Ecoteric Systems - Water Management Consultants

BBC Panorama Disappoints

2011-09-26T09:22:00.003+01:00

Panorama on Monday night "Drinking Our Rivers Dry" and investigation by Simon Boazman, was very disappointing.

Little mention was given to how WE can reduce our consumption of potable water. At present we use vast amounts of clean, drinking water simply flushing our toilets, washing our cars and watering our gardens.

Water collected from our roofs, 'Rainwater Harvesting', can reduce the consumption in most households by 50-80%. It is crazy that we flush our toilets with water that is fit to drink!

The Government should legislate and all new builds should be fitted with rainwater harvesting systems (RWH). Anyone considering a house renovation or internal upgrade should be granted money by the water companies or Government to install this simple technology.

In countries that are traditionally short of water such as Australia most people have always collected and stored their roof water.

Find out more about Rainwater Harvesting Systems here

John Cornick BSc (Hons) Env Biol AMSB
Ecoteric Systems Ltd
Technical Director

River Pollution

2011-09-14T15:20:00.001+01:00

As a local company, Ecoteric are interested in this particular problem, and from time to time analyse water samples in and around the harbour, and feel that more could be done by individuals and organisations taking responsibility for their activities.

The picturesque River Lavant is adding to Chichester Harbour’s pollution problems, tests have revealed.
The findings coincide with continuing calls to curb development in the area until the problems have been resolved.
Chichester Harbour Conservancy was told at its annual meeting the Environment Agency had collected regular samples of storm discharge from Southern Water’s Apuldram waste water treatment works into the harbour. And results had shown pollution levels were having an adverse effect.
Water quality testing of the River Lavant, which entered the harbour at Apuldram, was undertaken at the same time and showed lesser but still significant amounts of pollution were also entering the harbour from that source, a conservancy report added.
Conservancy members were told 19 per cent of harbour pollution was reported to come from the Apuldram works, 21 per cent from rivers – mainly the Lavant – and 60 per cent from background levels in the wider Solent or other sources in the harbour, including seabirds.
Harbourmaster Richard Craven said the Environment Agency had deduced from the test results there was an adverse impact on the harbour.
The effects needed to be mitigated, but the agency had not yet got on to what the mitigation would be. Mr Craven said biological effects on shellfish had not yet been looked at.
“This is still ongoing, and the agency is very focused on it,” he added. When results relating to shellfish were available, the agency would then be able to update its development statement.
The River Lavant samples had shown higher-than-expected levels of pollution.
Mr Craven said in a report the idea of a memorandum of understanding between the agency, the conservancy and the county and district councils was being investigated, as a tool to respond to development.
“There is a growing consensus that if water quality is not meeting the standards required by the harbour designations, increases in development will only make matters worse, and the precautionary principle should be adopted,” he added.
The agency’s current response to development always had one eye on possible appeals by developers, which weakened the strength of its advice.
A memorandum might enable the agency to be more robust, and if necessary potentially call a halt to development until problems with the sewage were resolved.
Conservancy chairman Tim Knight said it seemed odd that with all the legislation, and all that was being asked for to improve water quality, there were still these problems.

How Much Water Do We EAT ?

2011-06-18T09:10:00.000+01:00

A leading study has revealed FARMERS could soon be facing a major water shortage that could leave the country unable to grow enough food to feed a growing population, leading hydrologists have warned.
With food security now high on the political agenda, experts have warned water shortages could become a major limiting factor in efforts to boost production.

The stark warnings came as the Environment Agency (EA) published a new plan to tackle future water shortages, warning demand for water could increase by 25 per cent by 2020
Here are some stark figures that may come as a surprise.

WATER is used in almost every stage of food production, from growing crops to feed animals to washing and preparing products. Researchers at Cranfield University have calculated just how much water is used to produce many common foods:

• Cup of tea – 32.4 litres
• Pint of beer – 160 litres
• 1 glass of wine – 120 litres
• 1 glass of milk – 200 litres
• 1kg of beef – 15,000 litres
• 1kg poultry – 6,000 litres
• 250g packet of peanut M&Ms – 1,153 litres
• 575g Dolmio pasta sauce – 202 litres

As Environmental Consultants, Ecoteric Systems provide solutions relating to all aspects of waste water handling, recycling, sewage treatment, water purification, package sewage plants, waste water treatment as well as gravel bed hydroponics, reed beds, natural filtration and constructed wetlands.
Our systems will maximise your water conservation through recycling and purification, saving you money , ensuring that you keep within legislative boundaries, and enhancing your company's reputation and image in the community and the marketplace.

