Newsbits

In much of rural Latin America, untreated wastewater is piped straight to the nearest street or stream while only the blackwater from the toilet is plumbed to a rudimentary septic system. This practice constitutes a discernible health risk with significant environmental impact, such as in the case of Monteverde, Costa Rica [see also "Inheriting the soon to be discarded - a glance on the wastewater situation in Costa Rica" by Stew Dallas, EcoEng-Newsletter No.6, 2002]

In this case study, we present a low-cost reedbed system for the treatment of domestic greywater designed upon ecological sanitation principles. A locally available plant, Coix lacryma-jobi, has proven to be a resilient and viable emergent macrophyte in reedbed systems and is to our knowledge the first time this species has been used for wastewater treatment.

An environmental services contract (ESC) was established in an attempt to provide a sustainable maintenance scheme. The quality of the treated wastewater from this system achieves the Costa Rican guidelines for wastewater reuse which indicate that the design criteria for the treatment of greywater using reedbeds will be guided by pathogen removal.

Source: Ecological Engineering Vol. 23 Issue 1, August 2004, pp. 55 - 61

Details are available from http://www.ecologicalmodel.net/. If you are interested in joining the course, send an e-mail to sej@dfh.dk

Source: S.E.Jørgensen, via email

The active river corridor, reaching up to 2 km wide, is in a near-natural state and completely inundated by flood waters nearly twice a year. Such frequent and dynamic events rearrange channels, gravel bars, and vegetated islands.

Scientific interest in the Tagliamento River is prompted because most Alpine river systems have been channeled during the past 100-200 years and knowledge about the functioning of a natural system is needed to support current restoration projects in more impacted systems. Research topics include geomorphic processes, habitat turnover at a landscape scale, vegetation dynamics, regeneration of woody species, invertebrate diversity, and processing of organic matter.

This last resort is endangered by a flood control project of the regional government Friuli-Venezia Giulia, that is supposed to protect the city of Latisana.

Links:

• A view on the river : http://www.tagliamento.org/ [in Italian]
• RiverNet: http://www.rivernet.org/tagliamento/welcome.htm
• Work of EAWAG at the Tagliamento: http://www.eawag.ch/research_e/lim/Tagliamento/Tagliamento/Tagliamento.html

Source: Various sources, internet

The founder and only employee of Zonnewater, Mr Jan de Koning is a former employee of a chemical multinational. He started Zonnewater in 2002. The idea that the sun is delivering per day as much energy as we consume per annum on fossil energy inspired him to find solutions for the global water shortage. He defined as target for his plans the following: Installations must be cheap, simple and made of locally available materials.

De Koning started in a shed in Holland where he made several test installations. The significant variables were identified, measured and analysed. For real life testing a private person on Bonaire was found, who prepared to build his test installations on his property.

The solar is not a new idea: It was originally invented in the late 19th century (1870) for mine employees in Chile. Disadvantage of this older system (still in use in many parts of the world) are: low output per sqare meter, caused by the combination of evaporation AND condensation in the same room.

This and many other aspects are the differences between the Zonnewater system and the original solar-still. Essentially, the Zonnewater process is not more then filling a glass-house with a layer of salt water. Fabric absorbs the water while increasing internal surface and reducing surface tension at the same time. By injecting fresh dry air with the help of a little ventilator, hot humid air on the upper layer is pushed out of the system! that’s all.

At lower temperatures than 30°C, the system will work as well but output will diminish. At higher temperatures the output will proportionally increase.

Link to Zonnewater: http://www.zonnewater.net/

Source: Jan de Koning via email

The project is being developed in partnership with Bioregional [2] as advisors, based on their previous experience with the BedZED project ("Beddington Zero Energy Development" in South London, Beddington, UK), in cooperation with the portuguese project team from Nova University of Lisbon, as well as portuguese consultancy companies. Overall it comprises 5'300 hectare, of which 4'800 ha nature reserve and Cork forest restoration project and a 500 hectare tourism development comprising 6'000 units, with capacity for 30'000 people.The total investment is calculated at approximately 1 billion Euros.

Based on their experience with the BedZED project (Beddington, UK), BioRegional and WWF intend to help integrate successful energy and water efficient design into the building plan. The project sustainable action plan includes targets for zero fossil fuel emission, zero waste in a 20 years timeline, as well as using rainwater collection and waste water recycling systems to achieve huge cuts in domestic water consumption and irrigation ([2]).

More information can be obtained at:

[1] WWF:
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/policy/sustainability/opl_portugal.cfm
Press Release (28, May 2004)
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/press_releases/news.cfm?uNewsID=13382
for a complete list of targets: click on “download the factsheet” link.

[2] Bioregional:
Mata de Sesimbra Development Plan
http://www.bioregional.com/programme_projects/opl_prog/portugal/portugal_hmpge.htm
BedZED Ecovillage
http://www.bioregional.com/news%20page/news_stories/ZED/cpd_0703.htm

[3] Pelicano, S.A.
http://www.globalrealestate.org/retreat/profile.asp?m=ma&rcd=27004&ofn=123404

An up-date article will be attempted for the next issue of this newsletter, attempting to determine the present state of affairs of the project and relevant aspects regarding ecological engineering.

