On June 16, the Rodale Institute will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new Water Purification Eco-Center located on its research farm in Kutztown, Penn. The center, supported in part through a $695,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will serve as a model on-site wastewater treatment system. The system incorporates an experimental wetland-based treatment and reuse facility that captures rainwater and reuses it several times before returning it to the soil as clean water. The system, which serves as an alternative to standard septic and sand mound on-lot sewage systems, is scalable and can be used in sustainable landscapes for residential and small commercial entities. This project will help promote the adoption of wetlands-based residential and institutional wastewater treatment systems to help encourage homeowners and businesses to seek out more sustainable and water-efficient wastewater-treatment options.
For additional information or to register to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, please visit the Rodale Institute website [1]. For additional project information, please contact Bob Bastian, EPA Office of Wastewater Management, by phone at (202) 564-0677 or via e-mail [2].