The water purification plant makes use of the latest technology. The Living Machine is a unique combination of the force of nature and the resourcefulness of man.

Natural purifying powers
The Living Machine imitates the natural purifying powers of ponds, peat and rivers, but in an accelerated process. Various populations of bacteria and algae do their work in the reservoirs and bio-filters, in combination with a variety of plant types, trees, snails and fish, creating a complete ecological system. Thanks to the regulated environment, these organisms thrive on effluent. They digest and break down the organic material in a series of artificial ecological systems.

Bio-sediment
Just like other biological water purification systems, the Living Machine produces bio-sediment. This bio-sediment consists of inorganic solids emanating from the effluent, and dead bacteria. The Living Machine produces less bio-sediment than a conventional purification plant. The Living Machine has been set up in a greenhouse in order to protect the plants and the prevailing ecological systems.

• In the Living Machine, the water first passes through an anoxic reactor measuring 140 m3.
• The second step is an aerobe reactor also measuring 140 m3.
• The water is then conducted through two planted aerobe reactors measuring 370 m3 and 240 m3 respectively.
• The water, rich in nitrates, is fed back to the anoxic reactor.
• The final step is final sedimentation (0.7 m3/m2.h) in a final sedimentation tank.
• The bio-sediment that settles in the tank is fed back to the anoxic reactor.