(N/A) Integrated waste water treatment is a method where sewage and other waste waters are treated by combining artificial and natural processes.
An example of this is the town of Arcata,California,where a project was developed in collaboration with Humboldt State University.
The process occurs in two stages:
$(a)$ Conventional treatment: This involves sedimentation,filtering,and chlorine treatments.
$(b)$ Natural treatment: To remove pollutants like dissolved heavy metals,a series of six connected marshes covering $60$ hectares were created. These marshes are seeded with plants,algae,fungi,and bacteria that neutralize,absorb,and assimilate the pollutants.
As water flows through these marshes,it is purified naturally. This area also serves as a sanctuary for diverse fish,animals,and birds. The project is maintained by a citizens' group called Friends of the Arcata Marsh $(FOAM)$.
Additionally,ecological sanitation $(EcoSan)$ is a sustainable system for managing human excreta using dry composting toilets,which recycles waste into natural fertilizer.