Municipalities That Use Red Worms for Sewage Treatment

The practice of using worms and microorganisms to recycle organic waste into fertilizer and soil components is called vermicomposting. The most commonly used type of worms is the red worm (Eisenia foetida). The process is very effective in the treatment of sewage and recycling of waste water. Many municipalities and cities are now experimenting with the idea, while some have already rolled out full programs for the same.

St. Petersburg, Florida

• This city completely recycles all of its waste water and none is discharged into its lakes or rivers. Most of the waste water is recycled using red worm technology and redistributed for use by city residents. The city has two water distribution systems; one for drinking water and another for recycled waste water. Feasibility studies have yet to prove if the recycled water is safe for drinking directly. There are other ways through which it can be treated to help make it safe for drinking. These include ultra filtration and chemical treatment.

Equaris Harbor, Minnesota

• This small township is located on Equaris Lake, 20 miles south of St. Cloud, Minnesota. The residents have embraced the use of vermicomposting to treat their sewage. Most of the homes here are on small lots that cannot meet the strict septic laws for the state. The system works by collecting solid waste into a large composting tank separate from waste water and then allowing the red worms to act on them to produce compost.

Orange County, California

• The authorities of Orange County are also putting a lot of effort into recycling as much of their waste water as possible. They are faced with the additional problem of sea-water intrusion into their fresh water supplies. Therefore recycling of waste water is very important to the residents here. Some of the recycled water is used to form a barrier to sea water intrusion through direct injection. The recycled water is vital in keeping the volumes of fresh water sufficient for all residents.

Virginia

• Virginia has a water reclamation plant that uses vermicomposting as part of its sewage treatment and waste water recycling plan. The process is so efficient that the recycled waste water is now reclaimed and forms part of the area's water supply. The recycling plant discharges the recycled water into the Bull Run River 20 miles upstream of the water supply intake so as to add to the amount of water available for residents.