Researchers develop mobile waste treatment units
French and Austrian researchers have developed a mobile, low energy waste purification unit which could be used to treat human waste in refugee camps, where poor sanitation is a major cause of disease. The system, which is the result of the EUREKA project HYGICLAIR, mimics natural processes to clean the sewage. First, a metal grating removes heavier matter from the effluent. The sludge then passes through a series of cascading tanks, where bacteria consume the organic matter and convert it into carbon dioxide. The neutralised biological solids are then recycled through the system or pumped into a holding tank, and the treated water is disinfected. The resulting water is not of drinking quality, but is clean enough to be discharged through a soak-away dug into the ground, or used for irrigation on golf courses or parks. The whole system fits into a portable 20ft (approx 6m) container which can be easily transported by truck, plane or ship. Each container can handle the waste water of up to 100 people, and connected in parallel they can cater for populations up to 1,800 strong. The system runs automatically and requires just one hour of maintenance per week. It also has a low energy consumption of just 35kWh per day. 'Because of its mobility and its modularity, the system can be used for gatherings in isolated places,' said Jean-Louis Faverot of project partner Sanitec SAS. 'It can equally be used for the specific treatment of effluents in isolated zones such as for the breeding of animals.'