3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater

at the local level

Private and public entities are faced with the following situations:
• national and regional development plans require the wastewater connection
of peri-, semi-urban and rural settlements to treatment facilities, which meet
discharge standards
• new housing and real estate developments do not get clearance
without approved wastewater-treatment systems
• schools, hospitals, hotels and public facilities face public pressure,
due to surface-water pollution
• small and medium enterprises unable to treat wastewaters adequately
are closed down by public authorities

Only a few of the households – well as public and private entities, that require
wastewater treatment can be serviced by conventional sewage and wastewater-
treatment systems. The rapidly growing demand can only be met with the assi-
stance of other technical solutions, which should ideally fulfil the following criteria:
• suitable for very diverse local conditions and versatile in application
• provide reliable and efficient treatment of domestic and process wastewater
• require only short planning and implementation phases
• moderate investment costs
• limited requirements for operation and maintenance

It is evident that decentralised wastewater solutions, which fulfil these criteria,

have to become an integral part of comprehensive wastewater strategies,
complementing other approaches.

32
3.1 DEWATS – a modular system approach to ensure efficient
wastewater-treatment performance

“Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems” (DEWATS) were developed by

an international network of organisations and experts. In this handbook, the term
DEWATS may be applied in singular or plural form, refering to a single specific
system, to the modular systems approach or the whole range of systems, as the
case may be. The approach incorporates lessons learned from the limitations of
conventional centralised and decentralised wastewater-treatment systems,
thereby assisting to meet the rapidly growing demand for on-site-wastewater
solutions. DEWATS are characterised by the following features:
• DEWATS encompass an approach, not just a technical hardware
package, i.e. besides technical and engineering aspects, the specific
local economic and social situation is taken into consideration
• DEWATS provide treatment for wastewater flows with close COD/BOD
ratios from 1m³ to 1000m³ per day and unit
• DEWATS can treat wastewaters from domestic or industrial sources. They
can provide primary, secondary and tertiary treatment for wastewaters from
sanitation facilities, housing colonies, public entities like hospitals, or from
businesses, especially those involved in food production and processing.
• DEWATS can be an integral part of comprehensive wastewater strategies.
The systems should be perceived as being complementary to other
centralised and decentralised wastewater-treatment options
• DEWATS can provide a renewable energy source. Depending on the technical
layout, biogas supplies energy for cooking, lighting or power generation
• DEWATS are based on a set of design and layout principles.
Reliability, longevity, tolerance towards inflow fluctuation, cost efficiency and,
most importantly, low control and maintenance requirements

33
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

• DEWATS usually function without technical energy inputs. Independence from

outside energy sources and sophisticated technical equipment provides more
reliable operation and, thereby, fewer fluctuations in effluent quality. Pumping
may be necessary for water lifting
• DEWATS are based on a modular, technical configuration concept. Appropriate
combinations of treatment modules can be selected, depending on the
required treatment efficiency, costs, land availability, etc.
• DEWATS units are quality products. Though they can be constructed form
locally available materials and can be implemented by the local workforce,
high quality standards in planning and construction have to be met. For sound
DEWATS design a good comprehension of the process of wastewater-treat-
ment is essential
• DEWATS require few operation and maintenance skills. While most operational
tasks can be carried out by the users, some maintenance services might require
a local service provider. In some cases, both operation and maintenance can
be delivered by a service provider
• DEWATS can reduce pollution load to fit legal requirements. Like all other
wastewater-treatment systems, generated solid waste (sludge) must be
handled, treated and disposed of in accordance with hygiene and
environmental standards
• DEWATS consider the socio-economic enviroment of a given location.
Neglecting these conditions will result in the failure of the technology

34
3.2 DEWATS – a brief insight into technical configuration

Typical DEWATS combine the following technical treatment steps in a modular

manner:
• primary treatment – in sedimentation ponds, settlers, septic tanks or bio-
digester
• secondary treatment – in anaerobic baffled reactors, anaerobic filters
or anaerobic and facultative pond systems
• secondary aerobic/facultative treatment – in horizontal gravel filters
• post-treatment – in aerobic polishing ponds

sedimentation pond fully mixed digester

Sedimentation septic tank

anaerobic baffled reactor anaerobic filter

Anaerobic
digestion

planted gravel filter

Aerobic and
facultative
decomposition

aerobic-facultative ponds and aerobic polishing ponds

Post-treatment

Picture 3_1:
DEWATS confi-
guration scheme

35
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

The selection of appropriate technical configuration depends on the:

