The Constructed Wetlands

Outside the, at the Western side of PSES' Capsule building, three pleasant ponds are in fact a 'constructed wetland' system for water purification. All the building's greywater from sinks and washrooms flows (excluding 'black water' from lavatories and/or kitchens), together with rainwater collected on the roof, feed into the system.

The water initially reaches the upper pond, and flows down with gravitation from one pond to the next. The bed of ponds are lined with tuff (a porous volcanic rock) and gravel, which are integrated with algae, plant roots, and bacterium that inhabit the wetland. The plants growing in the constructed wetland are nourished by the nutrients in the waste water, and all of the subsequently purified water existing the system is then used to irrigate planets in the surrounding gardens and on the green roof.  All irrigation at the Capsule Building uses only reclaimed water. 

The constructed wetland presents unique research and teaching opportunities. Constant sampling and monitoring data is reported in real-time, available both on location and remotely, for research, decision-making and learning about the technology and its uses, by varied audiences locally and internationally