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.
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