 
To: "Jon C. Slenk" 
Cc: +dist+/afs/andrew/usr/js9b/Public/camc.dl@ANDREW.CMU.EDU,
        Thomas_Price@KANGA.FAC.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Good News
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Sat, 19 Jun 93 00:04:39 EDT."
              
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 93 15:35:35 -0400
Message-Id: <3374.743196935@KANGA.FAC.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Thomas_Price@KANGA.FAC.CS.CMU.EDU

this is from the Late Spring 93 issue of "In Context", no. 35.
The article title is "Living Machines"


"Pollution problems resulting from the disposal of human waste are
relatively new phenomena. For thousands of years, our body wastes
were an intricate part of the planet's natural recycling system, 
providing food and fuel forthe microorganisms at the bottom of the food
chain. But with the huge growth in world population and the concentration
of that growth in urban centers, human waste has been disconnected from 
the cycle. ... John Todd and Nancy Jack Todd ... of the Center for
the Restoration of Waters at Ocean Arks International ... (have as
their goal) to introduce sustainable alternatives to conventional waste
disposal, fuel production, heating and cooling, air purification, and
food production. The key to accomplishing these tasks is through 
ecological engineering. By combining living organisms ... in contained
environments, OAI has created what John calls Living Machines. ... 
OAI recently designed and build a sewage treatment Living Machine inside 
a Toronto school ... students at the Boyne River school use conventional
water-based toilets, but once waste is flushed, it is rapidly digested
as it passes through four cells -- two with oxygen, two without --
each filled with microorganisms. Next, it is pumped up to the highest
of 17 tanks. Here, the students may watch as the water flows through 
clear tanks first filled with algae, then with higher aquatic rooted plants,
and finally with animals including clams, snails, and fish. By the time the
wastewater passes through a marsh and pond it is technically well water and
legally drinkable."


They can get rid of heavy metals and toxic wastes with these things
too. Yowza.

 prev message 
 next message