NEWSBITS

Germany:

New electronic newsletter of the Institute for Social-ecological Research (ISOE), Frankfurt, Germany

as. The German institute well known for its work on water issues will now periodically inform its subscribers of news and developments in the ISOE. Note: The newsletter is in German.
Info on ISOE in English: http://www.isoe.de/english/inheng.htm
Subscription: Send message to isoenews@isoe.de with "subscribe" as the subject

Scotland:

Proposal for planning tool as decision support for water and wastewater management in new housing estates

as. The Scottish Centre for Environmental Design Research (SEARCH) at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen is currently trying to put up a project to develop such a tool.
Info on SEARCH: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/subj/search/
Contact: Roland Burkhard, ACRRB@mailer.rgu.ac.uk

Sweden:

Dissertation on "Domestic Wastewater in Aquaculture"

sc. On October 22, 1999, Mrs. Marie Adamsson is finishing her dissertation at Göteborg University. The thesis has focused on the possibility to use domestic wastewater for aquaculture. The aims were (1) identification of acute toxic fractions in domestic wastewater and (2) construction of a two step food chain consisting of the green algae, Scenedesmus acuminatus and the zooplankton, Daphnia magna, based on human urine.
Contact: marie.adamsson@miljo.gu.se

Sweden:

Stensund Wastewater Aquaculture has qualified for the final of the Altran Foundation for Innovation Award 1999.

bg. Although Stensund Wastewater Aquaculture did not receive any prize in Paris, it is a great step forward for ecological engineering reaching the final for the prestigeous Altran Award. The network of sustainable water and wastewater management has become wider.
Information about the Altran Award: http://www.altran-technologies.com/html/fondatione.htm

Switzerland:

Oekomedia-Online - an excellent news digest on green issues (if you speak German)

as. Oekomedia-online, a news digest service from Basel (Switzerland), is an excellent source for recent developments in ecological issues relevant to society - provided that you can read German. They also publish a newsletter with the highlights of the month.
Info: http://www.oekomedia.org

USA, East Coast:

News from "Sustainable Strategies"

cs. Sustainable Strategies, a Massachusetts based firm, has seen its client demand double since 1997. Ecological wastewater systems account for 90 percent of the firm's engineering work.The firm's projects are mostly four types: zero- or reduced-effluent-discharge systems for residences, vehicle-washdown areas, eco-tourism and development projects, and animal manure management.

• The firm's Bamboo Forest Animal Manure Management System may soon be pilot-tested by North Carolina State University.
• Its Twin-Bin Net composting toilet system has been adapted for a Habitat for Humanity Project in Fiji, which volunteers will build in September. This is the third system Sustainable Strategies has designed for Fiji.

General info: http://www.ecological-engineering.com
"Zero Discharge" systems: http://www.ecological-engineering.com/zeroD.html

USA, East Coast:

News from "Living Technologies"

cs. Living Technologies, designers and installers of greenhouse-enclosed aerated constructed wetlands, recently completed three interesting projects:

• A Living Machine to manage 6,000 gallons (=27.3 m3) daily of cheese production waste (whey, salt, spills, etc.) was built for Cedar Grove Cheese in Wisconsin. The owner of the company hopes to grow tomatoes in the system (for personal consumption). Previously, the company was landspreading its effluents, incurring monthly fines of $3,000 per month. Before that, an absorption pond failed.
• For a new science building at Oberlin College in Ohio, a Living Machine managing 2,500 gallons (=11.4 m3) daily will be completed in November.
• A Living Machine managing 30,000 gallons (= 137 m3) daily was installed at a Vermont ski area, Smuggler's Notch Resort. It replaces an inadequate packaged treatment plant system and lagoons. Smuggler's Notch sought a system that was less obtrusive and more in fitting with its family-oriented image. It hopes to offer tours of the plant to resort guests.

General info: http://www.livingtechnologies.com

USA, East Coast:

Courses by John Todd at the University of Vermont

cs. Living Machines and solar aquatics system developer, John Todd, continues to offer courses in ecological design and a seminar in building Living Machines at the University of Vermont.

USA, West Coast:

New integrated composting toilet and graywater system in northwest Washington State

cs. The new system has been designed by 2020 Engineering. Engineer Mark Beuhrer reports: "All of the potable water for the home is supplied by a rainwater catchment system (no well or public water). A number of water conservation methods were used to minimize water demand, including waterless composting toilets (no blackwater) which reduces potable water demand by about half. The remaining graywater collected from the water fixtures is then used for subsurface irrigation of a landscaped area outside of the home (no septic or wastewater system)."
General info: http://www.2020engineering.com

USA:

Book on Composting Toilet Systems

cs. In May, 1999, the Center for Ecological Pollution Prevention (CEPP) published The Composting Toilet System Book, coauthored by Carol Steinfeld and David Del Porto.
Info: http://www.ecological-engineering.com/cepp/ctbook

USA:

Call for volunteers

cs. This winter, the Center for Ecological Pollution Prevention may again construct a composting toilet system in Baja, Mexico. Anyone interested in a service-oriented holiday, with plenty of sea kayaking, bird- and whale-watching, and adventures on an unnamed island can join us!
Info about last year's project: http://www2.planeta.com/mader/planeta/0799/0799bano.html

USA:

Upcoming projects of the Center for Ecological Pollution Prevention

cs. CEPP will soon begin a video program about ecological wastewater systems, and will create a general website about ecological wastewater systems. CEPP also hopes to start an Ecological Engineering Network or a North American chapter of the IEES, perhaps in early 2000.
Contact: EcoP2@hotmail.com

Zimbabwe:

Water Research Fund calls for proposals

as. Southern African Development Community (SADC) nationals and residents can now apply for possible research grants on topics related to water use and conservation from the IWRM Research Fund.
For further information please contact:
The research manager, Institute of Water and Sanitation development, P.O Box MP 422, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe,
Email: jndamba@iwsd.icon.co.zw