John Downs <jdowns@reninet.com> wrote on 13 May:

>After doing a bit of research on the history of your Solar Aquatic systems,
>I am curious to know a few more details on the transition from new alchemy
>to living technologies OAI and EEA:
>1) How was the jump from Arks and other bioshelters to living
>technologies for waste treatment made?
>2)  Were the pre 1988 solar aquatic projects limited to those in San Diego,
>Austin, and Orlando  as listed in the 'solar aquatic wastewater treatment'
>article in the February 1988 edition of Biocycle Magazine? where were the others?
>3) Were they built for the same reason as the pilot facilities in Harwich,
>Mass., Waterbury,VT, Jaffrey NH, and Providence, RI?
>4) What is or was the Four Elements Corporation?

To John Downs

Evolution of living technologies from New Alchemy to the Present (in brief)

Dr. John Todd carried out his early work at the New Alchemy Institute on Cape Cod.  This was the application of ecological engineering principles to Bioshelters.  The Bioshelters were filled with living systems, including aquaculture.  Water quality in the aquaculture tanks is a main factor in high volume fish farming.  This led to R&D work on wastewater treatment.

Ocean Arks International was founded by Dr. Todd, I believe in the late '70s.  As well as work in the seas, OAI carried out the early pioneering work in wastewater treatment technology.  The first plant was built by a new company called The Four Elements Corporation which constructed and operated the first Living Machine for wastewater treatment at the Sugarbush Ski Resort in Vermont (1980's).  Four Elements sold the rights to the technology - called Solar Aquatics* to another new company called Ecological Engineering Associates of Massachusetts.  EEA acquired the rights to John Todd's Solar Aquatic patents.

John Todd carried out a successful summer test of the treatment of septage in  Harwich on Cape Cod in 1988.  EEA built a commercial plant based on John Todd's work and obtained Massachusetts' State approval for septage treatment using Solar Aquatics.  The first four Solar Aquatic installations were in Providence, Rhode Island (sewage), Harwich (septage), Marion, Massachusetts (boat pump-out waste) and Ben & Jerry's in Vermont (ice cream waste).

In 1989 a company called Advanced Greenhouse Systems was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Gardeners' Supply Company of Burlington, Vermont. AGS was involved in the construction of the first four Solar Aquatic treatment plants mentioned above.  AGS parted company with EEA after the completion of the technically successful pilot at Ben & Jerry's.

In 1993 there was a management buyout of AGS and a new company called Living Technologies Inc. was formed.  John Todd and the writer had developed a new polishing technology called Ecological Fluidized Beds which is the subject of two patents.  These patents have been assigned to OAI and are licensed from OAI to Living Technologies.

Living Technologies has built around 30 Living Machines.  There are operating systems in ten states and six countries on four continents. Recent clients include: Effem, Brazil; Bovis, Europe; Masterfoods, Australia; The Findhorn Foundation, Scotland; M&M Mars, Texas; Ethel M Chocolates, Nevada; the City of South Burlington, Vermont; National Audubon Society, Florida;  the State of Vermont; Oberlin College, Ohio; Cedar Grove Cheese, Wisconsin; and Sonoma Mountain Brewery, California. Main market concentrations of the company are for sewage treatment systems for private customers such as resorts and developers and the treatment of high strength industrial wastewater.  About 50% of current installations treat the wastewater to advanced wastewater treatment standards for reuse on site.  The high strength industrial wastewater includes brewery waste, shelf stable grocery products, pet food waste, confectionery, cosmetics, cheese manufacturing and dairy.

Best Regards,    Michael Shaw