DEUS 21 Decentralized Urban Infrastructure System for water provision and sewerage

DEUS 21
Decentralized Urban Infrastructure System for water provision and
sewerage
Dr.-Ing. Ursula Schließmann
Integrated Resource Management in Asian cities: the urban Nexus, Bangkok, June 25th 2013
© Fraunhofer IGB
Semi-decentralized water management

Centralized systems: high investment, not flexible

Semi-decentralized units: 1,000 – 50,000 inhabitants, depending on
structure of settlement

Short distances, less investment in sewers

Recycling of water, energy, nutrients
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References / examples from Germany
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Demonstration site Heidelberg-Neurott
KA
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
60 inhabitants + 30 population equivalents (inn,
farming)

Average 6.6 m3/d; max. 9.9 m3/d

Pressure sewer system with 7 pumping stations

Only domestic wastewater collected and
treated, rainwater drained separately

Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor installed in the
former equipment house of the local fire
brigade

Started operation in 2005
Parameters in 2006
Parameter
Average influent
Requirement
Average effluent
COD
1074
75
36
NH4-N
109
10
0.2
mg/l
9.2
NO3-N
TN
131
PO4-P
17
18
•
Effluent complies with EU bathing water quality
•
Nitrogen loads in influent 30% higher than expected
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11.3
8.31
DEUS 21 in Knittlingen
Demonstration project in
development area: 105 plots
Funded by German Ministry of
Education and Research, Fraunhofer
Society
Innovations:
 Utilization of rainwater
 Vacuum sewer system
 Wastewater treatment: anaerobic
membrane bioreactor
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Water management in Knittlingen
River
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Utilization of rainwater
 Collection of rainwater from roofs and
roads
 Storage in 3 cisterns (300 m3)
 Treatment by ultrafiltration, activated
carbon, ozone
 Purification up to drinking water quality
possible, but relatively complex – reasonable
if no sources for water of better quality
available
 Utilization for irrigation after simple
treatment possible
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Vacuum sewer system
 Inhabitants are connected to vacuum system via a collection chamber
 Central station creates vacuum of 0,5 - 0,7 bar
 Option: Vacuum toilets inside houses for less water consumption
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Wastewater treatment in Knittlingen
Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor, operated since 2006
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Anaerobic wastewater treatment

Microorganisms grow in absence of oxygen

Organic load is transformed into biogas (contains energy)

No need for aeration (energy intensive)

Low growth rate: little sludge for disposal

No heating necessary (different from sludge digestion)

Microorganisms have to be kept in system

High concentration of nutrients in discharge

Nitrogen and phosphorous have to be removed prior to discharge in
water bodies – possibility of utilization: recovery out of effluent or
reuse of water
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Energy and mass balance per capita and year
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Reuse of treated wastewater

Effluent from anaerobic treatment contains nutrients, usable for
irrigation and fertilisation (agriculture, horticulture, parks)

Membrane for sludge retention: effluent hygienic

Salinisation of soil through irrigation has to be prevented

Groundwater protection necessary
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Concept for Böblingen-Dagersheim

Around 25 existing houses, 80 development sites

First pilot, later possibly extension to settlement with up to 6,000
inhabitants

In Baden-Württemberg: 72,000 km public sewers, 150,000 km private
connections

Private connections frequently not tight, laws for inspection of private
connections are prepared (high costs for plot owners)

Idea: use this necessity to switch to separated sewer system

Collect wastewater via vacuum sewer, rainwater via old gravity system

Utilize energy in wastewater to heat public buildings
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High-load digestion in the practical implementation
2001
High-load digestion
in Heidelberg,
250,000 PE.
PE = population equivalents
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2009
High-load digestion
with microfiltration
AZV Schozachtal,
35,000 PE.
High-load digestion with
microfiltration for a sewage
plant with 10,000 PE in
Wutöschingen.
EtaMax Demonstration Plant
waste from
the Stuttgart
central market
• easily fermentable
• low-inlignocellulose
• low-cost biowaste
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2-stage high-load digestion with
microfiltration
• biowaste fractions which are low in lignocellulose
are almost completely converted into biogas within
the space of only a few days.
power station
• biogas is purified by
utilizing a
membrane system
• used as fuel for
vehicle
ETAMAX
DEMONSTRATION PLANT
Regenerative energy and nutrients from vegetable waste and microalgae
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Determination of availability of organic wastes
 Quantity and quality of wet
biowastes with small content of
lignocellulose
 768,000 t/a biowastes have been
identified in Germany
 Corresponds to 56 % of “market
losses“
 97 defined single locations of
emergence identified (50 t/a –
83,000 t/a)
 Single locations of emergence:
488,000 t/a of biowastes (63 %)
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Single locations of emergence : regional
distribution according to type and quantity
Types of waste

