Comments on: New Wastewater Treatment Plant Gives Visitors a Warm Welcome to the U.S.A.

By: Mayur

Mayur — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 09:23:00 +0000

Hey Hi Tina,

I was wondering what could be the costs involved in setting up Living Machine for (say) treatment of 170000 gallons per day.

By: Tina Casey

Tina Casey — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:13:14 +0000

Thank you, Monty. Anyone out there from GSA have any insights? Just to hazard a guess, as long as the process is soundly designed it seems that selecting one over the other would be based on which one is most appropriate for the site (space, climate, etc.) and is compatible with the overall facility, and then of course there may be other considerations in the bidding process.

By: Monty

Monty — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:19:47 +0000

Hello Tina.
I looked at Ocean Arks'(thank-you Frank)website and tried to compare to Worrell Water’s Living Machines. It seems like Ocean Ark has a cool, but limited in application design (i.e: light and space needs) compared to Worrell’s Living Machines which seems to have more practical, reliable commercial applications (less space, etc) Is that why GSA and other agencies lean toward Living Machines? Is that your understanding?

By: Tina Casey

Tina Casey — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:22:45 +0000

Hi Frank thanks for the info. Here’s the link to Ocean Arks – http://www.oceanarks.org/.

By: Tina Casey

Tina Casey — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:20:09 +0000

Hi Bob thanks for the info about Arcata’s marsh treatment system.

By: Bob Wallace

Bob Wallace — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:13:46 +0000

Arcata, CA has had a marsh water treatment system in operation for decades.

The average daily water use per person in the US is roughly 159 gallons per day. Thus, the 16,000 residents in Arcata treat an average of 2.5 million gallons of water a day in their marsh system.

In addition to treating waste water the marsh provides highly used walking/jogging trails and a bird sanctuary.

The water, after passing through the marsh system, is perfectly safe for release into Humboldt Bay and on to the Pacific. A large portion of the nation’s oysters are grown in the Bay and oyster farmers take water quality very seriously.

By: Frank Hanlan

Frank Hanlan — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:47:16 +0000

I am surprised that you didn’t mention Dr. John Todd, of Ocean Arks International, who originated this technique at the New Alchemy Institute.

By: Tina Casey

Tina Casey — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 01:56:51 +0000

Hi Paris, thanks for the info about San Francisco’s new Living Machine. To put things in perspective, New York City treats about 1 billion gallons of water daily, but more low-volume alternatives like the Living Machine can still be a part of an urban wastewater system.

By: paris roosevelt

paris roosevelt — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:16:42 +0000

Hello Tina
The City of San Francisco’s public utility commission has specified a 5000 gallon per day Worrell Living Machine system for a new building in the city’s civic center. I think San Francisco is the second major city in density in the US after New York City.

By: Tina Casey

Tina Casey — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 19:14:33 +0000

Hi Wayne that’s 1500 gallons per day.

By: Wayne Williamson

Wayne Williamson — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:29:11 +0000

Tina…just wondering what the time period for the 1,500 gallons is…minute..hour..day…Thanks.