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This technology will:
* Reduce worldwide water consumption by more than 50%.
* Reduce traditional wastewater pollution problems by 100%.
* Reduce organic landfill loading by more than 20%.
* Create healthier living environments for all countries and
cultures.
* Promote economic development worldwide.
The solution is called Equaris/Equaris Systems and it consists
of the following components, equipment and services. By simply
separating the plumbing lines and treating the organic wastes
and wastewater in separate vessels, water consumption can be
reduced by 40 to 80 percent and the pollution load on the wastewater
treatment system can be reduced by 90 percent.
Because most of the pollution problems are not introduced
into the Equaris Greywater Treatment System, the treated effluent
water qualities are superior to traditional septic effluent,
river water intake qualities and even most wells. As a result,
the Equaris Filtration and Disinfection System provides water
qualities that meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's and
state's stringent standards for water reuse and drinking requirements.
Equaris/Equaris System Operations
Equaris Toilet & Organic Kitchen
Waste Separation System
Utilizing Mother Nature's principles of decomposition, this
System biologically converts 90 to 95 percent of all toilet and
kitchen garbage disposal organic wastes into odorless carbon
dioxide and water vapor. Aerobic organisms (oxygen breathing)
thrive in the fan driven, air assisted and insulated tank, converting
the remaining hydrocarbons into a valuable soil amendment. Aerobic
organisms do not produce the methane gas and hydrogen sulfide
odors common with anaerobic (non-oxygen breathing) septic systems.
The aerobic/composting environment kills 90 to 99 percent
of viruses and pathogens utilizing time and temperature. Approximately
10 to 15 gallons of finished compost are produced by a family
of four per year and are easily removed by the homeowner or maintenance
personnel with the auger system. Programmable timer driven agitators
gently distribute the fresh wastes on the top surface of the
tank to aid the organisms in their natural decomposition process.
This System can handle up to twelve adults full-time and can
accommodate larger numbers for brief periods. Unlike septic systems,
it is highly recommended that a garbage disposal be installed
on a small separate sink and plumbed to the Separation Tank.
Doing this also eliminates all of the nasty kitchen organic refuse,
reducing the total amount of garbage that is created daily and
lowers the costs of having rubbish hauled away and disposed.
Equaris Greywater Treatment System
The remaining greywater is plumbed to a series of separate
wastewater treatment and filtration tanks. This System consists
of a surge tank for flow control, an aeration tank to produce
aerobic conditions and a clarification tank to return the settled
solids back to the surge tank. Utilizing the standard wastewater
treatment technology of extended aeration, the three connected
tanks are filled with plastic filter media, on which the bacteria
grow.
An extremely energy efficient air compressor provides an abundant
amount of air to continuously circulate the wastewater throughout
the plastic filter material. For maintenance, a sludge removal
system pumps solids from the bottom of each tank to the separation
tank for final treatment. The aeration and circulation process
biologically filters the wastewater, producing a treated wastewater
effluent quality that can then be efficiently and economically
filtered and disinfected for reuse. The quality of the treated
water is compared to septic effluent on the Wastewater Treatment
Specifications diagram.
Equaris Filtration, Disinfection
and Potable Water Recycling System
This System provides a closed loop capability to totally treat
the effluent from the Equaris Greywater Treatment System to be
recycled for household use and drinking water. It consists of
individual components that have been tested and certified.
The effluent from the Equaris Greywater Treatment System is
automatically pumped through several types of filters to remove
sediment, cysts, taste, and odor. It is then disinfected using
ultraviolet light. In the following post filtration stage all
chemicals and any other substances are removed. It is capable
of any flow rate of treated water per minute and has a built
in life indicator, which automatically shuts the System off when
the cartridges need changing.
The now filtered and disinfected water meets EPA's stringent
standards for household use. A National Sanitation Foundation
tested approved Reverse Osmosis System and/or Distillation System
is installed to provide potable drinking water. The entire System
is controlled and monitored and if any problems are detected
it automatically shuts the System off and alerts the homeowner
and/or maintenance company of the problem.
SeaLand and Nepon Toilet Fixtures
Equaris Separation Systems are installed utilizing stylish
one-cup-of-water-per-flush, or less, porcelain toilet fixtures
from SeaLand and Nepon. With these toilets, people will accept
a new type of wastewater treatment system for their homes more
readily, because they are going to "love" the beauty,
efficiency and cleanliness of the toilet fixtures.
SeaLand Toilets
SeaLand, an Ohio based company, manufactures a line of toilet
fixtures that are designed for recreational vehicles and the
luxury marine vessel marketplace. These ceramic toilet fixtures
are available in a wide range of color options. The toilets utilize
a foot pedal operated flushing mechanism that rotates a ball/trap
device. The toilet pedal can also be lifted with the foot, allowing
more water to fill the toilet bowl, totally eliminating any toilet
staining problems usually associated with low water flushing
toilets.
The SeaLand Model 510 utilizes gravity and a steeper plumbing
angle (25 degrees from horizontal or 2 1/2 inches per foot drop)
to transport the toilet refuse and paper to the Separation Tank.
The marine toilet, Model 508, incorporates the same toilet fixture
but utilizes a small vacuum tank and a twelve volt bellows type
of pump to create a vacuum which is capable of lifting the toilet
refuse and transporting it to the Separation Tank. This allows
flexibility in locating the Separation Tank instead of having
to design the house or facility around the System.
