We recycle all of our water. At Tiny Greens, we have one of the only complete systems that we are aware of to clean, improve, and re-use our water. The natural biological processes that are continually present in the undisturbed eco-systems around us are utilized in a controlled environment to clean and re-cycle our water.

First, we use a drain tile system to capture ground water, keeping our foundation dry. Like a cistern, this system slowly gathers water from a few feet below the ground surface through a length of perforated pipe covered in gravel. Here, the Earth acts as an ideal biological filtration system. As water flows through the ground, soil particles, sand, organisms, and gravel work together to remove toxins, harmful bacteria, viruses and discoloration from the water. A pump then brings the water as needed to the treatment system.

In treating our water, we use ozone to demineralize the water. When ozone contacts dissolved minerals in water, it precipitates them out of the water. Sulfur, iron, manganese, calcium, nitrites and heavy metals are coagulated into larger particles, causing them to fall out of the water. In this way, ozone demineralizes (softens) water to get one step closer to being potable. Ozone is 200 times more effective than chlorine as a disinfectant, without the carcinogenic by-products (Trihalomethanes or THMs), nor destruction to the upper atmosphere. The only by-product of ozone is oxygen (O2). It breaks apart cellular structures and dissolves bacteria, viruses and microorganisms. Ozone is truly nature’s amazing way of cleaning water.

Where does our water go? First, in a septic tank, the heavier solids sink to the bottom and the lighter solids, like toilet paper or oils, float to the top. We put no harsh chemicals in our drains, so these two layers are anaerobically (using bacteria that do not require oxygen) decomposed by naturally occurring bacteria.

Next, the middle layer of clarified wastewater liquid flows out of the septic tank into a sand filter. The sand filter uses outside air, thus further treating the water aerobically (using bacteria requiring oxygen). Sand filters provide a high level of treatment and normally produce effluent that tests 99.9% bacteria and virus-free. Furthermore, sand filters fulfill the important role of maintaining the water table (the normal water level in the soil).

Sand filters are the preferred treatment method at Tiny Greens and their nutrient-rich, disinfected water can be utilized as free fertilizing water for growing plants. Because of the high nutrient density in water treated by a sand filter, it is not advisable to discharge it directly to any lake or stream due to the increased algae growth that will occur to remove these nutrients. We plan to work with the state department of health and other professionals to perfect the use of treated sand-filtered water to grow food in a controlled setting. This will utilize the free nutrients present in the water, making it pure enough to put back into our lake. It will also close the natural loop that nature models for us with the added advantage that the entire system can be visible, above ground, and monitored.

Lastly, we at Tiny Greens maintain natural wetlands for greywater treatment and conservational purposes. The roots of tall grasses and reeds in our wetlands provide an ideal environment for aerobic bacteria to live and break down organic compounds. Plants will also utilize and remove nutrients left in wastewater (seasonally) as well as allowing aeration (due to movement) and ozonation (due to sunlight reaching shallow, aerated water) for efficient, natural water filtration.