Effective Waster Management Equals a Clean Environment

​Once a month Little River Wetlands Project (LRWP) hosts a public forum, Breakfast on the Marsh. It is usually held at Indiana Wesleyan University Fort Wayne along the border of Eagle Marsh. The speakers present on some aspect of nature or being green. In October 2023 Jeff Gard of Aqua Indiana spoke on waste management. It is no small challenge to talk about poop at a breakfast meeting and hold the attention of the audience but Jeff was able to do this.
 
Aqua Indiana gathers local wastewater, water from toilets and sinks, and treats it so that the water is clean, and the solid material is removed. Jeff has multiple science degrees including chemistry. He initially worked in water treatment. This is a chemical process that kills toxins in the water. After 15 years he moved to waste management. This is a biological process that breaks down unwanted toxins and organism in the wastewater.
 
Jeff described the process of treating the waste. The treatment allows for the water to return to rivers and streams without hurting the environment. It eventually becomes drinking water for people living downstream from the treatment  center.  The treatment center is a compound with various buildings assigned to different tasks. Microbes are used to remove ammonia, phosphates, and to degrade organic waste.
 
The process must follow strict regulations. There is a screening process to remove foreign waste such as plastics and metals. There is a chopping area and an aeration center to introduce increased oxygen. Finally, there is a disinfection point and laboratories to assess progress and the health of the microbes.  The treated water is separated from the treated solid waste. The solid waste is referred to as cake, but it is not cake! It is often used locally as fertilizer.
 
Aqua Indiana is a supportive neighbor of Eagle Marsh. This include providing signage for trails and participating in public events.  Aqua Indiana is owned by Essential Utilities whose slogan is, Protecting earth’s most valuable resource, water. That commitment was evident during Jeff’s presentation. In the future he will provide us with a tour of the facility. I look forward to filming that experience.

---