[Pil-pc-oceania] Human nutrients & Toilets & greywater systems

[Laurence Gaffney]

1.    I was not so impressed with the talk given at the Convergence.

2.    Their was far too much spin.

3.    The Perfect Solution for Permaculture was the title of the talk as I recall.

4.    The Talk failed to mention that the unit required high grade energy in the form of electricity to drive two pumps or the off site monitoring or the embodied energy of both the unit itself and its ongoing inspection maintenance by others. 

5.    Joel said:-
 I think at its core is a system that can be low-energy, stable and as Graeme says "technology appropriate for a remote village in Bangladesh or Zambia". 

I think that "at its core" this may be possible. The impediments to this at the moment are its cost and its form as a "proprietary package unit". It is a solution for people with a lot of money only at the moment. The dependency on synthetics/plastics currently for the tank and for the filtration medium puts the solution well short of "Perfect" from a Permaculture Perspective.

6.    Joel said:-
 " Dean suggested they can be run without the pump if you set up the system to be gravity fed"
This may be theoretically true but the reality is (or at least was) that such a system is not approved (EPA)in this State (Vic.) 

7.    Joel's description of the way the unit works is a good one.
Joel Said:- 
"It would be great if the essence of what makes the system work were freely available but this is of course a proprietary secret."

You cannot patent (I hope) an aerobic pile of microbe rich organic matter which is the "essence" of the system I think.
I am unaware that any of the so called patents have been tested in the courts.
Meanwhile a number of companies (as mentioned by David Arnold) are offering systems very similar to the pre Biolytix Dowmus Systems and have been doing so for many years now.

8.    Joel Said:-
Inside the tank are several layers of non degradable medium (they look like orange onion bags stuffed with similar material)

Joel can you expand on this? -  as I have previously been told (by Biolytix) that the bags contained Peat Moss 

8.    The Irrigation of Fruit Trees post Biolytix is not quite as easy as it sounds from a Shire approvals perspective. 
Is any one aware of this being approved in Victoria ???
I think there would be requirements such as regular testing of effluent by others were this to be done even if Sub - Surface.   

9.    So in short we have an expensive active system which consists of a plastic tank stuffed with more plastic complete with two pumps that require mandatory regular inspection by others and which in most cases will still require secondary processing as per traditional septic systems.

10.   Having said all that I am thinking of installing a Biolytix (new house)  for these reasons:-
(A)    I have to fit an EPA /Shire approved system.
(B)    The system will be fitted in a relatively high rainfall area so water for flushing is available. 
(C)    The Biolytix treats to a higher standard than conventional septic systems. (NOTE:- this is a belief).
(D)    I like the idea of removing the solids from the flushing water sooner rather than later.
(E)    Their is potential for the system to be retrofitted/modified to operate passively.
(F)    Their is potential to use the post unit treated water in a more flexible and targeted way because of its higher grade.    


Laurence Gaffney

 

      
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