Chapter 1
Ancient channels of the gods
Chapter 2
The Great Stink and the trap of genius
Chapter 3
The physics of the flush
Chapter 4
The future of the flow
YOUR GOAL
Master of The secret life of pipes
Ch 4 · The future of the flow
artiteacher Closed-Loop Water Recycling
Filter the flow, loop it back, save the drop.
artiteacher Household plumbing filters wastewater from sinks, washing machines, and showers to safely irrigate local parks and gardens.
artiteacher A glowing digital sensor monitors water flow inside a modern copper pipe.
Fun Fact
Space water recycling: The water filtration system on the International Space Station is so efficient that it turns astronaut sweat into pure drinking water.
Glossary
greywater (noun)
Relatively clean wastewater from domestic sources such as baths, sinks, and washing machines. In 1989, Santa Barbara, California, became the first US municipality to legalize reusing this household wastewater.
Relatively clean wastewater from domestic sources such as baths, sinks, and washing machines. In 1989, Santa Barbara, California, became the first US municipality to legalize reusing this household wastewater.
Quiz
According to the World Health Organization, approximately how many people worldwide still lack basic sanitation services?
Quiz
What sustainable plumbing fixture is designed to use absolutely no water to dispose of human waste?
Quiz
What is a major advantage of using PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes over copper pipes?
Quiz
How does the International Space Station recycle astronaut urine into clean drinking water?
Quiz
Why are modern cities replacing old lead water pipes with copper or PEX plastic?