As part of Berea’s commitment to sustainability and ecological design, Dr. Richard Olson, director of Berea’s Sustainability and Environmental Studies (SENS) Center, and his students have constructed two Living Machines on campus to educate students, faculty, staff and the community about ways to integrate nature and technology. One machine is in the Alumni building, and the other is on display in the Berea College bookstore.

This spring, students constructed two Living Machines on campus, including this one in the lounge area of the Alumni building.

A Living Machine is a containerized aquatic system designed to mimic the structure of natural ecosystems as it purifies water or completes other natural processes. It is made up of a large number of plant and aquatic animal species, is powered by solar energy, and recycles nutrients.
As part of Berea’s Ecovillage residence construction project, a wastewater treatment Living Machine will convert 5000 gallons of sewage per day into swimmable quality water. The water will be purified as it moves through a series of fish, snail and plant-filled tanks housed in a greenhouse. The treated water then will be piped to the wetland on the site or used for garden irrigation.

"The snails and plants inside the vats purify the water in three days," says Olson. "The water is treated without chemicals and eventually discharged. So, instead of destroying the environment, we’re actually improving it." Construction on the Ecovillage will begin in fall 2001. The agriculture and natural resources department is developing plans for a commercial-scale aquaculture/ hydroponics facility that will use living machines technology to produce fish and vegetables.