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Mycelium bed — maintenance checklist

Pre-treatment only. Output is not drinking water.

After every heavy rain

• Water still entering the bed at the inflow point
• No new bypass channel cut around the bed
• No erosion at inflow or outflow
• Straw / leaf cover still in place; topped up if bare
• Outflow visibly clearer than inflow (compared in a clear glass if possible)

Weekly

• Smell at inflow and outflow noted (earthy = OK; rotten / sour = problem)
• Surface checked for compaction or crusting
• Surrounding area free of standing puddles
• Sign / label still legible

Every 2–4 months

• Wood chip layer turned and partially refreshed (replace bottom material first)
• New straw / leaf cover applied
• Spent material disposed of safely (buried away from wells, streams, food gardens, unless local guidance says otherwise)
• Tools and gloves cleaned

Seasonal / annual

• Whole bed turned and largely rebuilt
• Plant buffer at outflow checked and replanted as needed
• Test-strip baseline retaken (nitrate, ammonia, pH, turbidity)
• Maintenance log reviewed for trends
• Maintenance lead and backup re-confirmed

Stop and contact qualified local help if

• Persistent rotten or sewage-like smell that does not clear after refreshing dry material
• Sudden change in water source (industrial activity nearby, fuel spill, animal die-off)
• Outbreak of waterborne illness in the community
• The bed is being used as a drinking-water source by anyone
• Anyone is using the bed's output to irrigate food crops without a verified disinfection step
• Anyone has eaten a mushroom that fruited on or near the bed
• A child, infant, pregnant or immunocompromised person, or older adult has been in contact with the bed water

Reminder: water leaving this bed is not drinking water. For drinking water or any incident, ask qualified local people.

Mycelium beds are pre-treatment only. They do not make water safe to drink. For drinking-water treatment or any incident, ask qualified local people. MycoEco is informational only. It is not medical, first-aid, treatment, or engineering advice. Provided as-is, with no warranty. Check and follow your local laws and regulations.

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