BRATTLEBORO — I expect that few know the Rich Earth Institute by name, but most have heard about our work - collecting urine, using it to fertilize some local hayfields, and saving some of the 1.2 trillion gallons of potable water we use to flush small amounts of urine down our toilets.
Lots of you saw us strolling with the heifers and joined us in the memorable cheer, “Give us a pee!”
This work may be frivolous in how it sounds - we get lots of giggles when we talk about what we're doing - but we are very serious in our mission and intent.
Think about the drought conditions that much of the country and the world are currently experiencing. Then ask why we waste so much drinking water in flushing urine, which also has very significant value as fertilizer!
And diverting these nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorous) from the wastewater stream can improve water quality for all of us.
You should all be proud that the Rich Earth Institute is a local organization, made up of people from this community. Local endorsements and participation are at the heart of the project. Our community is to be commended for stepping forward on this critical part of environmental sustainability.
The Rich Earth Institute is the first such permitted pilot project in the United States, and we have been featured on radio newscasts and websites nationally and internationally. Many, many entities, from governmental agencies to municipalities, are watching what we do with serious interest.
We are collaborating nationally and doing rigorous scientific enquiry. Field trials are yielding results critical to widespread adoption of nutrient reclamation.
Please visit our website to read more on this important work. Sign up for our newsletter, and learn how you can get involved.
Urine is “liquid gold.”