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Wastewater generation model to predict impacts of urine separation on wastewater treatment plants
(2024)
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are under increasing pressure to enhance resource efficiency and reduce emissions into water bodies. The separation of urine within the catchment area may be an alternative to mitigate the need for costly expansions of central WWTPs. While previous investigations assumed a spatially uniform implementation of urine separation across the catchment area, the present study focuses on an adapted stochastic wastewater generation model, which allows the simulation of various wastewater streams (e.g., urine) on a household level. This enables the non-uniform separation of urine across a catchment area. The model is part of a holistic modelling framework to determine the influence of targeted urine separation in catchments on the operation and emissions of central WWTPs, which will be briefly introduced. The wastewater generation model is validated through an extensive sampling and measurement series.
Results based on observed and simulated wastewater quantity and quality for a catchment area of 366 residents for two dry weather days indicate the suitability of the model for wastewater generation and transport modelling. Based on this, four scenarios for urine separation were defined. The results indicate a potential influence of spatial distribution on the peaks of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.
In Germany, the current sectoral urban planning often leads to inefficient use of resources, partly because municipalities lack integrated planning instruments and argumentation strength toward politics, investors, or citizens. The paper develops the ResourcePlan as (i) legal and (ii) a planning instrument to support the efficient use of resources in urban neighborhoods. The integrative, multi-methodological approach addresses the use of natural resources in the building and infrastructural sectors of (i) water (storm- and wastewater) management, (ii) construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, (iii) urban energy system planning, and (iv) land-use planning. First, the development as legal instrument is carried out, providing (i) premises for integrating resource protection at all legal levels and (ii) options for implementing the ResourcePlan within German municipal structures. Second, the evaluation framework for resource efficiency of the urban neighborhoods is set up for usage as a planning instrument. The framework provides a two-stage process that runs through the phases of setting up and implementing the ResourcePlan. (Eco)system services are evaluated as well as life cycle assessment and economic aspects. As a legal instrument, the ResourcePlan integrates resource protection into municipal planning and decision-making processes. The multi-methodological evaluation framework helps to assess inter-disciplinary resource efficiency, supports the spatial identification of synergies and conflicting goals, and contributes to transparent, resource-optimized planning decisions.
Potential and risks of water reuse in Brandenburg (Germany) – an interdisciplinary case study
(2024)
For Brandenburg, a region in Germany with increasing water shortage and drought events, water reuse can counteract competition scenarios between drinking water supply, agricultural irrigation, and industrial use. Centralized and decentralized sources for reclaimed water are found to potentially substitute 245 or 28% of irrigation water, respectively, in agriculture production in Brandenburg. For such a reuse scenario, the
fate of organic micropollutants is examined for diatrizoate (DZA) and carbamazepine (CBZ). Retention in local sandy soil and transfer into roots and leaves of arugula are analyzed in lysimeter studies and greenhouse pot experiments. Vertical transport was found for DZA and accumulation in or on arugula roots with a root concentration factor of 1,925+34% but a low bioconcentration factor due to intrinsic molecule properties. CBZ was not found to be mobile in the sandy soil but accumulates in arugula roots and leaves by factors of 70+7% and 155+12%, respectively. Further research on potential plant uptake and groundwater enrichment for more substances is highly recommended as well as tertiary wastewater treatment prior to water reuse.
Die klimabedingte Zunahme extremer Wetterereignisse ist eine der Herausforderungen in der gegenwärtig durch Krisen geprägten Zeit. Gefahren gehen von großräumigen Hochwasserereignissen und von kleinräumigen Überflutungen innerhalb besiedelter Bereiche aus. Ursache sind ausgeprägte Extremniederschläge. Das Schadpotenzial hängt maßgeblich von den lokalen Bedingungen ab. Ein Starkregen richtet im Flachland mit versickerungsfähigen Böden wesentlich weniger Schäden an als im Bereich eines Kerbtalgewässers, wenn dort die Hochwasserwelle auf bebaute Talbereiche trifft. Auch sind die Folgen einer als urbane Sturzflut bezeichneten Überflutung in dicht besiedelten Räumen in der Regel dramatischer als bei ländlich geprägten Siedlungsstrukturen. Aber nicht nur dem Problem „zu viel Wasser“, sondern auch der zunehmenden Herausforderung „zu wenig Wasser“ muss sich die Wasserwirtschaft stellen. Trockenheit und Hitze führen vor allem in Innenstädten immer häufiger zu Bedingungen, in denen das Leben und Arbeiten zur Belastung wird. Vielerorts sinkende Grundwasserspiegel stellen die Bewirtschaftung natürlicher Wasserressourcen und nicht zuletzt die öffentliche Wasserversorgung in Deutschland vor bislang weitgehend unbekannte Herausforderungen. Einen absoluten Schutz gegen Überflutungen und vor Hitzeperioden gibt es nicht. Wir müssen Vorsorge betreiben, um die Belastungen zu begrenzen. In der letzten Zeit hat dafür der Begriff der „Resilienz“ im wasserwirtschaftlichen Kontext eine besondere Bedeutung gewonnen. Dazu erforderliche Konzepte greifen die Wassertage Münster im Jahr 2023 auf. Zu den Maßnahmen der wasserbewussten Stadtentwicklung zählen beispielsweise die gezielte Versickerung und Verdunstung von Niederschlagswasser oder die Ableitung von Oberflächenabflüssen bei seltenen Starkregen in weniger kritische Bereiche. Thematisiert wird auch der Umgang mit (Ab-)Wasser als Ressource. Hierbei werden die Bedeutung und Chancen der Wasserwiederverwendung betrachtet.