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Utilization of graywater for building greening and water heating

Project Leader: Pitha Ulrike, BOKU Project Leader

Duration:: 19.08.2019-31.03.2023

Programme:: Stadt der Zukunft - Kooperative F&E-Projekte - Experimentelle Entwicklung

Type of Research: Applied Research

Project partners: GEBE-STREBEL GmbH, Wienerstraße 118, 2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; IBR & I Institute of Building, Research & Innovation ZT GmbH, Wipplingerstraße 23/3, 1010 Wien, Austria.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; OeAD-Wohnraumverwaltungs GmbH, Ebendorerstraße 7, 1010 Wien, Austria.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Schöberl & Böll GmbH, Lassallestraße 2/6-8, 1020 Wien, Austria.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner

Staff: Allabashi Roza, Sub Projectleader; Scharf Bernhard, Project Staff; Stangl Rosemarie, Project Staff; Gräf Michael, Project Staff; Pucher Bernhard, Project Staff; Hofbauer Katharina, Project Staff (bis 06.02.2022)

BOKU Research Units: Institute for Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control; Institute of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction

Subproject(s):

Funded by: Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Sensengasse 1, 1090 Wien, Austria

Abstract: The aim of this project is to design a technically mature system solution for the material and thermal recovery of greywater, on the one hand, to be able to use the resulting filtrate for irrigation purposes whilst, on the other hand, pioneering in the idea of recovering waste heat. As a result, drinking water shortages, which can be expected in dry summer months due to climate change, can be mitigated, while at the same time irrigating essential green islands ensuring the reduction urban heat islands. Through thermal recovery, a part of the energy for domestic water heating can be saved. The approach of such an efficient utilization of greywater, both materially and thermally, is unique and novel.
One of the focal points of the project is the efficient recovery of waste heat with minimum heat loss. Housing developments of different sizes as well as housing-like uses, which have more or less seasonally constant wastewater volumes, are considered in order to ensure the cost-effectiveness of the overall solution.
This combination of sewage and irrigation needs of building or green façade, represents an innovative coupling of energetic optimizations and small-climatic improvements.
In the project, however, not only are the planning and technical aspects covered, but the requirements of the system are also considered in the sense of a holistic concept. Therefore, investigations are carried out on the quality of greywater after cleaning and its compatibility with plants of relevance to urban greening. In addition, further applications within buildings and the potential complications associated with the use of greywater are being investigated. Further to the conceptual considerations, a prototype of the plant will be built and subjected to various experiments within the framework of the project.
This is to ensure long-term functionality as well as achieving high market relevance. The aim is to generate and to strengthen local expertise and product solutions in order to be able to survive on the future markets of "urban greening solutions" and "renewable, efficient provision of hot water".

Keywords: Urban water supply and sanitation; Vegetation technology; Building-integrated vegetation;; living wall; suitability of plants; cleaning efficiency; water quality;