Living Water is a pioneering design company applying ecological principles to solve water and waste problems.
Biodiversity Enhancement and Functional Landscaping
Biodiversity includes bacteria, invertebrates, microorganisms, insects, fungi, plants, animals that are essential for a healthy ecology and functioning of the major life cycles. Enhancement of biodiversity requires the creation of the infrastructure or habitat on and in which the ecological food web can develop and the inhabitants can survive.
Biodiversity can also be increased through the improvement of the quality of water, soil and air and the decrease of noise and traffic.
All components of a Living Water treatment system are multifunctional. We specialise in creating aquatic, wetland, meadow and woodland habitats with native species that treat as well as increase biodiversity. These environments can also be used to ameliorate, capture, treat and reuse roof and surface water and to provide a park for use by the public. Willows or other trees used in soakaways can also be used for crafts or biomass for energy production.
Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils and Sludges
We use and are developing further natural remediation techniques (bioremediation) and composting processes to improve the quality of materials including:
- Gully sludge (arisings from road gullies including hydrocarbons, oils , chemicals heavy metals, salt, grit, soil)
- Pipeline piggings (pigwax)
- Tank bottom sludges
- Contaminated straw and hay from filters
- Waste from petrol interceptors, catch pits and settlement tanks
- Contaminated soil (with hydrocarbons, jet fuel, acid mine drainage)
Our objective is to utilise bioremediation and composting techniques to recycle the various materials currently specified as a special waste into a useful soil product. Special waste can only be disposed of in designated landfill sites and is a very expensive option. In the case of contaminated soils we treat material so it can support native vegetation and a healthy ecology.
Integrated Strategies
Watershed and Catchment Management
Our approach focuses on the elimination of pollution problems at source. Each problem requires one or more solutions.
Most of our work with watershed management has been carried out in developing countries. Catchment and watershed issues can be more difficult, time consuming and complex especially when politics between several countries are involved. However, when a watershed management plan is implemented correctly success is possible and therefore can be worth the effort over a number of years.
Rhizoid Regeneration
Development of New Applications for 'Rhizoid Regeneration Technique' for use in Monitoring Pesticides and Herbicides in Vineyards
Jane Shields developed a 'Rhizoid Regeneration Technique'. The aim of the original research was to develop an effective treatment system for the marine environment using algae.
ITV in France has asked Jane Shields to see if the rhizoid regeneration technique can be developed to monitor pesticides and herbicides. There are hundreds of pesticides and herbicides in use but only a few of these have a test that can analyse it so it is virtually impossible to understand the full impact of these contaminants in the soil or water. Also most are used in mixtures making analysis even more difficult.
Surface Water Management and Treatment
In the UK the treatment of surface water arising from new developments is a requirement set by the UK Environment Agencies in order to prevent contamination of water bodies. We have developed a range of designs using wetland habitats that can capture, treat, ameliorate, attenuate and store storm events yet are able to have enough water year round to endure the dry periods. This water can be safely discharged to a water body or used for irrigation and habitat creation.
Living Water has designed systems for use in treatment and flood prevention. We have also treated contaminated roof and surface water at a factory site that is recycled back into the factory.
Treatment of Wine Effluent and Waste
Wine effluent is the result of cleaning the vats and machinery used in the vinification process. While not an obvious pollutant, such effluent contains sufficient sugars, alcohols and tartaric acid to constitute an oxygen sink and hence a danger to the environment if discharged without treatment.
Another effluent produced on vineyards that are not organic is the residual pesticides or herbicides left in the containers and washing down from the spraying machines. Sometimes this is carried out on the vineyard and sometimes where the wine is produced which is not always at the same location. This becomes another problem requiring treatment.
Surface Water Management and Treatment from Vineyards
Frost is a problem faced during wine growing. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers, if required are sprayed onto the vines. When frosts occur, water is sprayed onto the vines in order to keep the vines from freezing. This water washes off soil contaminated with pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers into a nearby watercourse. This causes water pollution. In addition, when pesticides or herbicides left in the containers and washing down from the spraying machines occurs at the vineyard this becomes an additional problem.
During the pilot projects designed by Living Water the treatment of pesticides and herbicides by a wetland system will be studied to provide a framework for the design of the treatment system.
Capture of Roof Water and Recycling
Roof water is a relatively uncontaminated source of water providing the roof materials are suitable and the building is located in an unpolluted area. This water can be captured, filtered and recycled as a water source within buildings. In Europe the majority of captured roof water is used for flushing toilets, washing and irrigation. Uncontaminated roof water with an UV filter or equivalent can be used as a drinking water source.
Waste Water Treatment
We distinguish between a biological treatment system (using bacteria) which creates a sludge (not consumed nutrient) and an ecological system which utilises a much wider range of flora and fauna (bacteria, microorganisms, invertebrates, fungi and plants) that consume nutrients and thus minimise sludge production. By provision of the correct balance and mixture of flora and fauna it is possible to support those creatures higher up the food chain, (i.e. fish, birds, amphibians and mammals). The more complex the food web, the greater the efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility of the treatment system.
We offer our clients a complete service from integrated management and design through to implementation and landscaping. An environmental audit and up front management steps are required because it is a necessary part of the design solution.
Due to our integrated approach our treatment systems are considered best practice, achieving excellent standards for a treatment system and are accepted as one of the wastewater treatment industry options by the Environment Agencies. Wherever possible we discharge via land and trees (functional landscaping) instead of water so that its discharge is to an appropriate ecological system.
