I saw a program about plants being used to clean water and wish to learn more any help apreciated ?

Question

I belive it was Japan based and they were japanese plants. I am interested in creating a domestic efluent environment freindly system. Thank you in advance for reading this and also if you reply

Answer 1

I've found some articles online you should check out:

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050921/Note3.asp -> using cactus

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/water/story1/fishwasteframe.htm -> for fish farmers

Answer 2

reed beds as above are pretty much what i was going to say, but i will addto that bacteria and algal beds that can metabolise the bad stuff that you want rid of.

if you want an environmetnaly friendly sewerage system might i suggets a composting toilet? you basically dig a bit pit and go into it, as long as you choose a good place that will not have any runoff into waterways and cause eutrophication ( agood indicator for this is bracken growing) you can get the tiolet you need as well as a good supply of mulch for growing veg and it doesnt smell half as bad as you might think, the natural breakdown in the soil takes it away somhow.

You will need to dig it over once in a while though which isnt an appetising thought.

Answer 3

Reed beds are often used in water treatment systems as their roots filter solids from the effluent and house bacteria which break down chemical contaminants, converting them into plant mass. Common reed, Phragmites was the preferred, I haven't been involved in this for years, and water flow is routed through channels to give the best exposure of water to plants in a minimal area. Reed systems are excellant final stages of sewage treatment. I understand that these reed filtration beds are great for 'Grey Water' but are unlikely to be suitable for domestic sewage!

Answer 4

I heard that you can directly flush all waste from a house into a field of Willow Coppice and that will clean it up.

Answer 5

Watercress has been tested in this manner. I believe there are also other aquatic plants being tested in this manner. Do a search on watercress and see what you find.

Answer 6

dont know sorry