Organic

Anorganic

Kitchen waste

Glas

Waste from gardens/ parks
(with/ without lignocellulose)

Plastic

Metal

Market waste

Construction waste

Food waste from restaurants,
industry

Wastewater (e.g. nutrients,
dissolved metal ions)

Paper

Etc.

Wastewater (partly organic)

Etc.
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Integrated rainwater management
Rainwater management gains importance in
town planning in Europe
Different aspects:

Flood prevention during cloudbursts

Pollution of surface water by dust, car
brakes and tires abrasion, etc.

Water courses and green areas in the city
for recreational purposes and higher
livability

Rainwater as a resource to substitute
drinking water partially
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Source: http://www.moorga.com/wpcontent/uploads/2010/09/Presentation-L-Leonardsen.pdf
Transfer to other regions
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Transfer of solutions

Solutions demonstrated in Germany cannot be copied one to one to
other regions

Adaption to frame conditions is necessary (climate, culture,
regulations, economy etc.)

Fraunhofer IGB has experiences with projects in

Brazil

China

Romania

Namibia
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Projects in Brazil

2004 – 2008: Advanced wastewater treatment and evaluation of
biogas production from organic waste as demonstration for viability
of biogas use

2009 – 2012: Project with industrial partners with the goal to treat
biogas at a WWTP for use as vehicle fuel
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Adaptation of DEUS 21-concept in Guangzhou

80 % of drinking water for
Guangzhou originates from
surface water

Objective: Development of
semi-decentralized water
management concept for China

Frequent pollution of drinking
water due to wastewater
discharge in rivers

Piloting of energy recovery
from wastewater and kitchen
wastes

Partner: China National Electric
Apparatus Research Institute CEI
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Water concept for peri-urban areas
Water
treatment
Rainfall
Drinking
water
Food and
income from
horticulture
Heat from
biogas for
warm water
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Wastewater
treatment
Irrigation and
fertilisation (urban
gardening)
Example: Concept for 5,000 inhabitants
Concept:
Benefits:

Based on average values.


Collection and anaerobic
treatment of wastewater and
biowaste.
No emission of pathogenic
microorganisms nor odors =>
healthy environment

Irrigation for rice cultivation for
more than 1,000 persons


Rainwater collection separately;
a treatment and utilization has 
to be evaluated depending on
climate and alternative water
resources.

Costs depend very much on site
specific conditions.

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Fertilization (N, P) for rice
cultivation for 2,500 to 3,500
persons
Biogas: Electricity supply for
wastewater treatment plant
covered
Biogas: Water heating for
around 700 persons
Example for 5,000 inhabitants
Water
treatment
Drinking
water
Rainfall
variable
219,000 m3 /a
Warm water
for ~ 700 cap
Heat from
biogas for
warm water
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Reduction
possible by
utilization of
rainwater or
greywater
Food and
income from
horticulture
219,000 m3 /a
Wastewater
treatment
Water for rice
for > 1,000 cap,
nutrients for rice
for ~ 3,000 cap
Irrigation and
fertilisation (urban
gardening)
Operation

Local operator for supervision and maintenance

Treatment process fully automatic, remote control

Many plants can be operated by one specialist

Plants are constructed in modules, modules can be produced in large
scale

Potentials for complementing other renewables like solar and wind
energy (storage of biogas and organic solids possible)
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Procedure

Identification of suitable location

Identification of local partners

Analysis of site specific characteristics, needs of users, national
regulations

Adaptation of concept to local situation

Piloting in area with 1,000 to 5,000 inhabitants

Realization by local utility/ company
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Thank
you
attention!
Thank
youfor
for your
your attention!
Dr.-Ing. Ursula Schließmann
[email protected]
www.fraunhofer.igb.de
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