September 03, 2011

Wastewater Treatment - Sustainability Way

`Water being a limited resource, there is an increasing concern for water and environmental quality. Pollution is a serious problem which threats springs and rivers, there being research needed on treatment and conservation. One form of wastewater treatment is the utilization of biological filters, through constructed wetlands and ponds with aquatic plants. Ponds of aquatic macrophytes and swamps play a role of filters for contaminants, helping to return clean water to the watershed.`


All the water used at Toucheng Leisure Farm received a special treatment before than be discarded on the Ocean/Sea. All the used water is accumulated in a place (Unpolluted Water Area) and there, the wastewater is unpolluted by a plant.

Unpolluted Water Area


The method of `phytoremediation` applies to the use of plants in order to minimize toxic substances from the environment.

The use of plants to clean degraded environments by human wastes, industrial and agricultural products is a simple, cheap, efficient and mainly, a natural alternative of regeneration.

The plant used here, is the water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes).

Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes)


The water hyacinth's adaptive faculty is very powerful, it can survive in a polluted pond. Because of its ability in absorbing sewage, water hyacinth has a purifying water quality and has the ability to tolerate high levels of pollution.

The big problem of this plant is its fast reproduction. `The plant reproduces by seeds and vegetatively through daughter plants that form on rhizomes and produce dense plant beds. In one study, two plants produced 1.200 daughter plants in four months. By this mechanism, water hyacinth can form impenetrable mats of floating vegetation. Individual plants break off the mat and can be dispersed by wind and water currents.`

So, a control of the growth´s water hyacinth is necessary! Here, they use water hyacinth to feed the ducks.



I´m glad to be in a place that thinks a lot about nature conservation, especially in water conservation, which is a rare and scarce commodity. Unfortunately, not everyone has that kind of thought and that concern about the future.

Pass this idea of sustainability and environmental education for the guests, especially for the children, is the mainly purpose of the farm. It is very important for the kids to witness and understand the importance of nature in a practical way.. because it will make them understand better all this sustainability way and improve our future.


By Camila

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