Grantee Research Project Results
A compact, modular treatment system for non-potable re-use of residential and commercial greywater
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC23C0001Title: A compact, modular treatment system for non-potable re-use of residential and commercial greywater
Investigators: Rogers, Tate W
Small Business: Triangle Environmental Health Initiative
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: October 21, 2022 through October 20, 2024 (Extended to October 20, 2025)
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II (2023) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Sustainability , SBIR - Air , SBIR - Air Quality , SBIR - Homeland Security
Description:
A 40% shortfall in the global freshwater supply is expected by 2030, which makes using potable water forall household applications unsustainable. Using safe, non-potable alternative water sources for usesincluding toilet flushing, irrigation, and laundry can significantly reduce the stress on the potable watersupply. Our system supports the effort to conserve potable water by offering a product that rapidly treatsdomestic greywater (non-toilet wastewater) at the point of generation for non-potable onsite reuse.Innovation in this system derives from a novel integration of well-characterized treatment subsystemsinto a unique treatment chain, adapting considerable R&D in onsite wastewater treatment for the specificapplication of household greywater treatment with the footprint and cost of a household appliance. Feasibility was demonstrated in Phase I by studies that identified the subsystem-level key componentselection, sizing, and operating parameters required to achieve the desired reductions of organic content,suspended solids, and bacteria in real and simulated household greywater streams. These results alsoenabled us to develop a preliminary cost model for single-household and commercial building scale units. However, the primarytarget market is made up of those with an experienced need for water reuse andcurrently experiencing pain points with their water supply. The three major drivers for this target marketare 1) threatened water supply, 2) regulatory requirements, and 3) cost. An example for this need are the 1.4 - 4.6 million households with private wells that are at risk of running dry while a parallelenvironmentally conscious “early adopter” market is exemplified by the ~2.7 million US households with solar power systems. Ultimately, the potential market for this technology is every home and building thatuses water. The current competitive landscape consists of a very limited number of household greywatertreatment products that are generally either much larger for a given capacity, rely on biological treatment, and/or are much more complex than our system. Successful large-scale commercialization of this technology will reduce demand for potable water and stress on existing infrastructure and enable more sustainable management of limited water resources
SBIR Phase I:
A Compact, Modular Wastewater Treatment System for Non-Potable Reuse of Household Greywater | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.