When they hear that we're an environmental firm that comes from Vermont, it has cachet. Stuart's hopes for the company are high. I want us to be the brand name to think of in wastewater treatment. I'd like to see our technologies used more broadly, for hazardous water remediation, and I think they will be, because our system is fairly simple to operate, considering the high quality of water it produces. It comprises of a series of tanks, each about 14 feet deep with a slightly different ecosystem.
Wastewater enters the facility and flows into the first tank.
The sewage is so toxic at this point that plants can't live, so the tank is covered with an 18-inch layer of soil and grasses. The noxious gases from the raw sewage travel up through the soil, which breaks down the gases into odorless carbon dioxide and oxygen. As the sewage travels into the next tank, its strength has been lessened, and plants can grown in it. Oxygen, which is bubbled into the tanks, encourages friendly bacteria growth on plant roots. The company has sold more than 25 Living Machines in six countries and 10 states.