Lynn Polasek shares her presentation about living machines and potential applications at Los Angeles Valley College.

1. Waste Water Treatment
Suggestions for Integrating the Living
Machine with Campus Life
By: Professor Lynn Polasek
Biology Department LAVC

2. Sustainable Science
Project
• Goals
• Support Education
• Save Money
• Process Wastewater Safely & Reliably
• Beautify the Campus
• Role Model Sustainable Practices

3. What is a Living Machine?
A series of interconnected man made ponds that cleans up wastewater.

4. Eco-engineering Practices for the Future
Depending on its size, it can process varied amounts of wastewater
from 300 gallons/day to 750,000 gallons/day
The Processed Wastewater Meets Tertiary Standards
Biolochemical Oxygen Demand 10-20mg/L
Total Suspended Solids 10-20mg/L
Total Nitrogen 10-26mg/L

5. The Value of the Wetlands
A Living Machine is like a man made wetland
• Form Stable Communities that Process Waste
– Linked via biological processes
• How one living species effects another
– Linked via chemical processes
• Photosynthesis
• Respiration
• Biogeochemical Cycles
– carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous cycles
– Linked via physical processes
• Climate, water availability, gravity

6. Wetlands serve as nature’s own
H20 treatment plant
• Produces some of the purest water in the world
• Trapping sediment
• Absorbing, diluting & degrading toxic pollutants
• Performing biogeochemical cycles
• Acting as a natural filtration system
• Can even process human sewage and animal waste

7. They function as the “kidneys of the landscape”
Complex roles in regulating water flow & purification

9. Future Plans for LAVC Campus?
Students could be a part of the maintenance of the living machine.
Constructed wetland/wildlife habitat functions as
an outdoor classroom & living lab

10. Representative Living Machine Projects
They have been used successfully by businesses for many years!
• YMCA Camp Seymor, WA • 10,000gal/day sewage/reuse
– 2002
• Smugglers Notch Resort, VT • 40,000gal/day sewage
– 1999
• Darrow School, NY • 8,600 gal/day sewage
– 1998
• Noorder Diereupark Zoo
• 220,000gal/day sewage/reuse
– 2001 Emmen, Netherlands

11. A Horizontal Flow Wetland Living Machine System
Naturally provides filtration & treatment of water for purification
Built Spring 2001 by Lynn Polasek
• It works due to the
interrelationships of:
– Microbes
– Plants
– Animals
– Sunshine

12. Producer Chamber
Plants, Photosynthesis, Bottom of Food Chain, No Large Predators

13. Consumer Chamber
Flowing Water, Nutrient Consumption, Large Consumers, Aquatic Plants

14. Decomposer Chamber
Bio-filtration, Saturated Soil, Nutrient Conversion, Nutrient Recycling

15. Wetland Chamber
Natural Filtration, Bioremediation, Nutrient Rich, Biodiversity

16. Succession & Extinction Consumer Chamber
Fall 2001 Fall 2004

17. Succession-Extinction Producer Chamber
Spring 2001 Fall 2004

18. • System is 4 years old
• Chemical free
• Pest free
• Odor free

19. A Self-Sustaining Community
• Break down waste using
– Microorganisms, small invertebrates & plants
– Diverse flora & fauna populations in a series of environments
• Recycle essential molecules in process that is
– Stable
– Robust
– Consistent
– Reusable
• Build new life
– Together aerobic & anaerobic organisms will provide a broad
range of biochemical processes that are necessary for a self-
sustaining community.

