"Achieving Nutrient Efficiency and Improving Treatment Capacity through Source Separation," Nancy Love, PhD, Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"This seminar is focused on use of source-separation of nutrient-rich urine as an approach toward achieving nutrient efficiency, the overarching goal of resource recovery.  Although centralized treatment system technologies are making progress toward achieving resource recovery, the current “single sludge” and “one size fits all” approach with mixed waste sources complicates our ability to do so with high efficiency.  Given the very long design lifetimes of water infrastructure, any new systems or major system upgrades that we design today and construct by the end of the decade will likely still be with us as we approach the end of the current century.  Therefore, if we want to transform water infrastructure to be highly efficient nutrient and resource recovery factories, we need to develop and implement early versions of innovative and transformative approaches to help us get there.  Source separation is one such approach that has made great progress toward scaled-up use over the last decade.  In this talk, I will introduce the audience to progress made through research on urine separation technologies, policies and standards, perceptions, and risk analysis.  I will share outcomes from our team’s decade-long effort to collect, process, and apply urine-derived fertilizers, and share recent work that looks at how source separation can – in some cases – enhance treatment capacity by offsetting energy and capital costs associated with nutrient conversion and removal." 

The MWRD hosts a seminar series at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant that is open to the public. These seminars are eligible for Professional Development Credits/CEUs.

In person: Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, Lue-Hing R&D Complex, 6001 West Pershing Rd., Cicero, IL. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance by emailing Dr. Heng Zhang at zhangH@mwrd.org or call 708-588-4264 or 708-588-4059.

Virtual: Visit Seminars on May 30 for the seminar link. 

The seminar is eligible for Professional Development Credits/CEUs.