• volume of wastewater
• quality of wastewater
• local temperature
• underground conditions
• land availability
• costs
• legal effluent requirements
• cultural acceptance and social conditions
• final handling of the effluent (discharge or reuse)

DEWATS rely on the same treatment processes as conventional treatment

systems:

Sedimentation
removal of easily begin of anaerobic fermentation removal of
settleable solids of bottom sludge possible sludge

Anaerobic digestion
settling of
mineralisation of mineralised
removal of easily suspended or particles, removal of
degradable organic dissolved organic collection and sludge
solids compounds, ventilation of
biogas production biogas

Aerobic and facultative decomposition

removal of easily mineralisation
settling of removal of
and more difficult of suspended or
mineralised sludge
degradable solids dissolved organic
particles
compounds

Post-treatment
Picture 3_2: removal of settling of finest retaining of removal of
Typical succession of suspended digested suspended living and sludge
solids and active solids, removal
treatment processes dead algae
bacteria mass of algae
within DEWATS

36
3.3 DEWATS – good practice examples/applications

In recent years, DEWATS have been implemented at many different locations

by various institutions. Gathered experience shows that each location demands
its own approach. Below, a number of “good practice examples/applications” of
DEWATS are presented. These are not meant to be exhaustive; they highlight
different aspects of DEWATS implementation.

3.3.1 DEWATS/CBS – Community-Based Sanitation Programme in Alam Jaya,

Tangerang, Java, Indonesia

Alam Jaya is a slum in the middle of an industrial area in Jakarta. Most residents
work in the nearby factories. Due to a high migration rate, social structures are
weak. The level of infrastructure development is low. Housing is poor with
insufficient water supply.

Sanitation facilities in the settlement are totally insufficient in terms of quality and
quantity. Wastewater is discharged into the environment without any treatment,
posing a permanent threat to human health.

Picture 3_3:
Housing in
Alam Jaya

37
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

Bina Ekonomi Sosial Terpadu (BEST - Institute for Integrated and Social
Development), a Tangerang-based non-profit organisation, has been promoting
“Community Sanitation Centres” (CSC) since 1999. The centres provide basic
sanitation facilities, such as toilets, bathrooms, a laundry area and “water points”.
The total wastewater flow is treated in a DEWATS. Until 2008, 33 Community
Sanitation Centres have been implemented in the Tangerang and Surabaya areas,
serving 14,800 users and treating 1,197m³ of wastewater per day.

Picture 3_4:
Typical sanitation
facilities in Alam
Jaya

Picture 3_5:
New Community
Sanitation Centre
in Alam Jaya

An intensive discussions process within the community

preceded the decision to build a Community Sanitation
Centre:
• the residents’ desire for on-site toilets could not be
met, due to the small size of the houses and plots
• the residents already use public toilets
• there was great interest in a reliable
Picture 3_6: “water supply point”
Toilet at the CSC
• residents expressed their willingness to pay
in Alam Jaya
for water-supply and sanitation services

38
The wastewater of the residents of the Alam Jaya quarter RT 02 RW 06
(65 households with 325 people) has the following parameters:

Source of water domestic

Volume 37.5m³/day
Daily peak-flow hours: 16h
COD, influent: 743mg/l
BOD, influent 391mg/l
HRT in baffled tank 30h
Minimal digester 30°C
temperature
Specific organic load 0.34kg/(m³ x d) Table 2:
(BOD5): Data of Alam Jaya
Number of up-flow 6 chambers
plant. in 2003, the
chambers construction cost
were 167 Mio. IDR
Volume of baffled 49.39m³
or 20,000 US$.
reactor
Operation cost =
COD, effluent 137mg/l 444,000 IDR or
BOD5, effluent 62mg/l 55 US$/month.
Users pay per use.

