"Sustainable Domestic Wastwater Treatment in (Tropical) Urban Areas

International Seminar Megalopolis:Integrated Development and ManagementJakarta, 19th October 2009

Sustainability at Saxion

SUSTAINABLEDOMESTIC WASTEWATER

TREATMENT IN URBAN AREAS

Ir. Gerard A.M. de Fraiture(retired) Senior Lecturer Environmental Sciences

Saxion University of Applied SciencesThe Netherlands


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Main conclusionVery promising technologies for places• that are able to start with waste water treatment and

• didn’t invest in un-sustainable conventional domestic waste water treatment systemsRecent algae technology can strengthen this concept


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Conclusions (1 out of 3)Conventional domestic wastewater treatment

in prosperous industrialized world means:• High investment and operating costs;• Complex operations;• Dissipate of fresh water;• Exhaustion energy and resources;• Production of environmental impacts.


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Conclusions (2 out of 3)Applying Natural Biological Mineralization

Routes for wastewater and waste treatment means:

• Simple and sustainable concepts• Valorizing energy and mineral resources• Exploit tropical climate• Water management• Closed loops• Money and jobs


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Conclusions (3 out of 3)

• Proven technology & scientific insights wait for applying!

• Challenge for research & education:‘Mother Nature’ as guide for sustainable technologies


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Overview presentation1. Ethics2. Sustainability3. Principles sustainable sanitation4. Weaknesses large scale sewerage5. Drawbacks aerobic treatment6. Benefits anaerobic technologies7. Natural Biological Mineralization Routes8. Anaerobic treatment reactors9. Algae technology10. Research and education11. References


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1. Ethics• 2.6 billion people in the world have no access to

adequate sanitation• 1.8 million children die every year as result of diseases

caused by polluted water and poor sanitary conditions • Polluted water degrades sanitary conditions, affecting

the whole eco-system inter-connected with (needs of) living creatures

• Low costs technologies save money for more important issues

• Attain Millennium Development Goals set in 2000 by UN


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2. Sustainability concept►Elements: People / Planet / Prosperity

[Elkington, 1997; World Summit, 2002]

►Criteria: e.g. affordable technology

►Indicators: e.g. local people don’t need to pay fees


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COD Balance Aerobic Biodegradation

[Field, 2006]


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COD Balance Anaerobic Biodegradation

[Field, 2006]


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3. Principles sustainable sanitation

• Keep waste(-waters) as concentrated as possible; minimize transport

• Separation at the source• Valorise wastes by recovering resources• Keep use-up resources at a minimum• Use local affordable technologies and

local knowledge


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Composition/flow urban wastewater

~ 47%~ 12%~ 41%~ 30COD

~ 12%~ 54%~ 34%~ 1,8K

~ 40%~ 50%~ 10%~ 0,8P

~ 10%~ 87%~ 3%~ 4-5N

Faeces~ 50

Urine~ 500

Grey water25,000-100,000

VolumeL/(PE.year) ⇨Loads

kg/(PE.year) ⇩

Otter

pohl et a

l, 199

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Organic matter in domestic wastewater

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percentage gCOD/p/d

FaecesWashing clothesMeals preparationPersonal careUrine

[Otterpohl et al, 1997]


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Closing the loopbetween sanitationand agriculture


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4. Weaknesses large scale sewerage systems

• High use of water• Risk of spreading contaminants• Risk of uncontrolled discharges in sewers• Clean rainwater is contaminated with

wastewater• Need for expensive treatment due to low load• High costs for sewer system• Vulnerable due to dependency services• Export of water to one location

[Lettinga, 2006]


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5. Drawbacks aerobic treatment• Energy use• Excess sludge production• High land requirements• High costs• Complex mechanical equipment• Complex in operation and maintenance• Complex infrastructure• Formation of recalcitrant organic compounds

[Lettinga, 2006]


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6. Benefits anaerobic technologies• Low costs and space requirements• Up to 5-10x loading potential to aeroob• Applicable at small as well as large scale• Low production and well stabilized sludge• Little -if any- energy demands• Production of biogas• Up to 80-90% TSS- and 60-80% soluble COD-removal efficiencies

• Effluents contain valuable minerals [Lettinga, 2006]


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7.

