Earthworm-driven wastewater system restores compliance at Washington plant
(UI) - The City of Walla Walla, Washington, has adopted an unconventional but increasingly promising wastewater treatment method—vermifiltration—to address high-strength wastewater and persistent contaminants at its municipal treatment plant. The system uses earthworms and microbial ecosystems to break down organic matter and support chemical remediation, offering a low-energy, nature-based alternative to traditional treatment technologies.
City officials report that the vermifiltration installation has delivered significant improvements in removing BOD, TSS and other hard-to-treat pollutants. The approach also helped the facility return to regulatory compliance after previous technologies failed to meet discharge requirements. Because the system relies on gravity flow and minimal mechanical components, it also reduces energy use, chemical reliance and overall operating costs.
The process is designed by Washington-based Perca Inc., whose Vermitech Innovation Center continues to refine vermifiltration technologies for municipal and industrial applications. The system also generates nutrient-rich biomass that can be repurposed for agricultural and landscaping use.
Perca’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. George Damoff, said the results highlight the potential of eco-engineering as wastewater regulations increasingly target persistent and emerging contaminants. “Our vermifiltration system offers a nature-based, cost-effective, and scalable alternative — one that not only cleans water but regenerates ecosystems,” he said.
The Walla Walla project adds to growing interest in nature-based treatment systems as utilities look for low-energy, resilient approaches to modern wastewater challenges.
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