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After spending a weekend
in the countryside camping on a farm we were asked to join in a project
entitled Rural Affairs.
Taking up the topic of ownership, we understood that
people who live in the countryside have a greater sense of ownership towards
the land then people who live in cities. This could be because of inheritance
but we also realised that services are less easy to provide in remote
areas. For example if a toilet gets blocked on a settlement with a septic
tank, the owner has to unblock it. These people would be very careful
about what they put down the toilet. They exist on a closed system. This
results in a problem being fixed by the individual who caused it or someone
whom they know well. The effect of this encourages people to take greater
care, and are more sustainable.
In the city somebody else always cleans or fix's things
for people so they are less aware of the impact their activities have
on the system. This is an open system.
If city people were forced to take care of a portion
of their own waste they might behave more responsible. For example by
cleaning your house and clothes you are being responsible. However the
effect of over cleaning has is negative. Detergents left in water and
rubbish thrown out have to be processed. By doing some processing at the
location of the activity people would become more aware of the extent
of their impact on the system. If something is free then you pay no attention
to it.
With water treatment in mind, I propose that devices
that use water should clean a portion of water onsite. The image of a
u-bend filter describes the concept.
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