Ground level superstructure

+0.47 (roof) of CSC

Ground
level Digester water level ABR Water level
-0.90 +0.00
Open drain
Water level
+0.00

Picture 3_7:
Section of
Community
Sanitation Centre
(CSC) in Alam Jaya
with toilets and
Flow separation of black and grey water: bathrooms
- black water from toilets is treated in the bio-digester
- overflow and grey water from bathrooms is treated in the ABR

39
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

3.3.2 DEWATS/CBS – Community-Based Sanitation

Programme in Ullalu Upanagara, Bangalore, India

Ullalu Upanagara is a peri-urban slum, located south-west of Bangalore, with

3,569 households and 17,325 people of different ethnic groups. The socio-
economic situation of the residents is critical: inadequate basic amenities, high
unemployment, low literacy. Women in particular face social hardship within their
families and the community.

The weak socio-economic conditions are reflected in the infrastructure develop-

ment. Access to reliable drinking-water supply, to proper housing and to clean
sanitation is virtually non-existent. Only 21% of the households have their own
toilet. The residents defecate openly – hindered by recent fencing.

Grama Swaraj Samithi (GSS), a local NGO, has been working in Ullalu Upanagara
in the field of preventive health care since the 1990s. Since 2001, GSS has been
promoting Community-Based Sanitation within the community. In close collabo-
ration with the residents and local authorities, the construction of two sanitation
centres was decided on. The implementation process was carried out as a pilot-
programme, to test the application of participatory, administrative and technical
instruments of the Community-Based Sanitation programme for the area.

Picture 3_8:
Infrastructure is
poor in Ullalu
Upanagara

40
The participatory planning process resulted in the following layout of the
overall complex:
• 2 separate sections – one for women, one for men
• 11 toilets and 1 bathing unit per section
• 12 laundry facilities – 8 for women, 4 for men
• fresh-water consumption:
– 11.5m³ per day
– water connection and supply assured by Zilla Panchayat
- use of rainwater harvesting tank during the rainy season
• source and quantity of effluent:
– toilet and bathing wastewater: 7.5m³ per day
– laundry wastewater: 4.0m³ per day
• low maintenance:
– no piped water in toilets and bathing units
– minimum electrical devices
• security
– female and male sections visibly separated
– entrance area for control and collection of service charges

Picture 3_9:
Community
Sanitation Centre
under construction

41
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

Construction costs of the sanitation centre including DEWATS in 2004:

• sanitation unit: INR 550,000 (US$ 11,875)
• DEWATS-unit: INR 1,000,000 (US$ 21,590)
• bore well and electrical power connection: INR 275,000 (US$ 5,940)
• land value: INR 1,280,000 (US$ 27,640)
• total cost per complex: INR 3,105,000 (US$ 67,045)

Picture 3_10:
Newly inaugurated
sanitation centre.
Initially designed for
750 users per day,
today over 1,000
visitors due to a
nearby bus station.

Picture 3_11:
Computer drawing
of a sanitation unit

Picture 3_12:
The Community-
Based Sanitation
programme was
closely planned in
collaboration with
the future "users”

42
3.3.3 DEWATS at public institutions – Sino-German College of Technology,
Shanghai, China

The Fenxian campus of the Sino-German College of Technology at East China

University of Science and Technology is located an hour‘s drive from Shanghai.
It is an engineering college and its campus was planned for 6,500 teachers and
students (no accomodation).

The challenge for the school’s authorities was to find a reliable and efficient solution
for treating their wastewater in accordance with the Environmental Standard
GB/T 18921-2002 (2nd stage). Tight budget constraints for initial investment and
operation restricted the possible wastewater-treatment options.

The campus wastewater consists of toilet effluent from the teaching buildings,
as well as polluted water from machinery-maintenance processes. The DEWATS
technical configuration had to consider therefore oil, NH3-N, grease and swarf,
besides the normal parameters of COD and BOD5.

Picture 3_13:
View of the college
campus

43
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

The chosen DEWATS consists of a module for grease separation and sedimen-
tation, a three-step anaerobic digester with filter, an underground sand filter (bio-
filtration) and an irrigation tank. Operation started in September 2004. The effluent
is used to irrigate compound gardens, while biogas is used to light campus street
lamps and water heating. The project costs were calculated at 960,000 RMB
(US$ 115,942).

biogas utilisation
for lighting and heating

irrigation of gardens
and green spaces

1 2 3 4 5 6

inlet outlet

oxidation pipe, inspection

DN 300, 600m well

sedimentation 3-step anaerobic digester: aerobic water tank

tank (10m3) 1 settler plus 2-step anaerobic filter, biofiltration for irrigation
165m3 digester volume each (201m3 ) (60m3)

