The following summary is from Bill Wall of Clivus New England, 1/27/06
"The argument for including grey water filtration along with the composting sytem at Green Woodlands is basically an environmental one. The scenario is as follows:
· Toilet wastes go to the composter(s), where natural biological processes break down the material, bacteria is killed, and the end product is non-polluting.
· Greywater – from sinks, showers, dishwasher, etc – is sent through the filtration system
· Neutralized, non-polluting liquid waste – nitrogen – from the composter is dispersed along with the greywater to a soil absorption system (leach field), where it is distributed into the root bed of plants, fostering growth. A conventional septic system inhibits the biological processes because it discharges below the frost line and harmful nitrates are released into the soil, causing pollution. In the greywater system liquid is released anywhere from 3” to 18” below the surface.
At Green Woodlands, why is this an issue? It probably isn’t today, although it is a long term serious problem in an over crowded planet, even in New Hampshire. Some communities in Massachusetts are no longer permitting owners of failed conventional systems to reinstall another. They are requiring alternatives to treat the nitrate. This can either be a natural process (composting system), or a $50,000 nitrate treatment structure. Green Woodlands can demonstrate a model system that is not “disposal”, but a reuse of resources.
Bill Wall of Clivus New England says conventional systems do not treat wastes: “It’s like sending a toilet flush to the dump.”
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