Wellington inventor provides solution for environmental snag

Septic systems would become safer: an answer for a common environmental problem?

Ken Burrows, environmental consultant and inventor, smiles with pride at the suggestion; however, he becomes more serious when discussion turns to his Nova Scotia invention that will make domestic septic systems safer and more reliable.

Burrow's, a QP (Qualified Person), operates a family business that selects septic systems for residential housing and oversees the installation and approval of these on-site systems.

He credits his invention to working for many years as a developer and serving a term as director of Waste Water Nova Scotia Society (WWNS).

MLA Gary Hines, also a director of WWNS, recently congratulated Burrows on his invention, mentioning that the subject of flow balance was a hot topic with the board and Robert Anderson, of the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour, at an annual general meeting of WWNS a couple of years ago.


Burrows thought up the idea of the flow balancer and took it to the Environmental Innovation Branch of Nova Scotia Environment and Labour.

"The department put me in touch with Dalhousie's faculty of engineering," Burrows said. "The Department was helpful in testing the prototype."


The device forces the effluent flow into two equal streams. This ensures that the effluent is evenly distributed through the disposal bed. The balanced flow means that the work of filtering the effluent is spread evenly across the disposal bed. The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program provided funding for prototype development.

"Environment and Labour helped make the connections with the university and the funding agencies to bring this to life," said Burrows.

Nova Scotia Environment and Labour provided financial support for the patent application and marketing.

Assisting environmental innovation is a core business or our Department, said Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash. "We're always ready to help make smart ideas like this one become reality."

The developer has applied for a patent and is discussing manufacturing plans. Burrows has been keeping busy in other areas as well.

The department put me in touch with Dalhousie's faculty of engineering," Burrows said. "The Department was helpful in testing the prototype."

The department put me in touch with Dalhousie's faculty of engineering," Burrows said. "The Department was helpful in testing the prototype."

The department put me in touch with Dalhousie's faculty of engineering," Burrows said. "The Department was helpful in testing the prototype."