In the framework of the program “Energetic utilization of urban waste – EnRes” AKUT has been awarded by the GIZ to develop concepts in the field of biogas generation out of sewage sludge. The timeframe of this project is approximately 2 years. AKUT collaborates in Mexico with its local partner engineering companies IBtech and UCY.

In addition to the elaboration of a manual for sewage gas utilization in wastewater treatment plants as well as to creating new teaching material for courses and workshops in this field a pilot project is going to be planned, implemented and evaluated. 8 out of 27 wastewater treatment plants with flow rates of more than 250 l/s have been selected for detailed assessment and investigation regarding economic and technological feasibility as a pilot project for sewage gas utilization. These studies shall be completed within the short timeframe of the project.

For further planning the wastewater treatment plants León, Colima and Paso Limón have been chosen. Plant designs shall be completed in the beginning of 2017.

Final workshop on rainwater harvesting in South Morocco

A circular path has been completed in order to present measures for strengthening the agricultural sector in the region Souss-Massa-Draâ in December 2015. Rainfalls are less frequent and single events often heavier in these oases that are highly affected by climate change.

Due to poor and infrequent water supply traditional agricultural activities have declined significantly and heavy rainfall events are cause of erosion in many areas. A combination of various decentralized and small-scale measures was set up to improve the situation. One example is the construction of several ground sills / small dams that have been built in the long branched valleys above the oasis Tidrheste to reduce erosion.

Water retention measures increase the infiltration rate and usable water is directed into small channels. As a result of the collection of water in Negarim microcatchments and decentralized cisterns the olive tree cultivation is now possible without usage of (scarce) groundwater.

The successful international cooperation of AKUT Umweltschutz Ingenieure Burkard und Partner, Schulze-Matthes Ingenieure, the Association Ennacer de Développement (AED) of Tidrheste and the GIZ shall be continued. Further information about the project, irrigation, erosion protection and Rainwater Harvesting in arid climate zones may be obtained from Heribert Rustige.

The 1,8 km long river arm “Kupergraben” in Berlin’s central district will be awakened after a deep sleep. The river arm will undergo renaturalization measures and parts of the section between Fischerinsel and the Bode Museum will be used as a swimming pool. The conversion will revitalize this UNESCO World Heritage Site as one of Berlin’s historic lifelines whilst the ecological rehabilitation of urban waters yields the way to a general sustainable urban transformation.

AKUT is assigned to draft and plan a pilot plant for a treatment of the river waters in a constructed wetland. AKUT will work on this assignment in cooperation with Dr.-Ing. Pecher und Partner Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH and Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin gGmbh.

Final dimensioning and site-specific adaptions will be possible after different filter types (constructed wetlands) are analyzed in the pilot plant. Starting off with the construction of the plant in the first half of 2016, sampling and optimization is going to terminate in the end of 2018.