Picture 3_14:
Schematic drawing
of the DEWATS
solution at the Sino-
German College
of Technology in
Shanghai, Fengxian
District

44
 Picture 3_15:
View of campus
buildings and
biogas street lights

Picture 3_16:
DEWATS under
construction

The effluent of the plant shows that the required discharge standards are met:

Inflow Sedimentation 3-step Aerobic Aerobic Inspection Required

tank anaerobic sand oxidation well legal
digester filter pipe standard
Sample
Point 1 2 3 4 5 6
Daily waste- 146.25 146.25 146.25 146.25 146.25 146.25
water flow
[m³]
Capacity [m³] 10 495 195 5 1
HRT [h] 81 32 0.8
CODcr [mg/l] 800 720 108 91.8 87.21 87 100
(removal rate) (10%) (85%) (15%) (5%)
BOD5 [mg/l] 400 360 39.6 31.68 28.5 28.5 30
(removal rate) (10%) (89%) (20%) (10%)
SS [mg/l] 200 180 90 45 45 150
(removal rate) (10%) (50%) (50%)
Table 3:
Water-treatment
NH3-N [mg/l] 80 40 16 14.4 14.4 15 data (analysis by
(removal rate) (50%) (60%) (10%) local environmental
Oil [mg/l] 20 10 10 15 protection bureau)
(removal rate) (50%)

45
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

3.3.4 DEWATS at public institutions – Aravind Eye Hospital

in Thavalakuppam, Pondicherry, India

The Aravind Eye Hospital in Thavalakuppam belongs to the Tamil Nadu-based

Aravind Eye Care System. The philosophy of the Aravind System is to provide
services to the rich and poor alike, while achieving financial self-sustainability.
This is achieved through high-quality, large-volume care and efficient management.

The hospital in Thavalakuppam has the capacity to treat 750 in patients (600 free
admissions and 150 paid) and an additional 900 out patients. 300 paramedical
staff are housed in 26 residential quarters.

Due to the water scarcity in the region, the hospital management expressed
strong interest in a wastewater-treatment solution, that permits the reuse of
treated water.

The chosen DEWATS solution was designed to treat approximately 307m³/d of

domestic wastewater from toilets, bathrooms and kitchens. Water reuse (due to
high water scarcity) and efficient land use had the highest priority in treatment-
process selection.

Aravind Eye Hospital

Picture 3_17:
Schematic drawing
of the DEWATS
at Aravind Eye
Hospital Anaerobic Baffled Reactor Anaerobic Filter Planted Gravel Filter Polishing Pond

46
The effluent of the DEWATS-plant irrigates a garden with 300 trees planted in
avenues, 250 coconut trees, 50 mango trees and 4,200m² of lawns, covered with
Korean grass and flowering plants. In 2004, the hospital was honoured with
the Pondicherry Government’s award for the best garden. Construction started
mid 2002, start of operation was February 2003. Construction cost are 10 Mio INR
(200,000 US$).

Picture 3_18:
Polishing pond
of Aravind Eye
Hospital’s DEWATS.
Through reuse
of treated waste-
water, Aravind Eye
Hospital saves
annually 100,000m3
of freshwater.

47
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

Picture 3_19:
Horizontal filter
with canas indica,
reed juncus and
papyrus plants

Picture 3_20:
Baffled reactors
are used as a
parking lot

48
3.3.5 DEWATS/SME-Cluster approach – Kelempok Mekarsari Jaya
small-scale industry cluster, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Mekarsari Jaya is a small-scale industry cluster in Pucuksari Selatan, Banjar Batur,

Denpasar. It consists of 54 entrepreneurs, engaged in tofu production and chicken
slaughtering. At the same time, Mekarsi Jaya is a settlement area for migrants
from other parts of Indonesia. Due to the poor infrastructural conditions, the area
is considered a “slum” by the local residents.

Wastewater from domestic and industrial sources is generally discharged to

nearby “dead water” channels without any treatment. But recently enforced
environmental regulations, mean that enterprises are forced to treat their waste-
waters before discharge.

The project was planned and implemented by BaliFokus, a Denpasar-based NGO.

