Source Separation and Treatment of Anthropogenic Urine
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Source Separation and of Treatment Anthropogenic Urine Infrastructure Water Environment Research Foundation 635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110 n Alexandria, VA 22314-1177 Phone: 571-384-2100 n Fax: 703-299-0742 n Email: [email protected] www.werf.org WERF Stock No. INFR4SG09b Co-published by IWA Publishing Source Separation and Treatment Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QS United Kingdom of Anthropogenic Urine Phone: +44 (0)20 7654 5500 Fax: +44 (0)20 7654 5555 Email: [email protected] Web: www.iwapublishing.co IWAP ISBN: 978-1-78040-005-1/1-78040-005-5 Co-published by Aug 2011 INFR4SG09b SOURCE SEPARATION AND TREATMENT OF ANTHROPOGENIC URINE by: Kimberly LeMonde Fewless Sybil Sharvelle (PI) Larry A. Roesner (Co-PI) Colorado State University 2011 The Water Environment Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, funds and manages water quality research for its subscribers through a diverse public-private partnership between municipal utilities, corporations, academia, industry, and the federal government. WERF subscribers include municipal and regional water and wastewater utilities, industrial corporations, environmental engineering firms, and others that share a commitment to cost-effective water quality solutions. WERF is dedicated to advancing science and technology addressing water quality issues as they impact water resources, the atmosphere, the lands, and quality of life. For more information, contact: Water Environment Research Foundation 635 Slaters Lane, Suite G-110 Alexandria, VA 22314-1177 Tel: (571) 384-2100 Fax: (703) 299-0742 www.werf.org [email protected] This report was co-published by the following organization. IWA Publishing Alliance House, 12 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QS, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7654 5500 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7654 5555 www.iwapublishing.com [email protected] © Copyright 2011 by the Water Environment Research Foundation. All rights reserved. Permission to copy must be obtained from the Water Environment Research Foundation. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2011922332 Printed in the United States of America IWAP ISBN: 978-1-78040-005-1/1-78040-005-5 This report was prepared by the organization(s) named below as an account of work sponsored by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). Neither WERF, members of WERF, the organization(s) named below, nor any person acting on their behalf: (a) makes any warranty, express or implied, with respect to the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report or that such use may not infringe on privately owned rights; or (b) assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of, any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report. Colorado State University The research on which this report is based was developed, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through Cooperative Agreement No. CR-83419201-0with the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF). However, the views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the EPA and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication. This report is a publication of WERF, not EPA. Funds awarded under the Cooperative Agreement cited above were not used for editorial services, reproduction, printing, or distribution. This document was reviewed by a panel of independent experts selected by WERF. Mention of trade names or commercial products or services does not constitute endorsement or recommendations for use. Similarly, omission of products or trade names indicates nothing concerning WERF's or EPA's positions regarding product effectiveness or applicability. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Preparation for conducting this research was made possible by the engineering faculty at Colorado State University. Martina Winker, at the German Technical Cooperation, provided invaluable assistance in finding up-to-date urine diversion pilot project feedback. Finally, thanks are due to the U.S. EPA and the Water Environment Research Foundations for research support. Research Team Principal Investigators: Sybil Shavelle, Ph.D. Larry Roesner, Ph.D. Colorado State University - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Project Team: Kimberly LeMonde Fewless Colorado State University - Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering WERF Project Subcommittee Michael Borst U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Richard Field, P.E. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thomas O’Connor U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mary Stinson U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (retired) Daniel Murray U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Swarna Muthukrishnan, Ph.D. American Water Jian Yang, Ph.D., P.E. American Water Innovative Infrastructure Research Committee Members Steve Whipp United Utilities North West Daniel Murray U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Stephen P. Allbee U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Source Separation and Treatment of Anthropogenic Urine iii Michael Royer U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Kevin Hadden Orange County Sanitation District Kendall M. Jacob, P.E. Cobb County Frank Blaha Water Research Foundation David Hughes American Water Peter Gaewski, MS, P.E. Tata & Howard, Inc. Jeff Leighton City of Portland Water Bureau Walter L. Graf, Jr. Water Environment Research Foundation Daniel M. Woltering, Ph.D. Water Environment Research Foundation – IIRC Chair Water Environment Research Foundation Staff Director of Research Daniel M. Woltering, Ph.D. Program Director Walter L. Graf, Jr. Senior Program Director Jeff Moeller, P.E. (IIRC Champion) iv ABSTRACT AND BENEFITS Abstract: Anthropogenic urine, although only 1% of domestic wastewater flow, is responsible for 50-80% of the nutrients and a substantial portion of the pharmaceuticals and hormones present in the influent to wastewater treatment plants. Source separation and treatment of urine enables recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus, thus largely minimizing the energy requirements for nutrient removal at wastewater treatment plants, allowing for capture and reuse of nutrients, and creating a more efficient means for removal of pharmaceuticals and hormones. The goal of this research was to investigate the global status of urine source separation and treatment technologies and to advise a path forward for further research. Results from the literature review validate urine source separation as a means to recover nutrients, conserve water, and decrease overall energy requirements for both nutrient and micropollutant removal as compared to conventional wastewater treatment. Research has matured beyond the laboratory scale to include pilot projects in office buildings, private homes, and schools. Continued research is necessary to create marketable products, to develop life cycle and/or cost-benefit analysis, to determine social acceptance in the U.S. as most surveys and projects have been conducted in Europe, and to assess the most appropriate means and setting for urine treatment. Benefits: ♦ Describes the current global status of urine source separation and treatment technologies, pilot projects, and research groups. ♦ Shows that urine treatment can result in a safe, nutrient-rich, micropollutant-free fertilizer. ♦ Illustrates that urine diversion toilets and storage tanks have been developed for urban water management to the point that inclusion into larger pilot projects is feasible with proper oversight. ♦ Assesses the potential for urine diversion to reduce the energy requirements in wastewater treatment plants, and to improve water quality by allowing for more efficient removal of nutrients and micropollutants. ♦ Advises a path forward in the development of urine source separation and treatment in the U.S. Keywords: Urine diversion, urine treatment, sustainable wastewater management, nutrient recovery, pharmaceutical/hormone removal. Source Separation and Treatment of Anthropogenic Urine v TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iii Abstract and Benefits .......................................................................................................................v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ix List of Acronyms .............................................................................................................................x Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................ES-1 1.0 Urine Source Separation in the Context of Sustainable Wastewater Management ............................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................ 1-2 1.3 Urine Quality ....................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 Benefits of Urine Source Separation and Treatment ........................................... 1-4 1.4.1 Prevents Environmental Contamination from Anthropogenic