Frequently Asked Questions

Clients, students and journalists frequently ask about our technology. We hope you find this page useful. Should you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

General Questions

• How much do John Todd Ecological Design solutions cost?



As a general rule, our systems are cost competitive to build and less expensive to operate than conventional wastewater technologies. In some cases, particularly with high strength organic wastes, our systems are significantly less expensive than conventional alternatives. The cost of every system we design and build is dependent on individual site conditions. We are happy to discuss project scope with potential clients to see if John Todd Ecological Design can provide a solution to your wastewater needs.

• How does John Todd Ecological Design collaborate with clients?



John Todd Ecological Design is not in the business of promoting any single technology. Our tool set includes a family of natural systems technology; one or several may be best suited for your design needs. Our work most often begins with a site visit. Our team reviews flows and degree of treatment required, walks the site, assesses the topography and layout of any existing buildings, and works with the design team and client. We will then outline the design of a system that meets each client’s budget, goals, and needs. Once the system design is established, John Todd Ecological Design undertakes an engineering/design/build proposal, or a proposal for schematic development/feasibility study, depending on the scope of the project. Then, once approved, we move forward to engineering, construction, and ramp-up.

• What volumes of wastewater are needed to run an Eco-Machine™ system?



Eco-Machine systems can handle steady or periodic flows of wastewater, and designs can scale according to each client’s need. We are not able to design systems for single homes. The treated water can be discharged conventionally, used for irrigation, or recycled back into a building to flush toilets.

• How does John Todd Ecological Design handle permitting/code issues?



Natural systems, including John Todd Ecological Design systems, have been permitted within most states in the USA and in a number of other countries overseas. Permitting is done on a case-by-case basis and can be handled in-house or done in conjunction with a local engineering firm.

• How large a facility can John Todd Ecological Design build?



Our systems can be designed to handle almost any level of flows; the ability to handle large flows, above 100,000 gal/day is often dependent on the amount of land area available. We are strong proponents of the decentralized treatment concept, which can involve a number of smaller systems dispersed throughout the service area. It is almost always most cost effective to treat wastewater as close to the point of generation as possible. We can build almost any size that is needed for the project.

• What happens after John Todd Ecological Design finishes a project?



John Todd Ecological Design remains involved with the system for the lifetime of the system. The level of operations & maintenance oversight can vary with client needs. This always includes an Operations and Maintenance manual, onsite training for maintenance workers, email and telephone support, and site visits as desired. In more remote parts of the world, we would collaborate with knowledgeable natural systems operators to help provide clients with localized operations and trouble shooting capabilities.

• Is John Todd Ecological Design limited in where it can build Eco-Machine systems?



John Todd Ecological Design has installed systems in eleven countries and on five continents around the world. If there is a need and our solutions fit, we can usually build on that location.

• What differentiates John Todd Ecological Design from its competitors?



John Todd Ecological Design provides a broader and more comprehensive range of services than competitors. Our philosophy includes integrated systems that can be linked to agriculture, storm water management, and watershed restoration. Our team has a deep commitment to the ecological integrity of our systems and to reducing their overall environmental impact. We are a highly collaborative firm and works with a strategic alliance of ecological designers and specialists to optimize our systems.

• Are there places to visit John Todd Ecological Design Eco-Machines in action?



Yes! The following is a partial listing: Interstate 89 Rest Stop in Sharon, Vermont (visitors welcome) Darrow School in New Lebanon, New York State (visitors welcome, call in advance) The Town of Bear River Wastewater Treatment Facility in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada (tours by appointment) Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio (visitors welcome) Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, New York State (call in advance) Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples, Florida (visitors welcome) Pilot Program, 2002 Old Ft. Weaver Rd., Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii (tours arranged in advance)

Eco-Machines

• Where do John Todd Ecological Design’s Eco-Machines work best?



Eco-Machines can be designed to work almost anywhere from inside buildings to high latitudes. However, they must have adequate light for the higher plants and algae within to thrive. Temperatures for most systems need to be kept above 10 degrees Celsius.

• In which climates will an Eco-Machine best function?



John Todd Ecological Design Eco-Machines can be designed to function in a variety of climates. The organisms within them have to be adapted to the climate the system is in. For example, if light levels are low, then low light adapted organisms will dominate. In a bright desert environment the opposite would be the case. Ecological diversity is the key and the fact that we include representative species of all the five kingdoms of life is the reason for their functionality and success.

• At higher latitudes, are there seasonal adjustments that need to be made in order for the Eco-Machine to run year-round?



Temperature control is the main variable in this instance. Ironically, when you get up to say 45 degrees north latitude, the best plants for winter are tropical plants, as they do not go dormant during short days and low light periods. However we only use them in indoors systems, unless they are native to the outdoor environment.

• What are the advantages of indoor vs outdoor John Todd Ecological Design applications?



Indoor and greenhouse based systems are the best solution when you have a small physical footprint to work with. Outdoor systems, with a mix of ponds and constructed wetlands, work best where you have land available and if you are interested in keeping your energy requirements to a bare minimum. A hybridization of these two methods is usually the most applicable to many of our systems.

• How widespread is John Todd Ecological Design’s Eco-Machine technology?



Members of the John Todd Ecological Design team have been building Eco-Machines of many kinds in Europe, the US and Canada, Brazil, China, and Australia since 1986 before John Todd Ecological Design formally existed. The furthest north are in Scotland and Sweden. The furthest south is in Wyong, Australia. Our clients have been companies, especially food, brewery and cosmetic companies, universities and colleges, green developers and environmentally sensitive resorts, and destinations such as the Audubon Society's park at Corkscrew Swamp near Naples, Florida. Most towns and cities take longer to adopt the technology, but are coming around. Many town engineers are still wedded either philosophically or institutionally to conventional chemical and energy intensive technologies but the regulatory climate is changing favorably.