How to Reuse 80% of Your Water and Reduce Pollution in Bocas del Toro

The future is now; a Bocas del Toro with a more conscious use of its precious resources and practices that safeguard its natural beauty for future generations. In this article we highlight an innovative water solution being brought to our community: August Wastewater Treatment Plants.

The technology was developed by the Lithuanian company August and has been implemented all over Europe since 1998. Today, these Wastewater Treatment Plants are available in Panama, via August’s Latin American branch, Eco Vision Group (EVG). The company has already been successfully implemented many units in homes, hotels and other commercial establishments in Panama since 2022.

How It Works

Water from your toilets, showers, sinks, washing machine, etc. leaves your home or business and is sent to the August Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is typically installed outside and partially underground. The water passes through six interconnected compartments and is cleaned through a biological process involving zero chemicals. The system uses activated sludge and the six compartments to separate the bacteria from the water, filtering out soaps, food debris, excrement and all that is flushed and drained from your home or business, restoring the water to a 98% purification level.

Eighty percent of the water can be reused; ideal for gardening or washing cars, without any further treatment. Add a filtration system to it, and the water is clean and perfectly safe for all household uses: sinks, showers, toilets, washing machines, swimming pool, etc.  Imagine for every ten gallons of water that is used and treated, eight gallons can be reused! The water can also be discharged safely in nature, onto the ground or into a pond, chemical and pollutant free. The only byproduct is fertilizer which can be used in your garden or also safely discarded in nature.

If you would like to take a deeper dive into the technical information regarding the treatment process, click here to view a PDF presentation about the product.

Talk to a local Eco Vision Group representative via cell/WhatsApp +507 6222-6686 (click here to chat on WhatsApp)

August Wastewater Treatment Plants Address Two Primary Problems in Bocas del Toro:

(1) Water Pollution

Everybody in Bocas talks about the algal blooms and deposits that wash ashore on Playa Istmito. Some establishments even get singled out as the cause, but the phenomenon is more complex than the actions of any single home or business. It is likely that the compound effect of many places with improper sewage is contributing to this phenomenon.

Unfortunately, some structures are built over the water and connected to no septic at all, while other traditional septic systems are not managed properly. The result in both cases is pollution and the increase of nitrogen and phosphorus in the ocean, which are contributing factors to algal blooms. Even if your property is not directly over the water, septic that is not treated properly tends to make its way to the ocean when it rains. Poorly managed septic can also contaminate soil in the form of polluted groundwater.

August Wastewater Treatment Plants address the issue of water pollution by filtering out the contaminants.

There is an interesting article recently published in The Washington Post about “septic tank ticking time bombs” that are beginning to pollute coastal communities in the US, with rising sea levels and groundwater tables that cause pollution and raw sewage to surface.

(2) Water Scarcity

Bocas del Toro experiences seasonal droughts, which have had notably severe impacts on public water supply in recent years. Though more wells have been tapped in recent years adding to the town’s public supply, the distribution is not always reliable for Bocas’ growing population and its visitors. More and more Bocas del Toro residents and businesses are incorporating water catchment and their own wells where possible. Conserving water -whether publicly or privately sourced- has never been more important. When water can be conserved, overall usage decreases and the public supply of our most precious resource is made more abundant for the people of Bocas del Toro and its visitors.

With August Wastewater Treatment Plants, 80% of water can be reused, addressing the issue of water scarcity in Bocas del Toro.

While those are the two main benefits specific to the unique conditions of our island community, other benefits of the August Wastewater Treatment Plants include: it doesn’t emit unpleasant odors, there is no danger of overflowing, maintenance is cheaper, the system increases your property value and it comes with a 10 year guarantee. A complete list of benefits can be found in the PDF presentation.

Models Suitable for Bocas del Toro Residences, Hotels and Businesses

The Bocas Breeze would like to congratulate Eco Vision Group on this venture that is sure to improve the lives of many in the community, with a more abundant supply of that vital liquid, and contribute to a healthier, cleaner and greener future for Bocas del Toro.

If you have questions regarding August Wastewater Treatment Plants, don’t hesitate to contact Bocas’ Eco Vision Group representative via cell/WhatsApp +507 6222-6686 (click here to chat on WhatsApp).