PO Box 859 , Gawler, SA 5118 Ph/Fax 0885
226450
www.foodforest.com.au
2003
MEDIA RELEASE 1 June 03
Water savings with new Reedbed and Composting
Toilet systems
In the driest state in the World’s driest continent
the average family sends more than 500 litres of water down the drain each
day, half of it simply flushing the loo. Having exhausted the Murray we
have still failed to adjust the way our homes run to effectively reduce
the waste of our most precious resource.
But a South Australian solution is now available
to change the situation, saving money, water, energy and the environment.
Like so many great inventions the modular domestic reedbed is extraordinarily
simple. Waste water from your shower, toilet, sink etc flows through a
septic tank which removes oils and heavy solids and then into a reedbed,
a large waterproof bin set into the ground. The bin is filled with gravel
and in it grow reeds which purify the water, leaving it ready to be used
for irrigating your fruit trees, a perennial ornamental garden or woodlot
via a small submersible pump in a sump at the end of the reedbed.
A number of the systems have been installed around
SA with full approval from the Environmental Health Branch and are working
well. Graham and Annemarie Brookman of The Food Forest at Gawler use water
caught from their roof for the house supply and get to use it again on
their fruit trees after reedbed treatment. The reedbed fits in well with
the garden and the fruit trees are bearing magnificent crops of fruit with
the extra water.
They say that people living in dry regions can
minimise water use even further by using waterless composting toilets.
The Food Forest will host a public short course
on the practicalities of reedbed and composting toilet systems on
Sunday 22 June. Participants will be able to use and inspect in detail
both flush toilet and waterless toilet systems including the Swedish-designed
Clivus Multrum composting toilet. Theory and design sessions will feature
tutors such as Tony Farror from the SA Department of Human Services and
experienced system designer and builder Chas Martin. Mr Brookman says that
the course will be suitable for progressive plumbers wishing to learn how
to install the systems and for local council staff with environmental assurance
roles as well as for members of the public who are planning or wanting
to improve their homes.
The Food Forest will also soon release an easy
to use CD on reedbed operation and design created by Amy Reed of The University
of Adelaide.
Details of the short course are available from
The Food Forest ph 08 85226450; also at www.foodforest.com.au
Media Contact Annemarie Brookman 08 85226450
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