Greywater recycling in Vietnam — Application of the HUBER MBR process

Abstract

Greywater is the part of domestic wastewater that is free of faeces. The volume and concentration of this separately collected wastewater flow depend on the consumer behaviour and vary according to its source. The average amount of greywater produced per day in a German household is 70 l per person, which is more than 50% of the total wastewater production [5]. This figure corresponds with the average figures provided for Chinese households (80 l per person/day, GB/T 50331-2002), but significantly exceeds the South African average of 20 l per person and day [1]. Compared to domestic wastewater, greywater generally contains less organic pollutants, less nutrients but a high amount of tensides. The effluent from bath tubs, showers or wash hand basins contains for example a by approx. two decimal orders lower number of total and faecal coliform bacteria ( E scherichia coli) [2,6]. Due to its relatively low content of pollutants, greywater is easy to treat with MBRs. The pollutants contained are decomposed by the bacteria of the activated sludge tank. The following membrane filtration unit separates the treated greywater from the activated sludge. The treated greywater is of high quality and hygienically safe so that it can be reused, alone or combined with rain water, for toilet flushing water, laundry washing or for irrigation purposes. Within the scope of the SANSED II research project HUBER has been successful in adapting the MBR system for greywater treatment to the specific conditions in Vietnam and testing the system in operation in a small city in the Mekong delta, South Vietnam. The wastewater from kitchen sinks and the bathrooms of a dormitory on the campus of Can Tho University was clarified in the HUBER GreyUse ® plant over a period of three months. The project aim was the production of high quality service water from greywater for safe reuse as toilet flush water.