Friday, April 24, 2020

Social technologies in Habitat Mars: the Gray Water Treatment System - BioMarte – By prof. Julio Francisco Dantas de Rezende


A team of researchers from Habitat Marte research station developed the BioMarte Gray Water Treatment System. This gray water treatment system (from sinks and showers) was developed and installed at the research station. The Gray Water Treatment System - BioMarte is an adaptation of the BioÁgua Family System and had the participation of graduate engineers Ian Macedo, Sara Lima and Suelya Paiva, electrical engineering student Davi Souza and professor Julio Rezende, all from the University Federal of Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN.
Thinking about the use of gray waters (from sinks and showers) is a necessity for housing located in the Brazilian semiarid in rural areas, considering the limitations in water availability.
The research station Habitat Marte aims to function according to a concept of self-sustainability. This concept involves: the reuse of gray water, the collection, treatment and management of rainwater, the production of food (through aquaponics systems and low water consumption cultivation technologies) and the generation and use of solar energy.
The methodology to build the BioMarte Gray Water Treatment System involved a technical visit by researchers at the Habitat Marte research station that took place on March 14 and 15, 2020. The technical visit carried out an analysis of the current system. Was done an inquiry of available resources (reservoirs, pipes and connections) to construct a new gray water treatment system.
The Gray Water Treatment System - BioMarte presented itself as a significant improvement when compared to the system that previously worked at Habitat Marte.
It was also possible to observe that the Gray Water Treatment System - BioMarte contributes to different Sustainable Development Goals: there is a direct contribution to Goal 6: Ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, considering that the system contributes to the treatment and reuse of part of the sewage generated at the station. Contribution to Goal 4 (Ensuring quality inclusive and equitable education, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all) was perceived, considering that the BioMarte system, in addition to serving Habitat Marte operations, is useful as a space for visiting schools and universities, when the importance of sewage treatment in a circular system is presented.
It was interesting to have two girls in the mission to develop and operationalize the Gray Water Treatment System - BioMarte, a relevant aspect in terms of promoting participation in research activities at Habitat Marte, an action related to Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
It is possible to verify that the Gray Water Treatment System - BioMarte has the necessary characteristics to meet the future demands of Habitat Marte functioning.
BioMarte proposal is an adaptation from the original proposal of the BioÁgua Familiar System.

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