Managing Water for the City of the Future
Theme 4: Waste Water
Introduction
Conventionally, wastewater from households and large parts of industrial areas in cities is collected through gravity sewers and transported to central treatment facilities. This way of collection and treatment is based on a mixed discharge of concentrated and diluted flows. Although centralised urban wastewater management systems may function well with respect to the protection of public health and the environment – provided treatment facilities are in place and operating – they have several weak points, such as i) removal of an important source of water out of the urban area; ii) destruction of valuable nutrients; iii) frequent storm water overflows that result in uncontrolled discharge of wastewater to urban water systems; iv) production of polluted municipal sludge at wastewater treatment plants; v) emissions of micropollutants to water systems, both in the city and downstream.
The objective of theme 4 is to develop and demonstrate pollution prevention-based approaches to wastewater handling in urban areas in which concentrated waste flows are separately collected and treated. A number of research and demonstration initiatives in and outside Europe have already shown that these approaches can result in promising new and cost effective options for wastewater management, preventing emission of pollutants to the urban environment and facilitating new local sources of water and the use of valuable nutrients in agriculture. The dissemination of these approaches is however still limited and various aspects need more development for wider application at city scale.
Click here to read more about the rationale, objectives, approach and activities for Theme 4.
Click here for an overview presentation of Theme 4, given by Adriaan Mels.
Work packages
4.1: Eco-sanitation and decentralised waste water management in an urban context
4.2: Management of industrial emissions
Each work package is divided into several tasks. Click here to view more information about the objectives, deliverables, milestones and planning for each task.
Resources
Click here to view a list of all resources associated with theme 4 and to download those of interest.
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