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Close loop systems for a reuse of wastewater - theory and experiences

Dr.-Ing. Knerr Henning, Kaiserslautern University of Technology, Germany

    Closed loop system for a reuse of wastewater - theory and experiences

    Conventional sanitation systems for the treatment of municipal wastewater in industrialized countries historically base on sewer systems, where different wastewater streams (domestic, industrial and surface water) are mixed and conveyed by gravity to a centralized wastewater treatment plant. The mixed and diluted wastewater is then treated by mechanical, biological and biochemical processes as to keep the particulate material, the organic matter and the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus away from water bodies. Linear flows with limited recycling possibilities, a high capital demand and inflexible infrastructure are the consequences.

    To overcome the disadvantages of the conventional end-of-pipe technology, alternative sanitation approaches, so called ecological sanitation systems (ecosan), have been discussed in recent years. These approaches are based on the collection and treatment of different domestic wastewater fractions (source separation), enabling an efficient recovery of wastewater ingredients (nutrients and energy) and the reuse of treated wastewater.

    In the lecture the theoretical background of ecosan-systems, an overview about different system types and experiences with realized systems is given.