Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

Eawag has a long history of developing innovative processes for separating wastewater at source. These technologies include one whereby urine is separated out using the NoMix Toilet, a project which numerous Eawag researchers have been working on for many years.

The NoMix principle is quite simple: The toilet separates urine and faeces so that urine can be collected separately from the rest of the wastewater. Thanks to a recycling process developed at Eawag, the urine collected in-house is converted into a high-grade fertiliser. Nutrients can thus be recovered from urine, which means that fertilisers do not have to be produced artificially. The use of urine as a fertiliser also takes the burden off the wastewater treatment facility, where nitrogen and traces of pharmaceuticals have to be removed from urine in a highly energy-intensive process. The NoMix technology therefore promotes the protection of natural waters at the same time as saving resources.

For more information on the history of separation at source: [9 MB]

Prof. Dr. Kai Udert Tel. +41 58 765 5360 Send Mail

Vuna as an Eawag-spin-off

The Vuna GmbH spin-off was established on the back of the former Vuna project at Eawag, commercialising the technology that was developed in the project.

We develop reactors for the separate treatment of urine, feces and water directly in the toilet.

Blue Diversion AUTARKY – Sewage Treatment off the Grid

Sustainable urban water and wastewater management applied and implemented in the modular NEST building.

WaterHub at NEST

Is a space research program, aiming to develop a bioregenerative life support system for long-term space missions and space habitations for example on Mars.

Melissa «Micro Ecological Life Support System Alternative»

Field Testing of an Open-source Do-it-yourself Template to produce robust NoMix toilets locally

Open-design NoMix toilets

Die Urinseparierung als neues Element der Abwasserreinigung mit dem Ziel Gewässer besser vor Nährstoffen und Mikroverunreinigungen zu schützen und Nährstoffkreisläufe zu schliessen.

Novaquatis

The STUN project, in cooperation with UN-HABITAT Nepal, examines various possibilities to recover nutrients from source-separated urine.

STUN - Nutrient Valorization from Urine in Nepal (STUN)

By recovering nutrients from urine, we develop a sanitation system, which produces a valuable fertiliser

VUNA - Nutrient harvesting in South Africa

As part of the “VUNA” research project, researchers have developed the new VUNA recycling technique by which valuable nutrients can be extracted from urine and used as fertilisers. The liquid fertiliser “Aurin” is the result of the project.

Aurin – Fertilisers from urine

Single house wastewater treatment with water reuse

A broad overview of sanitation systems and technologies in various contexts.

Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies

Blue Diversion Toilet

As part of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge this NoMix Toilet was developed for the purposes of resource recovery. The next generation of this emerged in the form of the Autarky Toilet, with resource recovery in the toilet itself.

Is sewer-based wastewater treatment really the optimal technical solution in urban water management? This paradigm is increasingly being questioned. Growing water scarcity and the insight that water will be an important limiting factor for the quality of urban life are main drivers for new approaches in wastewater management. Source Separation and Decentralization for Wastewater Management sets up a comprehensive view of the resources involved in urban water management. It explores the potential of source separation and decentralization to provide viable alternatives to sewerbased urban water management.
During the 1990s, several research groups started working on sourceseparating technologies for wastewater treatment. Source separation was not new, but had only been propagated as a cheap and environmentally friendly technology for the poor. The novelty was the discussion whether source separation could be a sustainable alternative to existing end-of-pipe systems, even in urban areas and industrialized countries.
Since then, sustainable resource management and many different sourceseparating technologies have been investigated. The theoretical framework and also possible technologies have now developed to a more mature state. At the same time, many interesting technologies to process combined or concentrated wastewaters have evolved, which are equally suited for the treatment of source-separated domestic wastewater.
The book presents a comprehensive view of the state of the art of source separation and decentralization. It discusses the technical possibilities and practical experience with source separation in different countries around the world. The area is in rapid development, but many of the fundamental insights presented in this book will stay valid.
Source Separation and Decentralization for Wastewater Management is intended for all professionals and researchers interested in wastewater mamagement, wheter or not they are familiar with source separation.

Larsen, T. A.; Udert, K. M.; Lienert, J. (2013) Source separation and decentralization for wastewater management, 491 p, doi:10.2166/9781780401072, Institutional Repository

NoMix technology

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