Below is some observational/analysis/design work I did in 2009-11
I've been fixing a standard flush toilet today, continuing my mental observation/study of water in my household and pondering how a consciously designed household might function
Fig 1. Shows my designed household water cycle. The household/community collect/consume/use fresh water within the hydrological cycle of their environment, cycling water through human functions/processes and returning it to the local area for treatment. Treatment being black water composting, grey water recycling, reed beds etc... local, decentralised, reticulated and free
Fig. 2 shows the reality of the household water cycle. The outputs of the hydrological cycle have been sequestered/intercepted/stolen by corporations masquerading as municipal entities who collect or mine fresh water to produce a product called drinking water
The community consume this product [drinking water] and relies on the same municipal entity to deal with the waste by convenient removal. Household waste is processed along with industrial and agricultural effluent and pumped into the environment/bioregion at above loading capacity rates - and we pay for it all!
Me -$, them +$ and a polluted environment! My input/participation and therefore support into/of this system needs to be reduced and if possible move to the ideal state (Fig1.)
A permaculture design will remove all reliance on the municipal entity and tend towards the idealised household water cycle style participation in the hydrological system
Key:
Blue lines = fresh water
Brown lines = grey/black water
Yellow lines = drinking water
Black lines = contaminated (heavy biological or toxic loading)
Fig 1. Designed household water cycle
Fig 2. Reality of the household water cycleChew