Source: Pedro Serpa, EcoEng-correspondent

2005 International Ecosan Symposium

In the world today, 1.2 billion people are without access to safe drinking water, 3 billion are without proper sanitation, and 50% of solid wastes remain uncollected. The Bellagio Statement of February 2000 asserted that current waste management policies and practices were abusive to human well-being, economically unaffordable and environmentally unsustainable, and that a radical overhaul of these policies and practices was needed. The Statement called for universal access to safe environmental sanitation, within a framework of water and environmental security and respect for the economic value of wastes. Principles governing this new approach were considered, among others, to be:

that waste should be considered a resource, and that its management should be holistic and form part of integrated water resources, nutrient flows and waste management processes; and

that the domain in which environmental sanitation problems are resolved should be kept to the minimum practical size (household, community, town, district, catchment, city) and wastes diluted as little as possible.

The Millennium Development Goals were agreed to in 2000 when all United Nations member states pledged to reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015. At the WSSD in 2002, it was further agreed to reduce by half the proportion of people without basic sanitation by 2015. The development of appropriate technical options and implementation methods plays a pivotal role in meeting these objectives

The conference will consider how ecological sanitation can assist in meeting these objectives.

Conference link: http://www.buildnet.co.za/ecosan/

Source: Aussie Austin via email

The major general goal of the Conference is to promote the practice of Ecological Restoration as an integration of scientific-technical fundamentals, economic opportunities, and social participation all around the world.

The conference wants to address scientists, professionals, consultants, managers, economists, mineral operators, landfill and waste operators, land managers and planners, policy makers, private companies, commercial chambers, public bodies, governmental administrations, non-governmental organizations, international societies, rural development groups, philosophers, lawyers, cultural associations, indigenous groups, artists, journalists…

Organizer: Society for Ecological Restoration
Where? Sep. 12-18, 2005, Zaragoza, Spain
Info: http://www.ecologicalrestoration.net
First Announcement (PDF, 912 kB)

Source: Michael Cook, via Email

"Urban and peri-urban areas in developing countries are among the worst polluted and disease ridden habitats of the world. Much of this pollution is caused by inadequate sanitation services. As cities expand and populations increase, the situation will grow worse and the need for safe, sustainable and affordable sanitation will be even more critical. Existing approaches to sanitation are neither viable nor affordable to the vast majority of people.

This book is about seeking new solutions in the form of "ecological sanitation". The book discusses what is currently known about ecological sanitation systems, their strengths and weaknesses. It gives advice on how to make such systems work with regard to the selection, design and management of devices as well as about the promotion and support aspects so necessary to their success.

Ecological Sanitation is intended for all who share the will to explore new ways of tackling urban sanitation."

Ecological Sanitation
Revised and enlarged edition 2004
Eds.: Uno Winblad, Mayling Simpson-Hébert
Stockholm Environmental Institute
Box 2142
S-103 14 Stockholm, Sweden
ISBN 91 88714 98 5

Are you interested to review this book for the next issue of this newletter? Please contact:

"Abstract: Urban wastewater systems are currently exposed to a major rethink dictated by new demands on resource management. It is postulated that next to providing efficient sanitation (preventing spread of pathogenic microorganisms) these systems should support resource reuse. It remains uncertain of what will be the sanitation of the future; the understanding of technical performances of various alternatives towards possibilities to improve resource management is a necessary background for choosing design alternatives of wastewater systems to be used in the future.

This thesis consists of a number of studies all with an aim to better understand the performance of the current and alternative urban wastewater systems as applied in industrialized countries and their influence on the environment. The objective is to quantify the differences in performance of existing (conventional and alternative) as well as other possible systems. Technical performances of wastewater systems are quantified mainly with respect to nutrients and water flow. Waste/resource reuse possibilities and interaction with existing infrastructure is also investigated. The alternative systems studied are mainly urine separation systems and extensive vegetated roofs for storm water retention and disposal. The interconnection and inter-influence of urban wastewater systems with other technical and non-technical systems/sectors of society is also investigated, which is done in both a conceptual and quantitative way.

The results prove the potential of a change in urban wastewater management towards source control and reuse. Wastewater systems based on source control can potentially support water savings, water reuse and nutrients reuse. When the alternative systems are implemented on a small scale only, their influence on the environment (positive or negative) is negligible; however the effects will be more and more significant as more and more systems coming into operation. The results from the studies performed in this thesis showed that to achieve desired changes, technical developments of new systems are crucial, but there is also a need of institutional adjustments to support novel systems with legal and economic means."

Justyna Berndtsson's thesis will be defended on Dec. 20, 10:15:00 at the Department of Building and Environmental Technology, John Ericssons Väg 1, hall V:A, Lund Institute of Technology. If you are in Sweden at the time, why not go there?

