Facilitators-Handbook-For-Permaculture

102 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops

Presentation : About wastewater treatment systems

Method : Facilitator presentation

Tools    :  Images  of  wastewater  filter  systems,    black/white board,  markers

References : PC Book MOD 3 – Houses, Water, and Waste Management

IDEP Wastewater Gardens Fact Sheet

Objective    :  Participants    understand  types   and function    of  water   filter  systems

All wastewater from houses can potentially be used for irrigating productive

gardens and fruit trees.

Before wastewater is reused it needs to be cleaned using a wastewater treatment

system.

There are two types of wastewater:

• Grey water – Water that was used for washing and cleaning.


• Black water – Water that was used for toilets.

The type of system that is needed will depend on the type of pollutants that need to be

cleaned and the amount of wastewater.

Note: No poisons or bleach can be poured into wastewater that enters any type of water

filtration systems because it will damage the system by killing bacteria and possibly

plants as well.

There are several ways that grey water can be cleaned, including:

• Wastewater can be run into an absorption trench then into a pit in which plants
  are placed.


• On sloping land wastewater can be run via a pipe or small absorption trench,
  down into a swale in which plants are grown.


• Using a wastewater treatment garden (see below).

Note: For many areas of Indonesia where water is scarce the trench or swale methods

will be most practical and easy to maintain.

For either grey water or black water, a system called wastewater gardens can be used.

Wastewater gardens channel wastewater through gravel gardens, in which a wide range

of water tolerant plants are grown. The plants absorb and use the excess nutrients in the

wastewater rendering the water safe for irrigation.

PR
ESEN
TATIO

N

FAC

ILITATOR