Solution 1

Solution 1 ;

The first part of the solution concern the waste and effluent I've been writing about so far. A system actually exists that mimics nature in the way it deals with dirty and contaminated water. It removes waste and you back water that can, in turn, be re-used in your toilet cistern or garden. It is called a Constructed Wetland. There are also Grey water System, which used in conjunction with a Constructed Wetland or even independently will increase your efficiency regarding water use and recycling. Water is and always will be one of our main concern in our environment. Pick up any worthy magazine or newspaper and read about the water shortages that are affecting our planet. More in Solution 3.

Constructed Wetlands...and how they work

After you flush your waste, it travels through pipes till it reaches a sealed separation tank. Here the solid matter sinks downward and comes to rest. This is when bacteria digest and break down the waste matter in the anaerobic environment of Chamber 1. The spill off from this chamber goes into Chamber 2. It is here that different bacterium and micro-organisms further break down the waste in a more active aerobic environment.

The unpleasant slurry then spills slowly from this tank and toward a Constructed wetland. The wetland is basically a reinforced concrete pit with a special pipe work design running into and out of it. The pit is filled with a gravel medium and can also be line with clay. The waste water enters the pit below the level of the gravel and never comes too close to the surface so there are no nasty smells or mosquito problems. At the surface are placed a variety of specially selected wetland plants.

The anaerobic and aerobic bacteria and micro-organisms mentioned earlier, carry on there work inside the garden forming layers on the many surfaces of the gravel and breaking down the nitrates and phosphates present.

Project in Padang Tawang, Bali. 5M³ Garden, for a house

The wetland plants root system extends down into the gravel medium allowing the aerobic action to take place and these fine root systems also help to clean up the water as it passes through the wetland garden. From here the cleaned water can be released your cisterns to flush or to water your garden. So, easily and affectively you can greatly negate the impact of your family's sewage on the environment and instead of poisoning ourselves we make beautiful gardens by turning your waste into plants and flowers. It works. These systems have been used in Europe for more than 40 years and nature has been using the same ways forever!

The system works with gravity so for the ''basic'' system, no costly pumps will be necessary. There are no expensive chemicals involved and no special staff training, just a little pruning and removal of dead plants.

NB. If you are still at the planning stage of your future home or commercial venture and are considering these systems for use in them, we can help you by planning these systems so that they fit in with your architectural design and blend into, compliment and aid your local eco-system

We can design a system or systems separating or combining your black water and grey water to best fit your wants and surroundings. It will be cheaper to do at this stage than at any other and will lead to a more efficient system.

To add these systems to an already finished property is also very possible to add a constructed wetland to your property into deal with all your household waste water effectively adding it into and sealing your existing system is more expensive after the fact but does not make a huge difference.

Main Points

1. It is cost effective. A one time cost of installation

2. It is maintenance free expect for the plants.

3. It is free of costly chemicals that are again damaging to the environment.

4. The system works very well with gravity so there is no need for pumps (except when wanting to recycle the water)

5. No smelly costly trucks to pump out your waste

Project in Uma Alas, Bali

6. The only visible part of the system is a beautiful garden, which does not smell or attract mosquitoes

7. The knowledge that you aren't causing more harm to the environment we live in.

In addition to this, by treating the other kinds of waste in our lives we can greatly improve our environment

Solution 2 ;

Sorting, recycling and composting the refuse created in our own homes is a great and simple thing to start-and may help those smoky, plastic lined stretches of roads we all travel on.

You can recycle your paper, plastic, metal cans and glass bottles by calling Bali Focus. They will give you containers to do this and then pick them up on a weekly basis. I will list their contact number at the end of this booklet.

You can also compost your organic waste from food preparation and leftovers by digging a hole in your garden and watch them turn your organic waste into the best topsoil. Your garden will thrive using the best organic fertilizer available. These worm farms can be made from wood or plastic and are obtainable through a local Yayasan called Idep & Terra Capita. Contact details at the end.

Did you know that there are water shortages predicted for Bali in the next 5 years?

Solution 3 ;

So maybe it's a good time to think about conserving the rainwater that hits your roof by using a guttering system and a ground tank that allows you to use it instead of letting it run away. This is a very simple and cost effective solution to a problem that is becoming crucial. Water is a precious commodity and becoming more precious daily.

Separating your grey water and black water systems at the planning stage of your project and using these to deal with your waste whilst recycling and re-using the water is the optimum way to go. Think about what you want to create before you build. It is 99% possible to renovate your septic system now and add a constructed wetland garden.

All of these solutions and more are available as a part of our service

PT AMANAID ....Be part of the solution not part of the problem!

E-mail us at amanaid@dps.centrin.net .id

Important Numbers : Bali Fokus (Recycling paper and plastic) 0361 759610

Idep & Terra Capita (Organic Gardening, Composting Worm farms and staff Education) 0361 977088