20. The microbes do most of the
chemistry on the planet.
They set the stage for plants &
animals to follow.

21. Types of Living Machine Systems
They vary widely in size, design & ecological capacity.
• Vertical Flow Wetland Living Machine System
• Tidal Flow Wetland Living Machine System
• Good Water 2 Living Machine System
• Horizontal Flow Wetland Living Machine System

22. Horizontal Flow
Using Small Interconnected Tanks
Biodiversity Provides Ecosystem Stability

23. Innovative Designs Include
An eco-park with a living machine
• Utilizes the forces of:
– Water Flow
– Collection
– Catchment
– Water Treatment
– Water Re-use
• Ecological Capacity
– Create more eco-capacity
to the area than before

24. Water and Waste Reclamation
• Treat Storm Water
• Treat Waste Water
• Showcase the Effluent
• Provide Wildlife Habitats
• Restore Ecological Balance
– Geology
– Topography
– Hydrology
– Soils
– Biotic Communities
– Human Goals

25. Tidal Flow
BOD & TSS < 5mg/L and TN <10mg/L
• Superior nitrogen removal
• Compact footprint
• Series of 4-6 tidal flow cells
– Periodically flood/drain
• Achieve tertiary standards
• No mechanical aeration
• No clarifier
• Bio-solids digested in place
• Computer controlled
• Plant friendly
• Odor free

26. Good Water 2
BOD & TSS 10mg/L and TN <20mg/L
• Replicates nature more
• Biological nutrient removal
– Plant roots grow on racks
– Biofilms grow on roots
– Biosolids retained on roots
– Invertebrates thrive on
biofilms & biosolids
• 4-6 aerated tanks
– No clarifier
– Ends with vertical flow
• No free water surface

27. Vertical Flow
BOD & TSS < 20mg/L and TN <26mg/L
• No free water surface
– Reduces risk human contact
– Reduced mosquito breeding
• Compact
• Viewing/sampling sumps
– Different parts of system
• Re-circulating gravel filter
• 3 Tanks
– Planted wetland cell
– Filter septic tank
– Re-circulation tank

28. Produce high quality effluent with potential for reuse.
Agricultural (non-edible) & landscape
Industrial activities: cooling & process needs
Ground water recharge
Recreational/environmental use
Parks & wildlife habitats
Non-potable urban uses:
Toilet flushing, construction
Stable operation.
Aesthetic appeal.

29. Oberlin College
Adam Joseph Lewis Center for
Environmental Studies
• Wastewater flow:
– 2 underground anaerobic
reactors
– 2 covered aerobic reactors
– Indoor series of reactors
• Hosts aquatic plants/orgs.
– Clarifier
• Biosolids recycled/removed
– Constructed Wetland
– Effluent disinfected w/ UV
system

30. Oberlin College in Ohio

31. Rent the Grounds for Special Occasions

33. The Living Lab
Combination Greenhouse, Laboratory, Classroom and Living Machine

34. The Living Lab
2003 Taos County New Mexico Series of tanks inside a greenhouse
• Promote ecological literacy • Students learn how to:
– Elementary schools – Harness waste & promote
– Middle schools beneficial relationships to
provide clean water, food
– High schools and shelter.
– General public
• Living Classroom
– Hands on lessons
• Ecology
• Agriculture
• Aquaculture
• Engineering
• Environmental Restoration

35. Living Lab
Inside a Greenhouse
• Powered by the sun-collects
– Rainwater
• To grow fruits & vegetables
– Storm Water
• To process in living machine
• Study relationships
– Bacteria, algae, protozoa,
plants, animals
– Digest organic compounds in
waste water
• Produces
– Clean water, food, building
materials

36. Concept of Living Lab
Waste of one system is food for another.
Students are immersed in an environment that thrives!
There is no such thing as waste in nature!

37. Creating a Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat
• Support Wildlife
• Support Native Plants
• Provide Human Food
• Create Beauty & Comfort
• Xeriscape
• Protective Landscaping
– Decrease utility bills
• Create an insectary
– Attract/support/breed
beneficial insects that kill
pests

38. Providing Wildlife Habitats on Campus
Students research an animal & design its habitat.
• Select plants that provide
– Food
– Hiding Places
– Breeding Places
• Provide a Water Source

39. Outcome
• Enjoy Nature
• Support Wildlife & Humanity
• Grow food that is safe to eat
– Pesticide free, GM free
• Service Neighborhood
– With beneficial insects & birds
• Eat mosquitoes, aphids etc.
• Decrease Utility Bills
– Reduces associated pollution
– Deciduous Trees
• Can protect a building
– Shade in summer-Sun in winter
• Canopy of treetops
– Animal freeway, for avoiding cars
– Safety from some predators

