Theme Resource efficient small sanitation systems
The research activities within the theme Resource-efficient Small Sanitation Systems include nature-based solutions for domestic wastewater treatment, source-separating sanitation systems and resource recovery from sanitation systems. The subject is led by Inga Herrmann.
There are many challenges with today’s sanitation systems. E.g., only a small share of the plant nutrients contained in human waste is recycled back to food production. The recycling could be increased e.g., by implementing source-separating systems but the processes necessary to treat different wastewater streams and produce fertilizers need to be developed and optimized. Some processes demand large amounts of energy and it is important to investigate how the nutrients can be recycled in a energy-efficient way and how excess heat from industry can be used for the processes. To facilitate this, synergies between the water utilities' wastewater systems and the industry need to be found. Another challenge is the wastewater management in rural areas with small wastewater treatment facilities with a small number of connected people. Robust yet efficient treatment technologies are needed to ensure an adequate wastewater management. Also in rural areas, the recycling of plant nutrients is challenging but here different technologies can be of interest, such as forest irrigation and constructed wetlands.
Following research and development projects are currently pursued within this field:
- Management of greywater in blue-green urban environments
- Centralised or decentralised sanitation?
[https://www.ltu.se/research/subjects/VA-teknik/Forskningsprojekt/Sma-avlopp/Forskningsprojekt]
