New Atlas

Marine Audio available

World's first solar-electric pump-out boat cleanly and quietly deals with recreational boating waste

Paul Ridden February 11, 2019

Recreational boaters looking to offload waste from sewage tanks can make a pit stop at pump-out stations on the marina, but there are also boats that can take away stored sewage. And the vessel recently delivered to Branford, Connecticut, is somewhat cleaner than most.

The solar-electric pump-out boat was developed by the East Shore District Health Department and Yale University's ...

Environment Audio available

Environmentally-friendly bricks made from sewage-treatment byproduct

Ben Coxworth January 22, 2019

When sewage sludge is processed at wastewater treatment plants, the leftover "biosolid" material is generally dried and set aside. While some of it ends up being used as fertilizer, much is often just stockpiled. Soon, however, it could find its way into eco-friendly fired-clay building bricks.

RMIT estimates that if 15 percent of bricks produced worldwide contained at least 15 percent biosolids, ...

Environment

Waste treatment system recovers energy, water and nutrients from sewage

Michael Irving November 1, 2017

A system called the NEWgenerator is designed to help take the strain off sewage infrastructure in developing countries, acting as a mini wastewater treatment plant that recovers energy, clean water and fertilizer from sewage. Units will soon be installed in South Africa.

Designed for use in developing countries, the NEWgenerator can recover energy, clean water and fertilizer from ...

Science

Using sewers and cell phones to track drug use

Michael Franco September 20, 2017

Researchers in Norway have combined the location services on smartphones with data from wastewater analysis to reveal a more accurate picture of the illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals taken in a community, even while traveling or commuting.

Drugs may start out like this, but they end up in our wastewater

Science

Virus DNA in sewers may keep people from getting sick

Ben Coxworth December 21, 2016

When a virus is going around, the earlier it's detected, the better. It's with this in mind that scientists are proposing doing analyses of communities' wastewater to detect rises in the amount of viruses passed by residents, identifying the microbes based on their DNA.

Scientists could get an early warning of impending outbreaks, using viruses' DNA to detect their increasing ...

Architecture

First major work completed for London's new super sewer

Stu Robarts December 6, 2016

A year after it first got under way, the first major work for London's Thames Tideway Tunnel "super sewer" project has been completed. A replacement pier at Blackfriars will provide continued access to river transport during work to reinforce the nearby river wall.

The completed pier can berth two boats at once and will be used by over 50,000 ...

Environment

“Starving” bacteria to double energy extraction from sewage

Lynda Delacey November 26, 2016

Global efforts to extract energy from sewage in forms such as heat, biogas and even electricity may get a boost thanks to the work of a team of biochemists and microbiologists from Ghent University, Belgium, who are collaborating on a pilot project with DC Water in Washington DC.

Energy

Mimicking nature turns sewage into biocrude oil in minutes

David Szondy November 3, 2016

The US Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has found a way to potentially change the 34 billion gal (128 billion liters) of raw sewage that Americans create every day into 30 million barrels of biocrude oil per year.

Sludge from Metro Vancouver’s wastewater treatment plant has been dewatered prior to conversion to biocrude oil ...

Environment

This machine draws fertilizer from sewage

Antonio Pasolini June 8, 2016

Researchers in Germany have developed a new method to harvest phosphorus, a key component of agricultural fertilizers, from wastewater. It incorporates a reactor that is environmentally-friendly, doesn't rely on chemicals, and is ready to be marketed.

The ePhos reactor harvests phosphorus from wastewater

Architecture

Work begins on London's huge "super sewer" construction project

Stu Robarts December 8, 2015

London has embarked on what is described as a "one in one-hundred-and-fifty-year project." The maneuvering of a crane into place at Blackfriars on the River Thames marks the start of major work on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, a "super sewer" that will drastically reduce sewage overflow into the river.

A crane has been moved into place at Blackfriars on the River Thames, signaling the start ...