Genesis Centre, Somerset College of Arts and Technology 2006

Elemental Solutions worked with Architype to develop the water pavilion, a study in eco-minimalist water efficiency measures. Elemental Solutions also worked with the architects to improve other aspects of the building performance through a process of simplification.

New Offices Architype Herefordshire, 2006

Winner of the 2007 National Riba Sustainability Award

A local and regular client offered the chance to try some new ideas including two types or water and chemical free urinals, a dual flush ES4 WC with odourless vented pan and a woodchip mulched planted soil filter for the sewage effluent.

Elemental Solutions also designed the energy efficient lighting with Colin Chetwood Lighting and contributed to the renovation strategy.

With Eco Arc York, for the National Trust. A former cotton mill now serving as a café and visitor centre with no connection to mains services other than telephones. The brief required all sewage to be treated on site with no export of sludge. Elemental Solutions were responsible for all aspects of water supply, efficient use and final disposal.

The new mountain bike centre near Dolgellau incorporates Air Flush Urinals and ES4 WCs. Sewage is treated in a modular treatment plant that uses waste peat fibres as a bio-media. This was the first application of this technology in Wales or England and was selected for it's tolerance to variable loading, excellent effluent quality and the ultra low energy consumption.

Sutton Courteney Environmental Education Centre, Didcot.

ES4R rainwater fed, 4 litre WCs, Airflush® urinals and spray taps minimise water use and effluent volume for this busy education centre sat on heavy Oxford clay with no sewer or watercourse. Sewage goes to an Aquatron system and the liquid is pumped to a biological filter constructed in existing deposits of power station clinker. In association with Simmonds Mills Architect Builders.

Quarr Abbey Isle of Wight. 2005-2006.

Advice on cost effective water efficiency measures and the refurbishment of the original wastewater treatment system. Part of a wider ongoing program of sustainability measures with Peter Warm and Neil May.

This system was a spin-off from our 3 year R&D project which looked into sludge-free domestic sewage treatment. Raw effluent from a single WC discharges into a vermicomposting filter bed installed under the path. Here it is being viewed by John Griggs of the Building Research Establishment and Mark Moodie. Pdf of report for Diocese of Gloucester (480Kb). Also see Church Care website.

Elemental Solutions were commissioned to design and specify the WCs, rainwater system and sewage treatment for the 'Autonomous Environmental Information Centre (AETIC) at the Centre for Alternative Technology. The WCs are designed to flush with 4 litres of water and the sewage is conveyed to a sludge free worm-compost based system which utilises the Aquatron separator. The building also includes a Compus dry toilet by NatSol Ltd.

A simple horizontal flow reed bed provides a buffer and polishing for the effluent from an existing package plant that was failing its consent.

In collaboration with Gaia Architects for National Trust Scotland. State of the art water efficiency measures including 4 litre siphon flush WCs reduce effluent volumes allowing the existing trickling filter to be upgraded for sewage treatment in preference to a powered package plant or an extensive 'natural system'. The filter media is reclaimed from a local sewage works and the system is hidden in a small copse.

The site has been solar and wind powered for its first 7 years but now has a grid connection to allow import and export of power. The compost toilet is silent and odour-free whilst also accepting waste from an adjacent 4 litre WC in the bathroom (shown). Effluent discharges into a 'trench arch' infiltration system.

The house is used as a test bed for a wide range of water and energy efficiency measures and ongoing WC development and contains Elemental Solutions' office.

The second spin-off from research into sludge-free domestic sewage treatment was a high quality compost toilet system with a ceramic pedestal and 3 watt ventilation fan. This system uses a large vault type chamber and so is best suited for new-build or major renovation. The system used a pedestal from the Australian company Dowmus who are no longer trading.

Pictured are Rosie and Adam, immortalised in Herefordshire Privies by the Late Paddy Ariss.

For our current compost toilet systems see www.natsol.uk

Compost based alternative to a septic tank, Crete, 2004.

A warm climate and intermittent usage allow this compost filter to handle the waste from WCs without generating sludge. The system is less odorous than the neighbouring mains drainage and was easier to construct than a septic tank. Detail design and construction by Architectural Consultant Jim Rann from a sketch design by Elemental Solutions.

Rowardennan Visitor Centre, Loch Lomond, 2006.

A very difficult and environmentally sensitive site on the banks of Loch Lomond. Detailed site investigations and a hydrogeological study in association with RPS Consultants resulted in a simple septic tank and gravity dosed infiltration system. The design depends on attention to detail and best practice water efficiency measures to greatly reduce the effluent volume.

Planted Soil Filter Herefordshire, 2004.

Sewage treatment for family farm, holiday cottage and residential cookery course centre. Shallow top soil over heavy clay but plenty of space and a gentle slope. Percolation tests at normal depths failed but we were able to design and build a system that worked with the site and landscape. The picture shows an early stage of construction prior to the addition of waste woodchip and the planting of trees.