Due to the settlement structure and topographical condition of the area, the
implementation of a central treatment unit for Mekarsari Jaya faced major tech-
nical obstacles. In order to meet the legal requirements of the authorities, it was
decided to implement two DEWATS in the area. While one system in Northern
Pucuksari serves 11 tofu-processing units and 5 chicken-slaughter houses, a
second system in Southern Pucuksari Selatun serves 7 processing plants.

Picture 3_21:
Tofu processing
causes high
water pollution
in Mekarsari Jaya

Picture 3_22:
Domestic and in-
dustrial wastewater
is discharged to
channels without
treatment

49
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

Wastewater analysis shows high loading of the wastewater:

• Northern unit – 50m³/d wastewater influent with a BOD of 7,000mg/l
and COD of 11,000mg/l.
• Southern unit – 20m³/d wastewater influent with a BOD of 5,000mg/l
and COD of 8,000mg/l.

Topography and settlement structure (densely populated) were the decisive

factors for technical plant layout. A bio-digester, followed by an anaerobic filter,
were found most suitable to treat the highly loaded wastewater.

Picture 3_23:
DEWATS treats
wastewater from
several industrial
units (sewerage
system= blue lines)

50
The following data characterises the DEWATS solution of the northern unit:

Source of water domestic

Volume 50m³/d
Daily peak-flow hours: 12h Table 3a:
Characteristics of a
COD, influent: 11,000mg/l
DEWATS solution
BOD5, influent 7,000mg/l for small scale food
HRT in anaerobic filter 17.5h processing indus-
try and settlement
Minimum digester 30°C
at Mekarsari Jaya
temperature
(northern unit).
Number of up-flow 3 chambers Start of construction:
filter chambers
09'2003
Volume of baffled 36.45m³ Start of operation:
reactor 04'2004
COD, effluent 335mg/l Construction
cost: 112 Mio. IDR
BOD5, effluent 191mg/l
(US$13,500)

Bio-Digester Anaerobic Filter

Inlet

Drain
Outlet

Inlet

Outlet

Picture 3_24:
Technical layout
and view of the
DEWATS unit at
Mekarsari Jaya
(northern unit)

Bio-Digester Anaerobic Filter

51
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

3.3.6 DEWATS/SME –
Alternative Food Process Private Ltd. Bangalore, Karnataka, India

The food-processing unit is located in the suburbs of Bangalore city. The

company operates a gherkin-processing plant, where selected gherkins are
washed, prepared, pickled and stored over a period of 12 days before export.

The company caters semi-finished products to leading brands. High quality pro-
duction and adherence to delivery standards of international markets are the top
priority. The company employs around 100 people and handles 8 to 10 tonnes of
gherkins per day.

Picture 3_25 and 3_26:

The products of
Alternative Food
Process Private Ltd.
meet high delivery
standards for
national and inter-
national markets

The treatment of 29.1m³/d organic wastewater (COD 800 / BOD 400mg/l) is

required. Due to water shortages in the area, water reuse is desirable.

To find the best treatment solution, a comprehensive analysis of the different

wastewater streams was undertaken. By handling certain wastewater streams
separately, the right treatment solutions could be applied to each situation:

98.000 97.950 97.750

Picture 3_27:
97.690 97.290
Schematic drawing
97.230 97.190
of the DEWATS at
Alternative Food Anaerobic Baffled Reactor
Planted Gravel Filter
Process Ltd. Control Pond

52
 Picture 3_28:
The anaerobic filter
under construction

Picture 3_29:
View of polishing
pond with shallow
sections for better
UV-disinfection
and multi-levels
for better aeration

1. Washing Water of Gherkins SE P OHT

Irrigation
2. Soaking Water of Gherkins SE

PP / ST
3. Floor Wash of Base Juice Area SE Picture 3_30:
System layout
(SE: Settler, BR:
4. Floor Wash of Maceration Room SE Baffle Reactor,
PGF: Planted
Gravel Filter, ST:
5. Gen Factory Cleaning SE PGF Storage Tank, PP:
Polishing Pond,
HRBC: High-rate
6. Sanitation Block SE BR Brine Condenser
(evaporation), OHT:
Overhead tank,
7. Spill over from base juice area store HRBC Evaporation platform P: Pump)

53
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

3.3.7 Infrastructural development in rural China – Longtan Village,

Danleng County, Szechuan Province, China

The Chinese government aims to improve rural livelihood by promoting the

enhancement of rural infrastructure through different public programmes. Road
construction, housing, electricity provision, biogas utilisation, water supply and
wastewater schemes – as well as solid-waste management – are part of multiple
village modernisation programmes.

