Identifying human waste contribution of phosphorus loads to domestic wastewater

This paper describes an approach to identify the phosphorus contribution of faeces and urine in domestic wastewater as part of a model verification exercise for a collaborative project between UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER) and UK Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG). The approach develops a methodology used in recent investigations by University of Abertay Dundee, by combining behaviour questionnaire with in sewer sampling and flow monitoring. The approach aimed to reduce the uncertainties associated with the apportionment of Total Phosphorus (TP) and Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP) from domestic sources as identified during the literature review as part of the collaborative project. A domestic sub-catchment was identified which could be isolated, sampled and analysed to identify domestic contribution of SRP and TP load in domestic foul water. This data analysed with the results of product usage questionnaires, was used to verify a generic model developed to determine the significance of laundry and dishwasher phosphorus contributions to domestic wastewater. Conclusions were drawn regarding the effectiveness of this approach in identifying and quantifying the sources of phosphorus to wastewater treatment works.