Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering
FABE
652
Ecosystems for waste treatment
Lecture
#1 - 4/1/03
Handouts:
Syllabus
& Schedule
Todd
and Josephson 1996. Ecological Engineering. 6: 109-136
“Building
an educational living machine”
Present
list of materials
Assignment
(reading and thinking)
Welcome
to course 652. Exciting, new
class where we will learn about ecosystems to benefit society, and design
and maintain our own ecosystem. We
will watch evolution and self-design take place.
At the end of the course we will find out if we are “intelligent
designers.”
Introductions:
think many of us know each other, but lets have everyone introduce
themselves. Name, brief
relevant background, why taking the course.
Pass around sheet for students' email and phone numbers.
Go
through Syllabus and Schedule
Don’t
forget:
Choose time for 3-hr lab, class time=lab time, Oberlin trip 4/13 Sunday,
Weekly
progress reports
One page summary of changes in system, what has been done last week, what
will be done next week. Synthesize for final report.
You choose parameters or components to monitor (everything must be
covered). Keep detailed
records of activities!!
Things
will not be done in normal order.
We will build and then learn about different processes and how they
should work. Aim for simplicity in design.
Because we only have 10 weeks, it is critical to get a fast start
on making changes to the system. For this reason the first few weeks of class will focus on
making, starting the system, less on lectures.
You will have to read to get the info!
Water
Quality Samples
Due to delays last year and inability to get samples run for end of class, we will use chem strips this year. Plusses and minuses.
Are
there questions about syllabus??
Go through Course Schedule
Are there questions about course schedule??
Lecture
The main focus of this class is ecological treatment
systems also known as Living Machines
-
Start with pictures of living machines-(overheads-color oberlin, black and white T&J, schematic T&J, schematic from Companion, picture of present system?)
-
Briefly describe main components-Aerated reactors, stratifiers, marsh systems, biofilter (use T&J schematic, audobon schematic. Companion pic, present system). Our system more like Companion schematic.
Are
these systems successful?
YES! As you will find
out in your reading tonight, Living Machine in Providence RI treated
domestic wastewater to advanced wastewater standards.
Refer to article for pictures of system, BOD (figure 5), COD
(figure 6), TSS (figure 8), ammonia (figure11), phosphorus (figure 13), fecal
coliform (figure 16).
How
do they compare economically?
Cost are 15% less than conventional WWTP.
Does not account for outputs from system—plants, fish, etc.
estimates of much higher efficiencies.
Are
they sustainable?
This is one big question about living machines and mesocosms to
treat waste. In my mind they
are somewhere between a wetland and conventional WWTP—depending greatly
on the specific system. Talk
about inputs needed, space needed, etc.
-
Many applications—overhead from living technologies locations
-
Brief history Ocean Arks, John Todd, Living Technologies, Lawsuit
-
Use terms Ecological Mesocosm and Living Machine interchangeably (law suit)
They made your second reading.
The
challenge of this course is to improve, maintain, and monitor our own
ecosystem for waste treatment.
-
Visit the lab and show students present system (take picture)
-
Here is what we are starting with, describe each item
Because we have a short time to make changes, I would like to list some possible choices and considerations:
Larger
wetland - more Phosphorus removal.
Subsurface flow wetland - more Phosphorus removal.
Feedback from clarifier to anaerobic tank, not from second anaerobic tank
- improve solids removal.
Increase additions of wash-water from 4 gallons/week to 12 gallons/week -
past results show potential to treat more waste.
Better sampling mechanism - hard to get consistent samples by 'dipping.'
Add new species of fish (common carp) and vegetation (for subsurface
wetland).
Include fish in aerobic tanks - food does not reach present aquaculture
tank.
What to do with 'extra' tank?
What type of substrate and vegetation is best for subsurface wetland?
What part of the system are you interested in? Individual Research
Project.
Assignment
reading assignment (Todd & Josephson, text 165-176, Building an
Educational Living Machine 1-40-can skip lesson plans). Think about what
portion of mesocosm you would like to monitor and how you will do this.
Readings are critical in early part of course due to limited
lectures.