The Living MachineThe Living MachineVishal MehtaVishal MehtaDaniel PerezDaniel Perez

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oberlin_Living_Machine2.JPG

The GoalThe Goal The goal of the “living The goal of the “living

machine” is to convert machine” is to convert murky, dirty water murky, dirty water into crystal clear into crystal clear water.water.

This mimics the This mimics the natural cleansing natural cleansing processes that takes processes that takes place in wetlands.place in wetlands.

The concept was The concept was created by John Todd.created by John Todd.

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/cev/953

http://www.co.kenosha.wi.us/plandev/conservation/wetland.html

Making A DifferenceMaking A Difference

The overall potential of this treatment The overall potential of this treatment process is that it removes pollutants in water.process is that it removes pollutants in water.

Unlike regular treatment plants, it doesn’t Unlike regular treatment plants, it doesn’t use chlorine and filters out metals using use chlorine and filters out metals using natural means.natural means.

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How It WorksHow It Works First, sewage goes in an First, sewage goes in an

anaerobic settling tank. anaerobic settling tank. This is where large This is where large particles settle to the particles settle to the bottom of the reactor.bottom of the reactor.

It then goes into a biofilter, It then goes into a biofilter, which is made of bark and which is made of bark and humic material. This helps humic material. This helps to reduce odors.to reduce odors.

Next, the sewage moves to Next, the sewage moves to aerobic tanks. It contains aerobic tanks. It contains photosynthetic algae that photosynthetic algae that put oxygen back in the put oxygen back in the water.water.

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Organisms UsedOrganisms Used Bacteria are also used Bacteria are also used

for producing nitrates. for producing nitrates. Managers have to add Managers have to add calcium for these calcium for these types of bacteria to types of bacteria to survive.survive.

Taller plants are also Taller plants are also used to isolate heavy used to isolate heavy metals from the metals from the environment. environment.

Fish, snails, and clams Fish, snails, and clams are also used in the are also used in the filtering procedure.filtering procedure.

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Technological ObstaclesTechnological Obstacles Bacteria have to be kept in specific Bacteria have to be kept in specific

conditions to use.conditions to use. This includes temperature, food This includes temperature, food

sources, and pressure.sources, and pressure. In addition to bacteria, all other In addition to bacteria, all other

processes have to be kept in check.processes have to be kept in check.

Political / Economic ObstaclesPolitical / Economic Obstacles No political or economical obstacles No political or economical obstacles

exist.exist. The cost of living machines actually The cost of living machines actually

much less than other waste much less than other waste sanitation processes by millions of sanitation processes by millions of dollars.dollars.

Negative Environmental ImpactsNegative Environmental Impacts

No negative impacts exist as long as No negative impacts exist as long as the system is designed correctly.the system is designed correctly.

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BibliographyBibliography http://www.rps.psu.edu/0009/machinhttp://www.rps.psu.edu/0009/machin

e.htmle.html http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/Inhttp://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/In

formation/LivingMachine.htmlformation/LivingMachine.html http://www.livingmachines.com/http://www.livingmachines.com/