Introduction

Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design

Appropriate Technology: Water

Organic Agriculture and Local Food

Appropriate Technology: Energy

Green Building & Retrofitting

Suitable treatment for sustainable communities

Most rural small communities will be able to build a constructed wetland (SSFCW) with some design and perhaps supervision help.  Aside is a SSFCW under construction in Russia at an orphanage/ecovillage supported by Ecologia.  A local contractor and the children did the construction with design and supervision help.  (www.ecologia.org.uk)

For locations, where land is expensive and there is a significant wastewater loading, a lagoon system or FBR is likely to be most suitable technology.  If there is the room to use a lagoon, this will be less expensive than a FBR.  In most major cities where the ecovillage is large, the more highly engineered FBR or similar will be the most cost effective choice.

The table below gives some approximate numbers and outlines comparisons.  Costs will vary with the region.  For example, where gravel prices are low, SSFCWs will be less expensive.  Low excavation prices will favour lagoons and so on.

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It is emphasised that this is a general guide and detailed engineering and costing is necessary for each project.

• Lagoon Based Systems
• Tank Based Systems
• Suitable treatment for sustainable communities
• Energy and Carbon Footprinting

Kitezh Ecovillage SSFCW under construction