Read the full article here
http://www.farmersguardian.com/experts-warn-of-major-uk-water-shortage/24284.article

Brighton MP Supports Ecoteric's Plans

2011-06-17T17:42:00.001+01:00

Ecoteric Systems have secured a project to design and install a rain harvesting system for a Methodist Church in Brighton. Stanford Avenue Methodist Church is Brighton's first Eco Church - setting a precedent and good example. The project has the support of Brighton Green party MP Caroline Lucas.

The church, which is approximately 100 years old and sits in a conservation area, is used by many local community groups, e.g. scouts, girls brigade, Montessori School, Luncheon Club, drama groups etc.

The church has adopted an eco ethos conceived by the Superintendent Minister, Lin Francis

Ecoteric Systems are also assisting assisting the church with finding grant finance

Rainwater will be harvested by a 350m2 area of the Western half of the church roof. It has been calculated that this area, with average rainfall will provide between 50% - 80% of the total water usage through toilet flushing on an 18-21 day cycle. The rainwater will be stored underground, in a bespoke 10,000 litre tank. The design (see picture) of the rainwater harvesting system has been influenced by the church structure, topography, paths, walls, access and internal plumbing.

The supply of rainwater to the toilets will be via storage tanks situated in the roof space identified during the survey. This will provide approximately 50 flushes. When rainwater is not available these tanks are topped-up

by the mains water. The auxiliary tank has a fail-safe overflow to the main sewer in the event of a power cut.

A connection to the main sewer will provide an outlet for overflow rainwater from the below ground storage tank.

Once installed the Rainwater Harvesting System requires little maintenance and Ecoteric Systems Limited will provide technical backup should it be required.

Ecoteric's rainwater harvesting systems help companies save money as well as underlining an ecological ethos. By re-using rainfall, Ecoteric clients can potentially save thousands of pounds each year on water bills.

As Environmental Consultants, we provide solutions relating to all aspects of waste water handling, recycling, sewage treatment, water purification, package sewage plants, waste water treatment as well as gravel bed hydroponics, reed beds, natural filtration and constructed wetlands

Our systems will maximise your water conservation through recycling and purification, saving you money , ensuring that you keep within legislative boundaries, and enhancing your company's reputation and image in the community and the marketplace.

Please call us 0845 1303 891 or email eco@ecotericsystems.co.uk for more information

Constructed Wetland Association - 7th Annual Conference

2011-04-11T16:06:00.002+01:00

John Cornick and Richard Elliot-Martin of Ecoteric Systems Ltd will be presenting on the second day of the Constructed Wetland Association 7^th Annual Conference (organised by Aqua Enviro) which takes place at The National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield on 13^th and 14^th July 2011.

Wetlands at the NCM Museum, Wakefield

John and Richard will be talking specifically on the subject of ‘The use of a constructed wetland for the treatment of vegetable washings in the food industry’.

Constructed wetlands continue to be a popular choice for a range of applications and take-up of the technology across Europe and other parts of the world is now quite extensive.

As a result our experience of their design, operation and capabilities continues to grow.

When specified appropriately, a well designed constructed wetland offers a robust and reliable process option with minimal energy requirements. There are a number of legislative changes in the pipeline that will further add to the attractions of constructed wetlands including concerns over the spill frequencies of intermittent discharges, minewater drainage and further applications of the Water Framework Directive. The resulting requirements to meet tighter standards must be delivered against a background of reducing carbon emissions across the whole water industry.

This conference aims to share and promote best practice in the many applications for constructed wetlands in both the domestic and industrial sectors.

As part of the conference delegates will be taken on a tour of a treatment wetland onsite which was designed to treat minewater.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to go on an underground tour of one of Britain's oldest working mines. The tour is free of charge, to ensure a place please select the relevant box when registering.

For more information visit the conference site at http://www.constructedwetland.co.uk/events/conference_2011/

Or download the brochure here http://www.aquaenviro.com/images/stories/aett/conferencebrochures/cwa%20brochure%202011.pdf

Ecoteric Systems Ltd are environmental and water management consultants. As water management consultants, we design, construct , monitor and maintain bespoke natural filtration systems, sewage treatment and treatment/purification systems. As our climate becomes drier and warmer, so the need to call on efficient, ecological purification systems (such as gravel bed hydroponics) grows at a rapid pace.

Filth Pours Into The Sea

2011-02-28T13:19:00.002Z

RAW SEWAGE has flowed into Langstone Harbour at least 11 times because of a fault at a Southern Water pumping station, The Portsmouth News can reveal.

