Hidden Potential of Wastewater

Abstract

Over the last decade, governments, international organizations, policy makers, academia, and water utilities themselves have begun to advocate for a greater appreciation and deeper understanding of the many applications of wastewater. This approach goes beyond merely advocating for, while important, better treatment and collection of wastewater, to exploiting it for energy and resource recovery. This descriptive review aims to provide utilities, policy makers, and research institutions with an overview of the state of the wastewater sector in Denmark – a country which is considered to have some of the most advanced wastewater treatment plants in the world. By doing so, the entry aims to provide inspiration and concrete examples of how wastewater can be utilized to solve a number of environmental and climate challenges. Beginning with an introduction to the untapped potential of wastewater, the historical background underpinning Denmark’s approach to wastewater is provided. Types of wastewater treatment and the diversified mixture of centralized and decentralized treatment plants present in Denmark are also discussed. The Danish regulatory framework for wastewater is outlined and the solutions which the country’s state-owned, but independent, water utilities are implementing to extract energy and resources from wastewater are detailed. The entry concludes by describing how, with a goal of becoming energy and climate neutral, the wastewater sector will play a role in meeting Denmark’s ambitious climate commitments.