| hydroponics
set-up could be a way of the future
| treated
wastewater high in nutrients: too good to waste
In urban and arid
regions, growing vegetables and flowers locally to meet the local
demands is highly difficult due to water and land restrictions. The
use of treated effluent for growing vegetables and flowers through
the method of hydroponics could help the situation to a great extent.
Wastewater hydroponics research currently undertaken at ETC is intended
to utilise the technique of hydroponics to maximum reuse secondary
treated domestic wastewater for growing flowers and vegetables without
the risk of pathogen contamination. The PhD research currently undertaken
by Noraisha Oyama is aimed to benefit lifestyle villages, arid regions
and urban areas committed to conserve and reuse water onsite for
beneficial
purposes.
Noraisha Oyama, PhD Scholar in her new facility.
Increasingly cities
are faced with disposing large amounts of treated wastewater;
treated wastewater that can be used in a variety of innovative
applications. In european cities large multi-floor urban wastewater
farms are being
developed. Wastewater walls containing large pots fed by dripping
wastewater for food and flower production are being used in Botswana.
Increasingly innovative applications will make use of this valuable
resource: treated wastewater high in nutrients. Noraisha's research
work will confirm just how successful hydroponics with treated
wastewater can be.
| team-work
creates research facility
Opened by
Jan Starr at the recent ETC Innovations Open Day the new hydroponics
wastewater facility at the Centre will
allow Noraisha Oyama to complete her research.
Undertaking
any research at University is a difficult task especially when
you consider how does a researcher get hold of the equipment and
materials they need. Faced with having to construct, from scratch,
a hydroponics
facility, Noraisha Oyama sought out the skills of the MAD Team.
With
help from ETC Site Supervisor Mick Sherriff and John Hunt the MAD
Team (Maurice, Alan & Derek) designed and constructed Noraisha's
hydroponics set-up. Using recycled materials from the ETC resource
pile the MAD Team again proved that skill and resourcefulness are
some of the most admired traits here at the ETC. Maurice, Alan
and Derek were once Green Reserves. Having completed the Green Reserve
programme the three amigos just never left us. They have remained
at the ETC, volunteering two days per week, to become valued and
essential team members. Our most valuable resources are human resources
and one of the challenges we face is how to make use of the expertise
of retired people, so at the ETC we find a place for them. The transfer
of skills between the MAD Team, Green Reserves, Work for the Dole
participants, not to mention the students and staff of the University
all benefit from an inter-generational mix. Next time you visit the
ETC you'll see the MAD Team's handy work all over the site.
(L-R) Derek,
Maurice & Alan [ the MAD Team]
| more
info:
» learn
more about Noraisha's PhD supervisor Dr Jaya Nair
» contact
Noraisha Oyama
|
