Grey water reclamation by decentralized MBR prototype

Grey water treatment and reuse for non-drinking water requirements has become of great interest in arid and semi-arid zones where water resources are becoming both quantitatively and qualitatively scarce. In this study a decentralized and automatic MBR prototype has been designed and installed in the REMOSA facilities for treatment of low-load grey water to be recycled in flushing-toilet application. The recycling treatment of grey water comprises four stages: screening, biological oxidation, filtration and a final disinfection by chlorination. The influent and effluent were monitored in order to determine the treatment efficiency and assessment of the quality potential of treated grey water. The results obtained indicate that recycling of grey water allows an effluent of excellent quality with organic, surfactants and microbial parameters under the limits defined by Spanish legislation for urban water reuse. The disinfection of treated grey water is required to ensure compliance with microbial standards and to avoid the health risk in storage and application of recycled water.

► Decentralized grey water treatment by MBR prototype was performed for water recycling.
► Treatment comprises: screening, biological oxidation, filtration and disinfection.
► Organic, surfactants and microbial parameters were under urban water reuse criteria.
► Disinfection is required to avoid health risk in storage and potential application.
► 430 m3/year of potable water are potentially saved in toilet flushing application.