Benefits
As a primary performance benefit, the Living Machine® system at Port of Portland will reduce the facility’s water consumption by treating up to 5,000 gallons per day of wastewater to a high quality reuse standard. The Living Machine® system meets the low system operational cost and resource requirements of the public agency building while fitting into a relatively limited space. In addition, the system will be a showcase for the Port of Portland and will offer visitors the opportunity to learn more about the natural water purification taking place. The system can be placed indoors in a public area because it does not generate significant sludge or methane thereby eliminating the odors and reducing the air pollution associated with conventional wastewater treatment.
The Port of Portland had multiple objectives for the wastewater system in their new 200,000 square foot state-of-the-art headquarters building. It had to be sustainable, cost-effective, attractive and, above all, it had to provide advanced wastewater treatment for reuse. The Living Machine® system was the only approach to wastewater treatment that could meet all the criteria.
As the central design element in the lobby and along the front exterior of the building, the Living Machine system's tidal cells feature a variety of thriving plants, including ornamental flowers. In addition to the lush backdrop, the Living Machine provides the building with a highly efficient water treatment and reuse system, taking all of the building's wastewater and making it suitable for reuse in toilet flushing and as makeup water for cooling towers.
- The building has demonstrated a 75% reduction in water use.
- The system provides interior and exterior foliage and safely integrates into public space.
- Accepts all wastewater generated by the building's 500 employees and produces high quality water that is reused to flush toilets and supply the cooling towers in the building.
- The Living Machine system was cited as a key innovative feature on Forbes.com's list of the world's greenest buildings.
- The project was awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Port of Portland Headquarters Virtual Tour:
http://www.portofportland.com/prj_POP_HQP2_Home.aspx
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca (ZGF) Architects:
After collection, wastewater undergoes initial treatment in a primary equalization tank, before flowing into the Living Machine®. The system is composed of six tidal flow cells and one vertical flow cell, where effluent is treated through several fill-and-drain cycles before final polishing, filtration and, finally, disinfection with ultraviolet light and chlorine. The high quality effluent is then efficiently reused within the building.