This theme is part of the Community Center's Sustainability Festival.
The original topic was posted in the French-speaking Community Center by @Delphine348, and we have translated it below.
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Achères la Forêt is located in a UNESCO biosphere nature reserve in the Fontainebleau massif, a remarkable Natura 2000 (European Union) ecological site. When we completely renovated the house, we had to install an individual sewage system. I chose phyto-purification because it respects the environment and promotes biodiversity.
Its goal is to transform the water polluted by domestic human activity into water that can be assimilated by the natural environment. The resulting water isn't safe to drink. It is very rich in minerals that can be absorbed by the soil and plants, much like a fertilizer.
Definition-explanation
Phyto-purification (or plant filtering) is based on the principle of separating solids and liquids, as well as particle degradation by bacteria.
It relies on three elements:
- bacteria that break down organic particles so they can be absorbed by the natural environment.
- the substrate, consisting of gravel, constituting the bacteria's habitat. It's also a filter that allows water to pass through while blocking larger components.
- plants, that stimulate bacterial activity around their roots and absorb a small proportion of the minerals.
Advantages of phyto-purification
Phyto-purification is an effective, high-quality wastewater treatment solution. Unlike other systems, its plant filter doesn't consume any electricity or require complex maintenance such as draining sludge and transporting it to a treatment site. Its energetic/logistic autonomy makes phyto-purification the most ecological wastewater treatment solution.
Filters installed in this way recreate wetlands, an element necessary for the development of life. Many auxiliaries (insects, birds, batrachians, etc.) return to the area, making it a positive step towards biodiversity. Phyto-purification filters are covered with gravel, not water, so there is no risk of mosquito proliferation.
The system does not require maintenance by a qualified technician, emptying a septic tank, or energy (except if a lifting station is needed to supply the filters, but this only costs a few euros per year if necessary).
Collective phyto-purification has become the most common wastewater treatment system in France for cities with less than 1,000 inhabitants. Your wastewater may already be in the roots of plants!
To learn more - Source: LowtechLab
