Sustainable Land Development Today - March 2009 - (Page 8)

“As design engineers, I consider it our duty to create the treatment process that will provide the performance required,” Stephens said. “Manufacturers today have provided us with all the tools we need to treat wastewater to any quality needed. Some are more cost-effective than others, and some require a higher degree of management than others. But, technology is not a limitation, from my point of view.” For instance, Bord na Mona specializes in smaller applications by designing systems that are gravity-fed to reduce energy costs and are easy to maintain and operate. Though the systems can be scaled to handle sub divisions, Keaney said they could be down scaled as well. “Our membrane package plant would be something that you could put on the back of a truck and would treat 125,000 gallons per day,” he said. “We are developing some membrane treatment systems that will be able to feed single houses.” cooling towers, car washing, irrigation and toilet flushing, but not on a widespreadspread basis. That is due to long-held concerns over sanitation as well as the so-called “yuk factor” by citizens who distain the thought of reusing sewer water. “Additionally, there is some legitimate concern about the lack of institutional control over the plumbing changes that are made from time to time in residential dwellings,” he said. “The fear is the risk of cross-connections between potable and non-potable plumbing.” Some of the most drought-stricken areas of the country have, however, come to embrace the idea of water reuse simply due to necessity. Craig Lindell, president of Aquapoint, a decentralized wastewater-treatment company based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, said there are substantial benefits in the sewer mining concept. He works with a group that promotes sustainable water strategies in Washington, D.C. Regulatory Dilema Keaney said that the greatest obstacles to water mining and other methods that incorporate water reuse are regulations at the federal, state and sometimes at the county level. “Because it is a relatively new concept, the regulations are lagging behind in some respects for what or where you can use treated water,” he said. There have been some inroads that allow for reuse water for 8 March 2009 Sustainable Land Development Today

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - March 2009

Sustainable Land Development Today - March 2009 Contents Our Voice: Energy Savings Accounts Mining the Sewers for On-site Reuse Modern Flood Disasters The Financial Challenge of Leed® Technology: Opportunities Exist to Buy in Now SLDI In Focus: A Look Inside Calendar of Events Energy: Solar Power on Rails Industry News Products & Services The Bottom Line: Green Lending – Class G Advertiser Index Editorial Board SLDT Resources Last Word: Not All Gloom & Doom

Sustainable Land Development Today - March 2009

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