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Innovative Greywater Solutions from Round River Renewables LLC, Finland, Minnesota
Our Philosophy order the SymBioSystem manual
From the North Woods come the tales of the lumberjack Paul Bunyon who floated his logs down the mythical Round River. The legend of Round River was reinterpreted by conservationist Aldo Leopold.
"The (river's) current is the stream of energy which flows out of the soil into plants,
thence into animals, thence back into the soil, in a never-ending circuit of life."

It is this concept that we strive to emulate in our lives and products.

The Greywater Cycle
Here at Round River we have been researching, experimenting and perfecting our own greywater treatment system, using our household waste water to irrigate orchards and a greenhouse. This has evolved into the SymBioSystem Kit, a safe, reliable, cost-effective and simple way to take a "waste" and create a "resource." This sustainable approach provides a real solution to one of the many environmental problems society is facing.

About Greywater order the SymBioSystem manual
Waste water issues continue to be a global concern. In the USA, on the household scale, some lots are too small to adequately treat waste water, others rest on impermeable soils or bedrock. Many of the current treatment alternatives are expensive and overly complex. These situations have led people to consider segregated treatment systems separating blackwater and greywater.
Greywater comes from your sinks, showers, baths, and laundry but does not include toilet water. By separating your toilet from your waste water, greywater will contain:
  • 40% less water
  • 50-90% less nitrogen
  • 40-60% less phosphorus
  • less bacteria & less solids
Here at Round River Alternatives, we have developed the SymBioSystem Kit as the next generation of onsite treatment systems to transform "waste water" problems into "water resource" solutions.
SymBioSystem Kit - How It Works! order the SymBioSystem manual
Here at Round River Alternatives we have been researching, experimenting and perfecting our own greywater treatment system, using our household waste water to irrigate orchards and a greenhouse. This has evolved into the SymBioSystem Kit, a safe, reliable, cost-effective and simple way to take a "waste" and create a "resource."
SymBioSystems kit sketch
How does the system work?
In a typical conserving home, greywater volume runs under 100 gallons per day. This greywater travels from your kitchen and bathroom sinks, showers, baths and laundry into the Septic Tank. These tanks can either be installed above or below ground depending on the situation.

The Septic Tank performs minor biological treatment but most of all serves to separate the solids along the bottom, and the soaps and scum along the top, trapped between the inlet and the outlet. The clearer water leaves the tank and enters the Pod Filter.

The Pod filter increases water clarity while also providing a pump chamber which pressure doses the drip irrigation system.

Soil Treatment Zones
Soil is where the major treatment of the waste water takes place. Many types of plants can take advantage of the nutrients in greywater. SymBioSystem Kits meet all the conditions neccessary for a successful soil treatment system.

  • the waste water never surfaces
  • enough area is used to fully treat the water
  • the drip zones are designed to avoid freezing
  • the filter is designed to limit clogging
Compost Toilet Tips order the SymBioSystem manual
Living with a compost toilet is a major decision. Fortunately, there are many good composting toilet units on the market. Some can even handle large gatherings on occasion, so pick the unit that will work for your situation. A few toilets can perform well without a heating element, others require them. Take note, even a great composting toilet will fail you if improperly maintained. After sitting on many different types of compost toilets I have developed some personal preferences.
For residential composting toilets I recommend the use of:
(* * * * =excellent; * * * =good; * * =fair)

  • Biolet XL * * *
  • Clivus Multrum or CTS * * *
  • EcoTech Carousel * * * *
  • Sun-Mar XL * *
  • Phoenix * * * *

For non-residential, seasonal or vacation home composting toilets, I recommend the use of:

  • Biolet NE * * * *
  • Sun Mar NE * * *
Our Experience
Here at Round River, we are 100% solar and wind powered so we purchased a small non-electric composting toilet which did not work satisfactorily. We have successfully retrofited this toilet to work for us.

Many decisions need to be made when you are choosing a composting toilet unit and now there is "The Composting Toilet System Book" by David Del Porto & Carol Steinfeld to help you. Contact us on its availability.

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