Water Works &

The Living Machine at earth centre

Water Works
The Water Works building, designed by architects Alsop and Stormer, is a simple, modern building, the design of which is dictated by its function.

The main area of the building houses the Living Machine, part of the waste-water treatment on site. The Living Machine is a combination of simple technology and the complex ecology of plants and micro-organisms. Bacteria on the roots of green-house plants growing in the large tanks of the Living Machine cleanse the waste water. The building has a triple skin of Osteflon, a material more environmentally friendly in its production than PVC, and lighter in weight than glass. The high level of transparency allows the plants to receive the UV radiation they require for healthy growth, and the triple layering provides insulation.

The entrance area to the Water Works building holds an exhibition on the issues of water and sustainable development and an illustration of the development of the combination of technology and ecology seen in the Living Machine. This part of the building has a cladding of indigenous Douglas Fir on a wooden framework.
 

1. Muck to Gold exhibition

Our visit in 2004

Sit on our toilets and read about Thomas Crapper. He was a famous man from Doncaster and he used a cistern and chain to flush our poo problems down the drain.

Here we are sitting on the loo.

Here we can see some people spreading manure on their crops to

In Asia, people build these very elaborate toilets. They attract people to use them, and then the fertilizer is used to help grow vegetables.

We are learning about how important manure is for growing plants and producing methane gas and electricity.

2.The Living Machine

A nice white flower.

Swiss Cheese Plant

Looking in the tanks. The plants are growing with their roots dangling in the water. This is called hydroponics.

This is a model of the Living Machine. John told us all about Earth Centre toilets which only use a little water. He told us that a vacuum moves all the waste up to the underground tanks.

Here is a magnified view of the bacteria which gobble up the sewage.

The plants are growing hydroponically.

bananas are growing in the water. Would you eat the bananas that have been growing in water which has poo in? Their is some bacteria in the water which is cleaning it and digesting the sewage.

This is a bird of paradise flower. Can you see that the flower looks like a birds head?

Here are 2 canna lilies

This is a 'wild' canna lily