Grant to deliver sustainable project

EcoNova has been awarded a grant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and implement sustainable projects that contribute to Australia’s diminishing water supply.

The funding, awarded as part of the Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund, will be used to further research and develop EcoNova’s MembraneSafe Technology into a revolutionary greywater-only system.

Investigations among potential users found that existing greywater systems are too large, too expensive or too difficult to manage. The company will now embark on a $500,000 project to miniaturise the system, which can be implemented in households across Australia at a significantly reduced size of existing systems, at competitive prices and with reduced maintenance requirements.

“At EcoNova, our aim is to extend the barriers of water, waste and energy sustainability and be at the international forefront of research and development in these areas,” said Christian Uhrig, general manager of EcoNova.

“We also expect exciting developments in the near future with significant changes to legislation which currently inhibits the use of recycled water back into the household. While most Australian states currently have guidelines relating to recycling of sewage effluent for irrigation purposes with conventional means, there are some gaps and discrepancies remaining in their criteria for urban uses and water types, and hopefully with the availability of our superior technology we will see a change in this legislation.”

This change would enable the highest class of recycled water produced from the company’s domestic systems to be available for toilet flushing, laundry re-use and other household duties.

“The government and scientists now understand that rainwater tanks are not the solution, as it just doesn’t rain often enough to make a difference. Our recycling solutions can provide up to 68% of the water needed by a household every day of the year — while having the lifestyle people want to live and saving potable water,” said Uhrig.

“Internationally, non-potable re-use is widely practised and Australia is just waking up to the schemes. We have received orders and implemented solutions in the two-digit million dollar range in the last three months. A great proof of our technology and one of the reasons why EPA trusts us with its money. Now we are going to bring the size and cost of the technology down to single household level. Prepare to buy an EcoNova greywater system at Bunnings, Tradelink or Big W towards the end of 2008,” said Uhrig.