KUTZTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rodale Institute and EPA today announce the completion of the Water Purification Eco-Center at Rodale Institute in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. This revolutionary restroom and on-site wastewater treatment system captures rainwater and reuses it several times before filtering it through a constructed wetlands garden, watering the landscape and returning it to the soil as clean water. As demands on the world’s water supply increase, technology like this will be instrumental in providing clean, safe water.
"The most impressive impact of the Eco-Center is the ability we’ll have to scale the technology to meet the needs of homeowners, developments and even small municipalities. Imagine building whole communities that no longer dump waste water into the aquifer,” says Mark “Coach” Smallwood, Executive Director of Rodale Institute.
The natural processes of constructed wetlands scrub wastewater twice as clean as that of a traditional septic system and are capable of removing pathogens and organic contaminants. They require less maintenance than traditional systems and can have long-term cost savings, especially when used in concert with rainwater capture and solar components.
“The Rodale Institute's Water Purification Eco-Center offers an exciting opportunity to demonstrate an effective alternative to standard sewage treatment systems,” says Bob Bastian, EPA Project Officer.
To mark today’s opening, Rodale Institute will hold and informational workshop from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. to be followed by remarks from Bob Bastian and Mark Smallwood.
Workshop registration and an animated video demonstration of how the system works are available at www.rodaleinstitute.org/wpec.
Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach. For over sixty-years, the Institute has been researching the best practices of organic agriculture and sharing findings with farmers and scientists throughout the world, advocating for policies that support farmers, and educating consumers about how going organic is the healthiest options for people and the planet.
Located on a 333-acre certified organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, Rodale Institute is devoted to research, education and certified organic production. The Institute is best known for its Farming Systems Trial (FST), the longest-running U.S. experiment specifically designed to compare organic and conventional chemical farming practices. FST was established in 1981 and attracts interest from scientists, farmers and visitors from around the world.