Now the company could be prosecuted for failing to stop the pollution over the past six months.

Read the full story by Portsmouth News reporter, Jeff Travis here,

http://www.haylingtoday.co.uk/news/local/water_firm_faces_fine_after_sewage_spills_into_harbour_1_2438861

20/2/12 PM Eastney sewage outfall, close to the pier Picture: Paul Jacobs (110641-7)

Keeping the Harbour Clean

2011-02-03T16:36:00.000Z

Ecoteric Sytems are instrumental in the environmental welfare of one of the Uk's most important eco sites.

Maintained by Ecoteric Systems Ltd for Chichester Harbour Conservancy; the domestic reedbed sewage treatment system at Cobnor is the only one that exists in the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at present.

The bed is in its early stages of development. All grey and sewage water will pass through a septic tank, where solids settle. The liquid then continues to flow through vertical reed beds and then through a horizontal reedbed swamp.

The clean water may then be safely discharged into the harbour.

To learn more about Reeds and the Cobnor Sewage Plant, use the link below to access the article
http://www.conservancy.co.uk/uploads/user_documents/reedguide.pdf

Getting to Grips with the Science inside the Reed Bed

2011-01-25T11:51:00.000Z

Nitrogen is critical to organisms for the synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids and many other nitrogen containing compounds. The earth's atmosphere consists of 78% molecular nitrogen gas (N₂), but it cannot be used by most living organisms until it has been fixed; that is reduced to ammonia (NH₃).

The inability of most living organisms to utilize molecular nitrogen results in a high demand for already fixed forms of this essential element. Ecological systems are therefore, to a great extent, adapted to the recycling of the more reactive nitrogenous compounds and a shortage of nitrogen in the soil is often the major limiting factor in plant growth. The process by which this limited amount of nitrogen is circulated and re-circulated throughout the world of living organism is known as the nitrogen cycle.

Sewage treatment within constructed wetlands, represent aquatic ecosystems where the physicochemical conditions and resources (nutrients) define the niche. The solid phases in contact with the aquatic system, represented in this case by the roots of Phragmitis australis and the gravel medium, act as important sites of microbial activity.

Nutrients flow into the system in the form of sewage. Decomposing microorganisms extract energy from these compounds during metabolic processes breaking down organic matter into the inorganic constituents, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus. The process, called mineralization, releases ammonium ions.

Nitrification involves the oxidation of nitrogen, from ammonia to nitrite, then from nitrite to nitrate. This process is carried out by specialized autotrophic bacteria such as Nitrosomonas.

The conversion of nitrate to gaseous forms of nitrogen is called denitrification. It occurs in anaerobic conditions in swamps and marshes. In wastewater treatment denitrification is very important as it removes nitrate from acquatic environments and thus prevents eutrophication.
An experiment was carried out to apply a range of methods for studying microorganism involved in nitrogen-cycling within a Gravel Bed Hydroponic (GBH) system or constructed wetland. Count procedure based on the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique estimates the site of the microbial population responsible for the transformation of ammonia to nitrite, nitrite to nitrate and finally nitrogen gas for three specific substrate types, gravel, root, and thermanox cover slip, within the GBH system. Other methods used during this microbiological study include; automated spiral plate count, direct observation with-the use of a scanning electron microscope and metabolic and biochemical activity using miniaturization rapid test.

Results and Discussion
A comparison of data based on results obtained using a variety of methods for estimating population size relating to microbes involved in the cycling of nitrogenous compounds from biofilm adhering to the surfaces of three types of medium, gravel, root, and thermanox cover slip.

Overall results indicate that the population sizes, and therefore total rate of nitrogen transforming processes, in biofilms attached to Phragmites rhizomes, were higher than those found in both the gravel and thermanox cover slip. This relates, firstly to the physicochemical conditions encountered on the respective surfaces, the root surface potentially offering the most heterogeneous environment of the three substrates, and secondly, to air diffusion, via the aerenchyma, and root exudation, stimulating the activity of nitrogen transforming bacteria in the rhizosphere.

Nitrification, an oxygen demanding process, is greater in environments where the level of dissolved oxygen is highest. This reaction is also temperature dependant, the higher temperatures stimulating activity or increasing bacterial populations. Physicochemical variations within biofilm lead to greater overall interactions between metabolically related bacteria, for example, the syntrophic relationship between Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. The decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms can be monitored by way of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), which is the amount of dissolved oxygen (in mg/dm³ water) that disappears from a water sample in a given time at a certain temperature. This is often used as an index of organic pollution, especially sewage.

