Decentralised treatment for greywater using nature-based solutions public spaces
In this project, we investigate methods for greywater treatment and develop an overall concept for their large-scale application. The work is funded by The Swedish Research Council (Formas) and the water utility NSVA.
Greywater is the domestic wastewater fraction that comes from activities like showering, kitchen use, and laundry. Treated greywater has significant potential to be a water resource for urban blue-green infrastructures which can aesthetically enhance urban areas. This project aims to investigate innovative and visually appealing treatment technologies such as a Green wall, designing and implementing them into public spaces, and developing a comprehensive concept for their widespread application on a large scale.
We will evaluate a full-scale green wall design using greywater using the knowledge from the pilot-scale green wall studies which investigated filter materials and hydraulic loading rates. In this experiment, the green wall has a biochar-pumice mix filter material and is planted with several wet-condition plant species. The treatment efficiency will be assessed regarding BOD, nutrients, pathogens, and microplastics. The quality data of the treated greywater can be utilized in various contexts to inform decision-making and ensure the appropriate and safe use of recycled water. In addition, the study will contribute towards developing effective design and integration of blue-green greywater infrastructure within public spaces.
Moreover, there are possibilities to explore strategies to overcome obstacles in implementation and management, along with understanding stakeholders’ perceptions of these systems. Furthermore, this project will assess the practical feasibility of local greywater treatment and quantify potential savings to the sewer system. Eventually, we aim to formulate a comprehensive concept for the widespread implementation of decentralized greywater treatment.
The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration of Luleå University of Technology (Urban Water Engineering and Architecture), Monash University (Australia), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and the Swedish water utility NSVA.
Mashreki Sami, PhD Student
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology
+46 920 491 829