Urban wastewater systems - from disposal to reuse
A study on the performance of different systems with focus on water and nutrient flows
By Justyna Czemiel Berndtsson, 2004
Doctoral Thesis at the Department of Water Resources Engineering
Lund Institute of Technology
BOX 118
SE-221 00 Lund
Sweden
Phone: +46(0)46 222 89 85
ISBN 91-628-6311-8
ISSN 1101-9824

Source: http://theses.lub.lu.se/postgrad/search.tkl?field_query1=pubid&query1=tec_852&recordformat=display

Are you interested to review this thesis for the next issue of this newletter? Please contact:

The Tropical House Frutigen (http://www.tropenhaus-frutigen.ch/ [in German]) is going to make use of geothermal heat from surplus water that is draining from the new Lötschberg railway tunnel near Frutigen, Switzerland.

The project idea encompasses a covered greenhouse part, where tropical fruit, fish (Tilapia) and plants are produced, and an open part where the production of sturgeon is envisioned. On-site processing, direct marketing and a production following the guidelines for organic agriculture are part of the concept.

From the Holcim Awards website:

"Sustainable construction is an evolutionary concept, both contextually and technologically determined. The objective of the Holcim Foundation is to establish the Holcim Awards as an international platform for professionals and specialists of all generations to promote interdisciplinary dialog, bring forward new ideas and examine potential solutions.

Lessons learned in one context have applicability elsewhere, but may require adaptation and certainly need explanation and illustration.

The Holcim Foundation intends therefore to act as an enabler so that, whatever their origin, exciting and important new ideas can be more widely discussed and assessed by a broader audience of specialists. Facilitating exchange of experience and knowledge of the determinants for sustainability in building and construction is an investment in education, in innovation and in learning by doing.

The Holcim Awards competition is comprised of five regional Holcim Awards (in 2004/5) and the global Holcim Award (in 2006). The regional Holcim Awards are based on five geographic regions: Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa Middle East and Asia Pacific. The award-winning regional entries qualify for the global Holcim Award.

The partner universities of the Holcim Foundation (ETH Zurich, Switzerland, MIT Boston, USA, Tongji University Shanghai, University of São Paulo, Brazil, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg) define the evaluation criteria and lead the independent juries.

The total prize money for the regional and global Holcim Awards is USD 2 million. The submission deadline is March 31, 2005 for the first regional Holcim Awards competition. Submission of entries is only possible via the Internet."

More information: http://www.holcimawards.org

"Established in 1977, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is one of the 15 centers strategically located all over the world and supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). With its main research station and offices based in Aleppo, Syria, ICARDA works through a network of partnerships with national, regional and international institutions, universities, non-governmental organizations and ministries in the developing world; and with advanced research institutes in industrialized countries.

ICARDA's mission is to improve the welfare of poor people and alleviate poverty through research and training in dry areas of the developing world, by increasing the production, productivity and nutritional quality of food, while preserving and enhancing the natural resource base.

The environment in dry areas is harsh, stressful and variable, and agriculture in these areas faces more complex challenges than in areas with adequate rainfall.

ICARDA is committed to the advancement of agricultural research; free exchange of germplasm and information for research; protection of intellectual property rights, including indigenous knowledge of farmers; human resources development; the sustainable use of natural resources; and poverty alleviation, particularly among women and children.

ICARDA pursues this mission in partnerships with national agricultural research systems in developing countries and with advanced research institutes in industrialized countries. While most of ICARDA's collaborative activities with its partners are formalized as written agreements, some joint research is also carried out informally based on the center's personal contacts with colleagues in various institutions."

An interesting point for Ecological Engineers: ICARDA's Dr. Theib Oweis and colleagues have done in depth research on old indigenous methods for water harvesting. A respective brochure "Water Harvesting - Indigenous Knowledge for the Future of the Drier Environments" can be ordered from ICARDA.

Contact address ICARDA:

P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo,
Syrian Arab Republic
Tel: (963-21) 2213433/2225012/2225112
Fax: (963-21)2213490
Info: http://www.icarda.org
E-mail:

Source: http://www.icarda.org

The solid waste is on one hand endangering the fragile ecosystems of the islands, the drinking water supplies and the local fisheries. On the other hand, empty cans are breeding grounds for moscitoes and rats and thus indirectly threaten the health of the population. Last but not least, waste is poison for tourism.

More than 90% of all wastewater is discharged untreated into rivers and the sea. Local experts cry for help.

Source: http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=389&ArticleID=4400&l=en

"ThinkCycle is an academic, non-profit initiative engaged in supporting distributed collaboration towards design challenges facing underserved communities and the environment. ThinkCycle seeks to create a culture of open source design innovation, with ongoing collaboration among individuals, communities and organizations around the world.

ThinkCycle provides a shared online space for designers, engineers, domain experts and stakeholders to discuss, exchange and construct ideas towards sustainable design solutions in critical problem domains."

In principle, anyone is free to join this MIT based student initiative. If you browse through the topics list, you will find items interesting for Ecological Engineers, such as:

• Household Water Treatment Systems: http://www.thinkcycle.org/tc-notes/?topic_id=5087
• Running Design Courses on Appropriate Technologies: http://www.thinkcycle.org/tc-notes/?topic_id=7131
• Ecological Transportation: http://www.thinkcycle.org/tc-notes/?topic_id=7225

Thinkcycle is certainly worth a second look if you are looking for new unconventional ideas

Link: http://www.thinkcycle.org