Extract taken from J D Cornick BSc (Hons) Environmental Biology paper -
An estimate of population size and diversity of microbial consortia involved in nitrogen cycling processes in Gravel Bed Hydroponic (GBH) Constructed Wetlands.
School of Biological Sciences, Portsmouth University – 2001.

www.ecotericsystems.co.uk

Alfredo's Butser Ancient Farm Blog

2010-12-16T14:10:00.000Z

Work on the eco-friendly sewage treatment plant at Butser Ancient Farm is now come to an end. For nearly two weeks the build went ahead in challenging conditions of heavy rain and snow at an altitude of 170 metres (560 feet) above sea level.

The work meant that the proposed new visitor’s centre could be connected to the WPL sewage treatment plant and then in succession to a reed bed and wildlife pond. The massive plant was submerged in the chalky ground and hasn’t any visual impact on the rural setting. It can easily treat the waste of the large amount of visitors all year long using an innovative and low energy system. In the Reed bed further treatment of the waste water takes place, especially in removal of nitrates. In time, the reed bed will be joined to a polishing pond, re-creating an interesting area for wild fauna and flora. The pond will also serve as a reservoir of water for irrigation. The whole plant will be commissioned in the summer of 2011 in time for the opening of the new visitor centre.

The sewage treatment plant has therefore a double purpose, environmental, reducing the risk of dangerous discharge to a minimum as well as educational for the visitors becoming aware to the problem of waste water and water recycling.

I hope to help work on the educational support materials after I return to Italy.

Green-friendly technology will help wildlife

2010-11-17T13:29:00.000Z

Ecoteric Systems are providing the innovative technology to work with nature in solving an age-old problem at a South Downs visitor attraction.

Butser directors Maureen Page and Simon Jay

Work has begun on a high-tech, sustainable new treatment system for the sewage produced by 23,000 visitors each year at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton.

The £32,000 project will save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, create new habitats for wildlife and cut dozens of sewage truck journeys each year.

It is also the first stage in a major development plan to provide a £200,000 eco-friendly visitor centre at the site, which is a replica of an Iron Age farm in the heart of the South Downs.

Simon Jay, director at Butser, said: 'Our plans will bring the farm up-to-date, provide great new facilities for visitors while harmonising with the rural location of the farm.

'Our over-riding concern is to ensure that any new development here is sustainable and fits in with our beautiful environment on the Downs.'

The sustainable sewage project involves harvesting rainwater from the new visitor centre and the entrance road and using it to flush toilets.

The waste will travel underground through pipes to a treatment plant, then through a reed-bed filtration system before emerging as clean water into a constructed pond and wetland area.

The project is partly funded by a £25,000 grant from the South Downs Joint Committee. The farm will foot the remainder of the bill.

Common Aims, Common Language

2010-11-09T15:40:00.001Z

Ecoteric Systems are excited to announce they have been chosen as a Global partner of Shroff’s Engineering.

Shroff's Engineering Ltd are an Indian based manufacturer of submersible pumps, open well submersible pumpsets, drainage pumps and mini monoblock pumps.. They are part of a larger group of companies that manufacture various Agro-Chemicals, pesticides and speciality chemicals and have a combined turnover of USD 200 million.

Shroff’s Engineering have recently ventured into Wastewater Recycling and their representative Director, Mr. Harshad Joshi, visited Ecoteric Systems late in October 2010. Harshad deliberately chose Ecoteric Systems because we are a small company and therefore operate flexibly with lower costs, and exhibit varied skills and projects.

Harshad has an M.B.A from The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He has been actively involved in the Indian pump industry for two decades. and is a promoter and Executive Director of Shroffs engineering, a leading submersible Pump Manufacturing Company, which sell under the brand name ’PLUGA’. He was President of the Indian Pump Manufacturers Association (IPMA) . He has led delegations to China and Europe and represented the IPMA at various forums overseas.

With the ever-growing population of the India and the poor infrastructure, proper waste-water management has become essential. Conversely, the scarcity of water in the country demands that it be recycled. Hence, the potential for implementation of de-centralised waste-water recycling systems in India is large and it is with this in mind that Shroff’s Engineering chose Ecoteric Systems Ltd as their global partner.

Shroff's are passionate about finding solutions to the world water issues as shared by Ecoteric Systems. Harshad hopes this is the beginning of an interesting and fruitful relationship between the two companies.

Shroff’s aim is to develop a sewage treatment system package for potential new developments of small populations (several hundred persons) in the first instance.

Ecoteric Systems Ltd (www.ecotericsystems.co.uk) are environmental and water management consultants.

