The Living Machine; What exactly is it? The Living Machine have been defined as a "decentralized waste water treatment system that mimics processes found in wetland environments" and provides tertiary sewage treatment to allow dirty water to be used for irrigation, bathing and toilets. It is a remarkably innovative technology that seeks to lessen the usage of water as well as the energy put into water treatment. It breaks away from centralized sewage treatment by using natural, biological principles to treat water.
The machine itself is backed by mechanical operations and computer systems, which allow a self regulating pseudo-environment. The machine works in succession. First a series of tanks are meticulously arranged by design. Each tank "contains an ecosystem built up with materials gathered from the wild or other Living Machines" (Bang 165). The components of the ecosystem consist of microorganisms, invertebrates, fish, plankton, shrubs, flowers and mollusks. All of them provide a critical role in the overall purification process of the water treatment.
The machine is responsible for organizing and developing its own ecosystem. Then each organism is carefully assigned its tank or specific area, depending upon which biological function it will perform and carry out. The organisms literally "live off pollutants" and as the sewage enters each tank, it gradually becomes cleaner and cleaner until the end (Bang 167).
The end is when the organisms known as the "scrubbers" process and clean the water one last time to prepare it for irrigation and sometimes drinking. Living Machines can process anywhere from 2,500 - 200,000 gallons of water! It also conserves water. A zoo in the Netherlands cut its water production by 84% (Worrell 3). This helped to lower water bills and increase revenue for separate usages.
The Living Machine is a highly researched, relatively new approach towards sewage treatment, but it's popularity and development are increasing. Not only is it a more environmentally friendly approach to confronting the impediment of sewage, but it is aesthetically appealing to people of all ages. In fact it may be hard to tell you are in one! Only time will reveal the succession of this spawning, technologically innovative achievement. More posts to come!
Sources:
Bang, Jan Martin. Ecovillages A Practical Guide to Sustainable Communities. New York: New Society, 2005.
Worrell. "Living Machine Systems: Treating Wastewater Nature's Way." The Living Machine. 2008. Worrell Water Technologies LLC. 23 Mar. 2009.
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