by Rebecca Walker — January 14, 2011—Underwater domes filled with sewage-eating bacteria, nicknamed Poo-Gloos, are being described by maker Wastewater Compliance Systems as a less-expensive, lower-impact alternative to wastewater treatment facilities.
The devices, formally known as Bio-Domes, earned their nickname for their resemblance to igloos and the fact they were developed to clean up sewage from water.
A recent study found that the Bio-Domes remove pollution from wastewater at about the same rates as mechanical treatment facilities. Wastewater Compliance Systems says they can be used in small, rural communities that rely on lagoon treatment setups but are outgrowing them.
The domes each have four domes inside of them, separated by plastic film, allowing for a large area for the growth of bacteria, which cleans up the wastewater. The domes are placed at the bottom of a sewage treatment lagoon, and tubes move air through the domes, moving water through them as well.
The Bio-Domes are now being used in six states, in both pilot projects and full-scale installations, notes the company.
For more information, see the Web site.
