A Proposed Design for Wastewater Treatment and Recycling at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station Utilizing Living Machine Technology

Blersch, David M.
Mars Society Life Support Technical Task Force, Maryland Subgroup, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
mailto:dblersch@wam.umd.edu
Biermann, E.
Calahan, D.
Ives-Halperin, J.
Jacobson, M.
Kangas, P.

In: On to Mars, Colonizing a New World, edited by Zubrin, RM, and Crossman, F. Apogee Books. (2000)

This paper presents a second-generation wastewater treatment design for the FMARS habitat. The system discussed is a modified, recirculating living machine in which recycling and recovery of water is accomplished. The primary purpose of the design is to treat the black and gray water waste streams from the FMARS habitat. However, biomass is also produced by the system that shows potential for the provision of other life support functions. The system is designed to recycle for reuse all wash water and toilet waste from the FMARS habitat. Options are presented for both full recycling to potable use and for partial recycling to non-potable use. The design comprises a sequential system of treatment unit processes, beginning with an anaerobic digester, followed by a trickling filter, constructed wetland, and then a disinfection and purification step. It is intended that the system will attach via appropriate plumbing to the exterior of the FMARS structure; hence the system is designed to be modular and transportable. The system could be located in either a greenhouse or a closed structure with artificial lighting, depending upon energy budget considerations. A scaled design is presented as a possible floor plan with quantitative sizing of unit process components based on a hypothetical crew number and loading rate. While the focus of the analysis is on a design for wastewater treatment and reuse, discussion is provided on ways of expanding the system to provide additional life support functions desirable for actual Mars habitation.

Keywords

Analog Mars Research and Research Stations