Pollution is a huge threat to the health of our environment and community. Some properties may be exposed to hazardous chemicals from the runoff of vineyards, orchards, roads, and other industry. In these cases careful design and proper filtration can actually clean up these toxins before they go too far in the landscape.
PA designs bioremediation systems to catch and cleanup polluted sites. Most of the time these pollutants are being carried in water runoff, so we first develop elements that can catch and slow this water. Once we are catching and slowing the water we can use a variety of plants, bacteria, and mushrooms, proven to cleanup many forms of chemicals to do this amazing work. In some cases the bioremediation process can even break down these chemicals into inert compounds.
Monitoring and testing is important in these projects to determine what chemicals are present and at what rate they are being broken down or sequestered by plants. Heavy metals can even be removed from water and soil but they cannot be broken down.
The work of Paul Stamets is very informative on this subject and we suggest to clients to visit his website for more proven fact on the subject.
Most water used in our houses goes to our septic or sewer systems. In the case of water used for washing, this is an incredible waste of nutrient-rich and perfectly useable irrigation water. The current legal and social climates are shifting around the permissibility of greywater systems, and therefore are becoming an important element to consider when little water is available or an ecologically sound landscape is desired.
Using simple biofiltration systems and techniques, greywater can be filtered to safely and effectively be used in your landscape. Biological filtration is based on the understanding that certain plants, bacteria, and fungi are adept at breaking down and making use of toxins or undesired elements found in greywater.
With an integrated greywater-biofiltration system, any time you use your laundry, shower/bath, and in some cases your sinks, that water will move through a biological filter and on to nourish your landscape, garden, or forest. Permaculture artisans can help you evaluate your human water use and the greywater potential therein. We can design a system for you!