Longtan Village has a population of 965 people living in 262 households.

Agricultural production on approximately 56.7 ha of land is the main income
source for the residents. Traditionally, paddy and oil seeds were cultivated.
However, economic reforms have brought significant changes to Longtan: the
village has begun market production of oranges, grapes and oil seeds, while
raising 1,250 pigs in 2005. In this year, a household’s average annual income
was about 3,113 RMB per person (US$ 420).

Public authorities in rural China have the challenge of meeting legal wastewater
discharge standards. New air-quality standards have also been issued, demanding
a different treatment of rice-harvest residues, which were traditionally burned.
As a result, decentralised wastewater-treatment systems are promoted. A com-
bination of anaerobic and of aerobic-treatment units is applied to treat animal
dung, human faeces and residues from agricultural production. Biogas provides
a renewable-energy source, while slurry can be used in organic farming.

Picture 3_31:
DEWATS treats
human faeces and
agricultural residues

Picture 3_32:
DEWATS-generated
biogas is used for
multiple purposes,
such as water
heating

54
The village’s development plan stipulates that 120 households should be con-
nected to biogas units, each with a volume of 10m³. Rice residues are processed in
a chaff cutter before being emptied into the digesters. Bio-digesters with a
volume of 3.5m³ are mandatory for households without paddy production. Where
possible, homes are connected to one of two DEWATS plants in the village. The
treated wastewater is discharged into the open drainage system, which crosses
the village.

Picture 3_33:
Infrastructural
development pro-
grammes aim to
modernise Chinese
villages

Picture 3_34
DEWATS – settler,
bio-digester, anae-
robic baffled reactor
and horizontal
filters (not shown)

55
3 DEWATS – Sustainable treatment of wastewater
at the local level

3.3.8 DEWATS in integrated municipal planning – Wenzhou University,

Zheijang Province, China

Since the 1980s, the government of Zhejiang Province has been promoting
DEWATS, particularly in urban areas, which are not connected to centralised
systems. Today, many of the province’s sources of domestic wastewater, such
as public toilets, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals and universities are
served by these treatment systems. Apart from domestic applications,
decentralised wastewater-treatment solutions are applied at small- and
medium-scale enterprises, like slaughterhouses, food processing and
animal-husbandry units.

The Wenzhou New Energy & Environmental

Design Institute (WNEEDI), an Institute of
the Rural Energy Office Wenzhou, is active
in the dissemination of innovative renew-
able-energy and ecological wastewater-
treatment projects (biogas plants, DEWATS,
solar thermic systems, hydro rams) within
the city and Wenzhou County. WNEEDI
Picture 3_35: started by promoting biogas plants
The central admi-
50 years ago and has slowly shifted its
nistration building
of the University of main activities to wastewater treatment
Wenzhou in urban areas.

Picture 3_36:
Arial view of the
University of
Wenzhou campus

56
Within this context, WNEEDI was responsible for the planning and implemen-
tation of an integrated wastewater concept for Whenzhou University, the first
university run jointly by the government and business. In 2005, the university
had approximately 10,000 students.

The DEWATS implemented at the University campus are viewed as the ideal
long-term solution. The treatment facilities will grow incrementally, in line with the
addition of new buildings and the overall growth of the campus.

Today, the university uses multiple DEWATS, with a total reactor volume of about
90,000m³. Nearly all buildings, including the dormitories, have their own primary
treatment unit, which connects to shared, secondary treatment units. Units of
approximately 20 different treatment volumes, ranging from 40 to 800m³, have
been implemented.

All systems consist of pre-treatment in fixed dome biogas modules. Two to four
digesters are usually connected in series. After anaerobic treatment, the waste-
water is aerobically treated by flowing over cascades. Final treatment is provided
by two to four horizontal-flow sand filters in series.

Implementation is carried out by contractors, specialised in decentralised waste-

water treatment. To ensure gas-tight construction of biogas domes, certification
of the building contractors is required. The local Rural Energy Offices are
responsible for certification; Wenzhou County has eight certified contractors.

Picture 3_37:
The project team
tests the treatment
performance.

Picture 3_38:
Construction of the
anaerobic filter
(in front)

57