Innovation Anthology #137: Resource Analyst
Most gardeners collect rainwater to water their flowers.
But using grey water from the bath, laundry and washing dirty dishes is another story.
That perception may soon change thanks to the research of Dr. Stephanie Young. She’s an associate professor in Environmental Systems Engineering at the University of Regina.
Dr. Young has just received funding from Western Economic Diversification to design and test a self-contained, portable, grey water reclamation plant. Once commercialized, the technology will complement existing water treatment facilities in communities around the world.
Household grey water is relatively benign and makes up 50 to 80 percent of the water that goes down the sewer.
Separating and recycling this grey water for irrigation or flushing toilets could significantly reduce society’s demand on fresh water resources. And it would reduce the load on sewage treatment plants.
Dr. Young expects to complete the design of her portable grey water plant by the summer of 2008.
Testing will then take place at a newly constructed lab on the University of Regina campus where a dual piping system will collect grey water from bathroom sinks.
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
Guest
Scott Wilson, MSc,
Silvacom, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
Sponsor
Program Date: 2008-05-27