ReNuW-Hubs
ongoing
ReNuW-Hubs
The ReNuW-Hubs project improves nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) recycling and water reuse from community wastewater, including human sludge, using a physico-chemical treatment system housed in a 20-foot mobile container (MWWTD). The project enhances the system’s efficiency and promotes the use of recycled nutrients and reclaimed water for irrigation by farmers, horticulturalists, and municipalities.
As drought and production costs rise, demand for recycled resources grows. Unlike large-scale centralized systems, the mobile unit allows earlier nutrient recovery, increasing efficiency and producing irrigation water and hydro-char.
ReNuW-Hubs also explores barriers and opportunities through futures methods (e.g. Delphi, horizon scanning), cost-benefit analysis, and end-user interviews to assess attitudes, preferences, and product-market fit.
Expected results
Improving the Mobile Wastewater Treatment Device (MWWTD) will create better opportunities to recycle nutrients from community wastewater, thereby supporting the use of recycled nutrients and reducing the need for natural fertilisers. Similarly, using reclaimed water lessens the demand for potable water in irrigation. Both of these recycled resources will be produced for commercial use. The mobile technology also offers a flexible solution for remote areas that lack adequate wastewater treatment capacity due to high seasonal variation in wastewater generation—for example, popular tourism destinations. In addition to the technical development, the ReNuW-Hubs project will examine consumer attitudes towards recycled resources derived from human-based wastewater. Based on this research, the project aims to support and influence positive changes in these attitudes.
Expected results
Improving the Mobile Wastewater Treatment Device (MWWTD) will create better opportunities to recycle nutrients from community wastewater, thereby supporting the use of recycled nutrients and reducing the need for natural fertilisers. Similarly, using reclaimed water lessens the demand for potable water in irrigation. Both of these recycled resources will be produced for commercial use. The mobile technology also offers a flexible solution for remote areas that lack adequate wastewater treatment capacity due to high seasonal variation in wastewater generation—for example, popular tourism destinations. In addition to the technical development, the ReNuW-Hubs project will examine consumer attitudes towards recycled resources derived from human-based wastewater. Based on this research, the project aims to support and influence positive changes in these attitudes.
Duration 01.05.2025 - 30.04.2028
Total budget
Programme priority
Improved environment and resource useProgramme objective
PO3 - Joint circular economy solutionsLead partner
University of TurkuProject News
Project Events
Project Stories
Gallery
Managing Authority
Joint Secretariat
c/o Regional Council
of Southwest Finland
Visiting address: Linnankatu 52 B, Turku, Finland
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 273,
20101 Turku, Finland
E-mail: info@centralbaltic.eu
Phone: +358 40 550 8408
Find ReNuW-Hubs on social media