Our topics

Everyone produces typically 1.8 litres of excreta daily. This comprises 350 grams of dry solids, including 90 grams of organic matter and 20 grams of nitrogen plus other nutrients - mainly phosphorus and potassium. Each person produces enough fertiliser for the food needs of one person. Presently, these nutrients are washed away with approximately 50 l of potable water daily.

Modern agriculture is currently responsible for one-half of the fixed nitrogen on earth, through the use of fertilisers produced by industrial fixation and the growing of leguminous crops such as soybeans and alfalfa, a significant fraction of which subsequently ends up in our water supply.

The water department at AEE INTEC carries out research on, and develops concepts towards, zero outflow systems for domestic water supply and sanitation, on a household as well as a community scale. We develop treatment systems, e.g. constructed wetlands, for the treatment and especially the reclamation of waste water, either as irrigation water or for minor domestic purposes. We have gained experience from the 600 wetlands built according to our design, many of which we monitor on a regular basis. Additionally, we are developing integrated systems comprising water-saving, the separate collection and treatment of different domestic waste water components and the re-use of water and nutrients. These systems take quality requirements for different domestic uses into consideration, and the possibility of using water from various sources, e.g. potable water, rainwater, treated grey water and waste water, for different purposes.

AEE INTEC’s strategy is to include a dissemination component in all R&D projects in order to promote awareness of the developments and apply them as widely as possible.