Performance and Optimization of a decentralized Resource-Oriented Sanitation System

This study evaluates a decentralized resource-oriented sanitation (ROS) system implemented in a rural community, designed to integrate urine separation, struvite precipitation, composting, and greywater treatment. Over five years of operation, the system demonstrated high efficiency in phosphorus and nitrogen removal, achieving over 90% phosphorus recovery and significant reductions in organic load and turbidity. Despite being designed for 16 users, the system effectively handled peak loads of up to 80 people during summer, highlighting its resilience. However, the vertical flow filter exhibited saturation issues due to intermittent high-volume urine dosing, after five years of operation. Soil analyses confirmed major reductions in particle size, permeability and BET surface area. New filter efficiency and the whole multi-stage system were assessed and percentage of nitrogen and phosphorus removal over 90%. Future improvements focus on optimizing feeding strategies, enhancing maintenance, and exploring alternative filtration media to extend filter lifespan and improve system robustness.