apartments through the normal process followed by the Berlin public housing authority. Through seminars and written information, they were.informed in detail as to the functioning of the w~ter circulation systems in their block. The objective was to encourage conscious and responsible use of water and chemicals in the households, and involve people in planning.and decision-making. A regular resident information and.,Participation program related to the water concept was initiated in the context of an accompanying scientific research effort Changes in the attitudes of the residents were thus identified through surveys and interviews. Waste Concept: Waste reduction is also a priority. The wastes generated are divided into recyclables, waste and toxics, and separately collected at the apartment and building level. Organic waste is collected and composted on site. Treatment Processes for waste "1ater consists of the following main systems: 1. The waste water is co11ected in the basement and pumped into a well for the sedimentation of solid particles in the water. 2. The water flows from the well underground into the pond system which is planted with reeds and rushes. 3. The water then flows horizontally through the soil of the ponds, whereby the waste water's contaminants are broken down by microorganisms which are living in symbiosis with the plant roots. 4. After about 10 days, the w.ater arrives at the clearing pond where it reaches the surface for the first time. The water is stored here until its further use. The project has been complemented by two intensive research phases in orqer' to better determine the effects of various factors on the functioning of the systems. Seasonal climate changes, the sociology of the residents, biological, economical and technical aspects of the treatment system, and legal issues related to the project were all investigated. Page 28 RAIN Summer 1994 Volume XIV, Number 4 Block 6 demonstrates the potential and possibilities for urban decentralized systems designed to complement centralized systems, while respectfully using and recycling local resources. Block 6's applied water sparing technologi~s successfully led to a water consumption rate that is one-third lower than the average in .Berlin, which is further reduced to 50% with the use of recycled greywater for toilet , flushing. ' Considering the costs of providing drinking water and removing wa~te water, which have doubled since 1983, Block 6 is already an economical·alternative. According to city officials, water prices are expected to double again in the.next 7 years, providing further economic-motivation for the development and support of ecological water systems. While in the past it was a struggle just to get governmental approval for such local water systems, now it is possible to get.support for their development. Since 1990, the city of Berlin has offered financial assistance.to developers interested in building water projects and other
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