Nepon Toilets
The Nepon Pearl line of toilet fixtures utilizes a unique
toilet flushing technology. Instead of using water solely as
the transportation mechanism, the Pearl uses a drop of liquid
laundry detergent and a small amount of electricity to operate
two small air pumps that make bubbles (foam) utilizing less than
a tablespoon of water per flush. One of the air pumps operates
continuously producing a slow moving blanket of foam on the back
part of the toilet bowl. After each use a button is pushed on
top of the toilet water tank and more foam is created by the
other air pump. The additional foam washes the front and back
part of the bowl and transports the toilet refuse and toilet
paper to the Separation Tank. This unique flushing technology
not only continuously lubricates the bowl, eliminating any staining
or streaking problems, but also uses the smallest amount of water
than any other toilet-flushing fixture in the world. The elegant
porcelain fixtures look just like standard designer toilets,
and come in three different colors. The Nepon line of toilet
and urinal fixtures do not incorporate a trap and require a steeper
plumbing angle (25 degrees from horizontal or 2 1/2 inches per
foot drop) on the pipe from the fixture to the Separation Tank.
Kitchen Garbage Disposals
Two thirds of all of the organic refuse that is produced in
the household comes from the kitchen. On standard septic or sewer
types of wastewater treatment systems the garbage disposal adds
additional load and requires additional maintenance and pumping
costs. With the Separation System a separate bar type of sink
with a garbage disposal is installed next to the standard kitchen
sink. With a small amount of water from a sprayer, this new kitchen
fixture grinds up and transports all of the organic refuse to
the Separation Tank. For homes and other locations, such as supermarkets
and restaurants, this is a marvelous feature that will solve
their organic waste disposal problems. Also, it will save thousands
of dollars annually by eliminating organic garbage collection
services.
Monitoring, Maintenance and Guarantee
Program
In terms of potential water pollution sources, we realize
that the local and state government agencies responsible for
the public health will eventually require that some form of monitoring/service
business be available. In response to the government's anticipated
requirements and the customer's needs, the Systems are continuously
monitored utilizing a small computer unit with a modem that is
hooked up to the customer's phone line. It will not interfere
with the customer's phone service at all and does its data reporting
late at night. The computer is continuously checking the Systems
to insure that they are running smoothly. It records data and
information and if there is a problem it will automatically alert
the main office and up to 7 other locations (i.e. homeowner,
county and state health departments, maintenance personnel) that
it needs to be serviced. The monitoring equipment can range from
simple auto-dialers for reporting problems to sophisticated reporting
and recording devices that can provide limitless information
and remote service capabilities with security system capabilities.
Just like many household appliances and devices, the System
needs some minor monthly maintenance. Just like adding salt to
a water softener, the System sometimes needs to have pine bedding
added to the Separation Tank and sludge pumped from the Wastewater
Tank. For those not wanting to worry about maintenance, they
can utilize our Maintenance Program. Monthly, a Certified Technician
will inspect the Systems and provide the expertise and labor
to keep them operating at peak efficiency.
Education and Certified Salesperson/Technician
Training Program
To overcome this problem, we have an Education and Training
Program to provide an avenue to increase the public's awareness.
We also train and certify individuals and businesses to install
and maintain Systems after the sale. This educational program
will advance community and public awareness and will demonstrate
the ability to implement community practices in resource conservation/efficiency,
pollution prevention, strengthening local economics, and developing
local policy instruments. In order to increase Equaris of Minnesota,
Inc.'s ability to penetrate the sewage, wastewater and water
treatment system marketplace we have developed an education program
to train and certify interested parties in becoming Certified
Salespersons and Technicians.
Replacement Parts
We manufacture the major components of the Systems and only
use non-corroding plastics or stainless steel. Most of the mechanical
parts with the Systems are purchased from the largest U.S. supplier
of industrial and commercial equipment, W.W. Grainger. All of
the replacement parts are listed in the Installation and operation
Manuals and can be purchased from us or directly from the appropriate
manufacturers.
Summary
The Equaris/Equaris Technology and product line will give
state and local units of government, engineers, architects, plumbers
and onsite wastewater system designer and installers a new tool
in their repertoire to help customers that have problems because
of bad soils, small lots, bedrock and high ground water. There
is no discharge from the residence or facility, thereby eliminating
the traditional wastewater discharge permitting process and the
septic or sewer system, making this Technology the world's first
and only closed loop, zero discharge wastewater treatment and
water recycling system. Also, when the cost of a community cluster
or sewer type collection and treatment system would be prohibitive,
this Technology offers a more economical and environmental alternative.
Just because these Systems protect the environment better, it
doesn't mean that they cost more. The Systems costs less than
currently available sewage treatment options, especially when
comparing water usage, complete treatment of all organic wastes,
longevity and operational costs. Equaris of Minnesota, Inc. specializes
in the production, sales, installation, monitoring and maintenance
of a patented onsite sewage and wastewater treatment system.
For the past fifteen years over a million dollars has been invested
in researching, developing, manufacturing, and installing over
one hundred Systems. These pioneering endeavors, have resulted
in a U.S. Department of Energy National Award for Energy Innovations
and have demonstrated and documented the philosophy and technology
of being able to "reduce, reuse, and recycle" toilet/organic
wastes and wastewater more efficiently and effectively. This
unprecedented accomplishment has been achieved under the severest
of environmental circumstances - in Alaska and Minnesota. This
Technology's achievements can now be duplicated Nationally and
Internationally. While protecting our environment Equaris of
Minnesota, Inc. will be helping to economically promote sustainable
growth and development.
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