Wastewater Treatment the Ecological Way

"Water is the driving force of all nature" - ( Leonardo Da Vinci)  

Water is what distinguishes this planet from any other. It is the vital ingredient that supports the miracle of life. The majority of the world's water, at least 97% of it, is saline, with only 0,0001% available to us as potable and usable water.

Most of South Africa could be classified as a semi-desert region, prone to drought. Its rainfall is limited and often erratic.  Many South Africans, especially those living in urban areas, take water for granted and are often not aware that as a country we are faced with a critical water crisis.

For most people, country living, wastewater and “septic system” are synonymous. True, septic systems can work well and are well understood by rural plumbers and trades people.  However, before we delve into the mechanics of such a system or its alternatives, let’s first understand what Wastewater is.

Wastewater can be divided into two broad categories:

• Grey Water: wastewater that has a low pathogen density but contains a combination of organic and inorganic waste materials from everyday activities such as laundry, bathing and showering.
• Black Water: water that contains a high-density pathogen load from human organic waste from toilets.

As a general rule to follow, permaculture teachers say, that any water that comes through your land, must leave as clean as or cleaner than when it arrived.