Urine separation accomplished , what comes next ? - Newest experiences of on - site treatment and transport by pipe or truck

Urine diversion (UD) systems are an innovative concept towards a resource-oriented and water saving sanitation system. From Sweden the technology spread over Europe. Firstly, installed in some buildings where the users had a specific “environmental” motivation, the technology widened and is reaching now a broader public (e.g. SolarCity in Linz, Austria (Oldenburg et al., 2009), office building of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Larsen and Lienert, 2007), main building in the GTZ headquarters in Eschborn, Germany (Winker and Hartmann, 2010)). First investigations show that users appreciate the urine diversion concept (recycling of nutrients and water savings) but are unhappy with the inconveniences caused by the technical design of the UD flush toilets installed so far (Lienert and Larsen, 2010; Blume and Winker, 2011). Nevertheless, the technology implementations so far show that urine diversion is a realistic option for future sanitation planning in buildings (von Muench and Winker, 2009). Urine separation of 60-75% can be achieved (Larsen and Lienert, 2007). However, the remaining questions and discussions are targeting the next steps. The relevant options for the subsequent management of the urine are • direct treatment within the building or in the direct neighbourhood to achieve nutrient recycling and volume reduction. Potential treatment processes are steam stripping, evaporation, MAP precipitation and crystallization; • transport towards a central treatment unit. Transport can be undertaken by means of a piping system, gravity or pressure based, as well as a wheel based pick-up system including collection tanks and pick-up trucks; * Corresponding Author: [email protected]