We can save you money by providing impartial advice on the installation of small & medium sized sewage systems that will help protect the environment.

We also provide consultancy, including design, build and maintenance of water purification systems in industrial processes for the purposes of recycling and conservation.

As our climate becomes drier and warmer, so the need to call on efficient, ecological purification systems (such as gravel bed hydroponics) grows at a rapid pace.

SAVE WATER SAVE MONEY

Call 0845 1303 891 or email – eco@ecotericsystems.co.uk

Alfredo Sinatora takes on our Butser Project

2010-11-05T11:48:00.000Z

Hello!





Alfredo Sinatora


My name is Alfredo Sinatora and I come from Florence, Italy. 


Currently, I am undertaking an internship in the UK with Ecoteric Systems Limited based in Chichester, West Sussex.


I am an Agronomist with a Masters degree in Agricultural science from the University of Florence.  I have a strong interest in projects in developing countries and have undertaken studies on the ground in Senegal and Iraq.  


I became interested in the concept of Constructed Wetlands as water sanitation is becoming a huge problem, especially in Africa.


Thanks to financial aid from the EU Social Fund and the Tuscany Region I managed to secure a professional post at Ecoteric Systems.


This is proving to be a very interesting professional experience and I have the opportunity to play an important role working directly with the building of a constructed wetland system at Butser Ancient farm in Hampshire.





Butser Ancient Farm
The project starts on the 8th November 2010. 


My intentions are to bring added value into the installation process by offering my skills from other areas of my past experience, and then work carefully on an education package for school children and adult visitors.


Butser Ancient Farm,  ten miles north of Portsmouth and located in the recently designated South Downs National Park, is an open air museum of life in the Iron Age and Roman Periods. There are several reconstructed Iron Age roundhouses and a Roman villa. Ancient livestock breeds and crop varieties are grown at the farm. 


You can follow my progress on the project at Butser on our website news pages (www.ecotericsystems.co.uk) or by following us on Facebook and Twitter



Ecoteric Systems Ltd (www.ecotericsystems.co.uk) are
environmental and water management consultants. 


We can save you money by providing impartial advice on the
installation of small & medium sized sewage systems that will help protect
the environment.
We also provide consultancy, including design, build and
maintenance of water purification systems in industrial processes for the
purposes of recycling and conservation.
As our climate becomes drier and warmer, so the need to call
on efficient, ecological purification systems (such as gravel bed hydroponics)
grows at a rapid pace.
SAVE WATER SAVE MONEY

Constructed Wetlands at Butser Ancient Farm, near Portsmouth

2010-10-13T16:13:00.001+01:00

Ecoteric Systems Ltd have successfully tendered for the installation of a waste water treatment plant and reed bed at Butser Ancient farm.

Butser Ancient Farm, ten miles north of Portsmouth and located in the recently designated South Downs National Park, is an open air museum of life in the Iron Age and Roman Periods. There are several reconstructed Iron Age roundhouses and a Roman villa. Ancient livestock breeds and crop varieties are grown at the farm. The farm was founded in 1972 by the late Dr Peter Reynolds to test out archaeological theories by experiment.

As well as being open to the general public for a wide variety of events and special demonstrations, the farm places special focus on education and accommodates 14,000 school children through visits every year, as well as students through to postgraduate level. A new visitor centre is proposed and the existing cesspool is to be made obsolete, to be replaced by a packaged sewage treatment plant and constructed wetland for tertiary treatment. The Reed bed and polishing pond will be a further education feature for school children and adults alike.

The Farm, now managed by Simon Jay and Maureen Page forming the Butser Education Community Interest Company, has been awarded grant aid from the South Downs Sustainable Development Fund to deliver this interesting and exciting project. Ecoteric Systems Ltd have successfully tendered for the installation of the treatment plant and reed bed. A featured polishing pond will be constructed and connected on a commercial farmers neighbouring land and a grant for this has been secured through English Heritage. We are delighted to be invited to become involved in helping create an educational package and to promote the concept and building through the media.

Work is scheduled to start on 8^th November and we shall keep you posted on the development and performance of the system.

Ecoteric Systems Ltd are environmental and water management consultants.

As water management consultants, we design, construct , monitor and maintain bespoke natural filtration systems, sewage treatment and treatment/purification systems.

Global water consumption is doubling at a rate that is more than twice the rate of population growth. Fresh water is a finite and precious resource, which has, in recent years, largely been taken for granted.

As our climate becomes drier and warmer, so the need to call on efficient, ecological purification systems (such as gravel bed hydroponics) grows at a rapid pace.

Our systems also maximise water conservation through recycling and water purification.