce No Waste By valuing and making use of all the resources that are available to us, nothing goes to waste.

• Design From Patterns to Details By stepping back, we can observe patterns in nature and society. These can form the backbone of our designs, with the details filled in as we go.

• Integrate Rather Than Segregate By putting the right things in the right place, relationships develop between those things and they work together to support each other.

• Use Small and Slow Solutions Small and slow systems are easier to maintain than big ones, making better use of local resources and produce more sustainable outcomes.

• Use and Value Diversity Diversity reduces vulnerability to a variety of threats and takes advantage of the unique nature of the environment in which it resides.

• Use Edges and Value the Marginal The interface between things is where the most interesting events take place. These are often the most valuable, diverse and productive elements in the system.

• Creatively Use and Respond to Change We can have a positive impact on inevitable change by carefully observing and then intervening at the right time.

Ecosystems approaches to water treatment can capture all aspects of these principles creating systems that work more intimately with nature, facilitating greater integration of all it's components.

APPENDIX 2: SOUTH AFRICA'S WATER - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Industry waste continues to be disposed of in waterways despite the National Water Act implementation to stop the extensive pollution from mine run-off. Fluctuations in heavy usage, such as in the summer months when farmers need to water their crops, resulting in river bacterial counts being too high to meet regulatory standards for farmers to export their crops.

• Africa has the highest rate of water evaporation in the world: 80% of water precipitation is lost - and it is proposed that this is the limiting factor for economic development.29 With climate

29 Prof. Anthony Turton Acceptance Speech for the Habitat Council Conservation Award Cape Town Environmental Centre, 10 October 2009. Available from: http://www.anthonyturton.com/admin/my_documents/my_files/Crisis_in_our_Rivers.pdf

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change, the annual precipitation seems to be staying roughly the same, but is coming down in more 'violent' events - fewer rainstorms, but bigger rainfall. This overwhelms infrastructures like that for stormwater, which were not designed to be resilient.

• South Africa has arguably the highest rate of protest action in the world, China being the only other that ranks similarly.30 The country has seen much antagonism against international trends towards the commercialisation of water “ranging from direct protests, to autonomist-style reconnection and destruction of prepayment meters, to a constitutional challenge over water services in Soweto.”31

APPENDIX 3: BEGINNERS PLANT LIST FOR FLOATING ISLANDS

Family

Species Origin Comments

Sedges (Cyperaceae)

Papyrus(Cyperus papyrus)

Widely distributed - centres of diversity for the group occurring in tropical Asia and tropical South America.

One of the best marginal pond plants for water purification. Remove large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus as well as cadmium, cobalt, lead and zinc

Bulrush (Typhaceae)

Many Widely distributed - largely Northern Hemisphere.

Remove arsenic. Aggressive and may exclude other plants.Many uses including edible rhizomes.

Asparagales African Lily (Agapanthus africanus)

Widely distributed - largely Southern Africa.

Degrades petroleumInvasive and often classed as a weed.

Iridaceae Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.

Accumulator of Cadmium, Manganese, Aluminum, Arsenic, and Beryllium.

Hyperaccumulator of Copper.

Provides erosion control.

Araceae Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Distribution is pan-tropical but widely spread.

Chromium, Mercury

Extremely quick growing and can be invasive.

Out competes algae for nutrients.

Poaceae Sweet corn(Zea mays)

Originated in the Americas but now widely distributed.

Removes nitrogen, Cadmium and lead

Poaceae Bamboo (Bambuseae)

Widely distributed and suited to different climates.

Some of the fastest growing plants in the world with dense root system.

30 Nigwane T. (Date Unknown), Civil Society Protests in South Africa: The Need for a Vision of Alternative.31 Bond, P & Dugard, J. (2008) Water, Human Rights and Social Conflict: South African Experiences, p. 2. Available from:


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No native species to Europe known.

Excellent accumulator of Zinc, Copper, Nickel and Lead.Versatile product - building materials, shoots are edible.

Poaceae Ryegrass (Lolium) Native to Europe, Asia and Africa, but now widely distributed.

Extensive root system.Removes PAH's, Species are cultivated for lawns and livestock feed as it is highly nutritious.

Cucurbitaceae Courgette (Cucurbita pepo)

Originated in the Americas but now widely distributed.

Removes nutrient contaminants and metals: Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Zinc

Hardy and easy to cultivate.

Edible

Amaranthaceae Redroot Amaranth – also known as tumbleweed (Amaranthus retroflexus )

Native to the tropical Americas, but is widespread on most continents.

Will grow readily in diverse habitats.Accumulates Cadmium, Cesium, Nickel, ZincNutritional and medicinal properties.

Onion Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Native to Europe, Asia and North America.

Accumulates Cadmium.Herbs and medicinal plant.

APPENDIX 4: WORLD CAFE PRINCIPLES

Design PrinciplesThe following seven World Café design principles are an integrated set of ideas and practices that form the basis of the pattern embodied in the World Café process.

1) Set the ContextPay attention to the reason you are bringing people together, and what you want to achieve. Knowing the purpose and parameters of your meeting enables you to consider and choose the most important elements to realize your goals: e.g. who should be part of the conversation, what themes or questions will be most pertinent, what sorts of harvest will be more useful, etc..

2) Create Hospitable SpaceCafé hosts around the world emphasize the power and importance of creating a hospitable space—one that feels safe and inviting. When people feel comfortable to be themselves, they do their most creative thinking, speaking, and listening. In particular, consider how your invitation and your physical set-up contribute to creating a welcoming atmosphere.

3) Explore Questions that Matter

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Knowledge emerges in response to compelling questions. Find questions that are relevant to the real-life concerns of the group. Powerful questions that "travel well" help attract collective energy, insight, and action as they move throughout a system. Depending on the time frame available and your objectives, your Café may explore a single question or use a progressively deeper line of inquiry through several conversational rounds.

4) Encourage Everyone's ContributionAs leaders we are increasingly aware of the importance of participation, but most people don't only want to participate, they want to actively contribute to making a difference. It is important to encourage everyone in your meeting to contribute their ideas and perspectives, while also allowing anyone who wants to participate by simply listening to do so.

5) Connect Diverse PerspectivesThe opportunity to move between tables, meet new people, actively contribute your thinking, and link the essence of your discoveries to ever-widening circles of thought is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Café. As participants carry key ideas or themes to new tables, they exchange perspectives, greatly enriching the possibility for surprising new insights.

6) Listen together for Patterns and InsightsListening is a gift we give to one another. The quality of our listening is perhaps the most important factor determining the success of a Café. Through practising shared listening and paying attention to themes, patterns and insights, we begin to sense a connection to the larger whole. Encourage people to listen for what is not being spoken along with what is being shared.

7) Share Collective DiscoveriesConversations held at one table reflect a pattern of wholeness that connects with the conversations at the other tables. The last phase of the Café, often called the "harvest", involves making this pattern of wholeness visible to everyone in a large group conversation. Invite a few minutes of silent reflection on the patterns, themes and deeper questions experienced in the small group conversations and call them out to share with the larger group. Make sure you have a way to capture the harvest - working with a graphic recorder is recommended.

For a more in-depth look at the World Café design principles, see the World Café book.

Some of the above material was informed or excerpted from writing by Ken Homer.

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eco-logical water solutions – a no dependency

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