40. Get People Out in Nature
• Student Involvement
– Habitat Design
– Maintenance
• Community Involvement
– Planting
– Recreation
– Guided Nature Walks
– Girl Scouts & Boy Scouts
• Earn badges planting wildflowers
– Donations
– Virtual Tours
• Teaching others via the internet

41. LAVC as a Community Leader
Energy Efficient Buildings Effective Landscaping
watered by a living machine

42. Teaching in an Outdoor Classroom
Nurture a connection with nature!

43. Outdoor classroom coupled w/ living machine
Once built, it lends itself toward interdisciplinary learning
• Language Arts
– News letters/fundraising/invitations
• Media Arts
– Outdoor plays
• Biology
– Campus field trips
– Life cycles, native plants/animal studies
• Math
– Rates of filtration, cost savings,
population counts, growth rates
• Music
– Record sounds of nature
• Social Studies
– Research past land use
• Art
– Draw/paint/photograph nature

44. Students Learning to Compost & Support our Soils
Healthy people rarely need medicine.
Healthy soil rarely needs synthetic chemical pesticides & fertilizers.

45. Grow food w/ existing landscape

46. How many kinds of food are growing
in this flower bed?

47. Future Plans for LAVC Campus?
Students will be a part of the design & maintenance
Constructed Wetland & Wildlife Habitat
Outdoor Classroom
Living Lab

48. Summary
Support Education
• Living Lab
• Outdoor Classroom
• Museum
• Interdisciplinary Uses
• On Campus Field Trips
• Community Nature Walks
• Energy Efficiency
• Supporting Wildlife
• Role Model for Community
– Weekend Workshops

49. Summary
Sustainable Agriculture – Support our Soils
• Composting
• Grow food mixed with the
existing landscape
• Buy food locally
• Pesticide free food
• GM free food
• Crop rotation
• Use microbial bi-products
for natural fertilizer

50. Summary
Financially Self Supporting
• Save Money
– Reduce our water footprint
• Rent the Grounds
– Outdoor stage community events
– Picnic area
– Special Ceremonies
• Weddings, festivals etc.
• Become Certified for Wildlife
– Harbor endangered species
• Monarch Butterfly
– Pollinates our food
• Red legged frog
– Obtain Grants

51. Summary
Community Support
and Involvement
• Recreation
• Weekend Workshops
• Tree & Plant Donations
• Scouts Earn Badges
• HS Projects for College Credit
• Hold Events by Living Machine
– Families walk by points of interest
– Good advertising
– Post informational signs

52. Summary
Sustainable Practices
• Integrated Systems
– Reclaim animal/human waste
– Produce resources from waste
– Create beauty & comfort
• Conserve/Reclaim Water
• Xeriscape with Native Plants
• Provide Wildlife Habitats
• Foster Biodiversity
• Grow Food
• Insectary
– Service the neighborhood
• Human Appreciation of Nature

53. Final Comments
Living Machines can process any kind of waste water.
• After building and maintaining a living machine for 6 years
I can say that with a balanced ecology:
– It smells good
– It always looks beautiful & supports wildlife
– It needs a constant water source to process
– It is basically self supporting and requires minimal maintenance
• Occasional weeding
• Occasional cleaning of the pipe system from algae growth
– Like a roto-rooter clean out
– It’s not a problem if periodic clean out traps are placed along the pipes

54. References
• www.livingmachines.com
– dharma Living Systems
• Biology, the Environment and
You, by Polasek
– Pearson Custom
• Living Lab Project
– DLSinc.com
– (505)751-9481
• Ocean Arks International
(Living Machine)
– Ecological Solutions for the
21st Century
– www.oceanarks.org
– marcc@together.net

55. • How Schoolyard Habitats Serve
as Powerful Learning Tools
– www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats/
• National Wildlife Federation
– www.nwf.org
• The Adam Joseph Lewis Center
for Environmental Studies
– Oberlin College
– www.oberlin.edu/newserv/esc
• www.worldwildlife.com
• The Earth Box
– 469 2nd Avenue North
– St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
– 1(800) 821-8838