Based on [Lettinga, 2006]

Algaecultivation


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Anaerobe first treatment step

• Stabilizing biodegradable organic matter• Generating energy carriers• Making nutrients available• Valuable organic soil conditioners


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Main conditions high rate anaerobic reactors

1) Retention of high sludge amounts under high hydraulic and organic load

2) Accomplishing intensive contact wastewater ‒ sludge

3) Efficient separation of biogas


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Field, 200

6

ReactorConceptUASB


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Field, 200

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ExpandedGranularSludgeBed(EGSB)

Reactorconcept


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9. Algae as post treatment?

EffluentAnaerobicreactor

Energy sourceStock feed………

http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/pdfs/lundquist.pdf


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Algae technology• Under-developed!• From threat to opportunity?• First International Algae Congress 2008 Amsterdam: ‘truths and untruths about algae’ is characteristic

• Algae fix CO2 and produce O2 and play subsequently an important role in climate impacts


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Ad CO2 to balance C:N:PAlgae C : N : P = 50 : 8 : 1

Effluent USAB C : N : P = ~10 : 8 : 1

Add CO2

http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/pdfs/lundquist.pdf


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(micro-)Algae cultivation• Photosynthetic organisms: light entrance is essential; O2-production

• Minimal nutritional requirements:C100O48H183N11P (Christi, 2007)

• Optimal temperature 20-30 oC• Simple method to reduce photo-inhibition is mixing


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Required research for development decentralised sanitation

• Low-cost systems collection and transport wastewater

• Post-treatment systems, particularly for removal pathogens

• Methods for reuse effluents close to its origin and performance indicators

[Lettinga et al, 2001]

• Applicability algae as post-treatment


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EducationInspire and facilitate final year students to

choose a part of a waste management project as subject for their final research as a junior-professional

there are lots of talented students who are eager to take their responsibility and give their contribution to a sustainable future of local communities in their beloved country!


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References (1 out of 3)Batstone, D.J. 2006. Mathematical modelling of anaerobic reactors treating

domestic wastewater: Rational criteria for model use. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 57-71.

Chernicharo, C.A.L. 2006. Post-treatment options for the anaerobic treatment of domestic wastewater. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 73-92.

Field J.A. and R. Sierra. 2006. Anaerobic Granular Sludge Bed Technology. University of Arizona. http://www.uasb.org/index.htm

Foresti, E. et al. 2006. Anaerobic process as the core technology for sustainable domestic wastewater treatment: Consolidated applications, new trends, perspectives, and challenges. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 3-19.

Haandel, A. van, et al. 2006. Anaerobic reactor design concepts for the treatment of domestic wastewater. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 21-38.

Kujawa-Roeleveld, K. and G. Zeeman. 2006. Anaerobic treatment in decentralized and source-separation-based sanitation concepts. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 115-139.


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References (2 out of 3)Lettinga, G. 2006. A good life environment for all through conceptual,

technological and social innovations. Water Science and Technology, 54: 2: 1-9.

Noyola, a. et al. 2006. Treatment of biogas produced in anaerobic reactors for domestic wastewater: odor control and energy/resource recovery. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 93-114.

O’Flaherty, V. et al. 2006. The microbiology and biochemistry of anaerobic bioreactors with relevance to domestic sewage treatment. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 5: 39-55.

Seghezzo, L. et al. 1998. A review: the anaerobic treatment of sewage in UASB and EGSB reactors. Bioresource Technology, 65: 175-190.

Wiegant, W.M. 2001. Experience and potential of anaerobic treatment in tropical regions. Water Science and Technology, 44: 8: 107-113.

Zeeman, G. et al. 2000. Feasibility of the on-site treatment of sewage and swill in large buildings. Water Science and Technology, 41: 1: 9-16.


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References (3 out of 3) algaeInternational Algae Congress 2008 Amsterdam: ‘truths

and untruths about algae’ (in Dutch)http://conference.europoint.eu/algen2008/

Christi, Y. 2007. Research review paper: Biodiesel from microalgae. Biotechnology Advances 25: 294-306.

Schenk, P.M. et al. 2008. The economics of Micro-algae Production and Processing into Biodiesel.Department of Agriculture Western Australia.http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/sust/biofuel/algae_biodieseltsdec062.pdf


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I summarize my message:Take the opportunitywhen you didn’t yet invest in conventional sewerage systems

(in the past when we were not aware of resources and climate problems)and make the choice for sustainable systems using your natural temperature resources!


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THANK YOUfor your attention and

GOOD LUCKwith the challenges of the future

THE WORLD IS CHANGING

"Sustainable Domestic Wastwater Treatment in (Tropical) Urban Areas

Technology

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