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Performance of Textile-Based Water-Storage Mats in Treating Municipal Wastewater on Urban Rooftops for Climate-Resilient Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Khaja Zillur Rahman

    (Department Systemic Environmental Biotechnology-SUBT, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Jens Mählmann

    (Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI), Annaberger Straße 240, 09125 Chemnitz, Germany)

  • Michael Blumberg

    (Blumberg Engineers, Gänsemarkt 10, 37120 Bovenden, Germany)

  • Katy Bernhard

    (Department Systemic Environmental Biotechnology-SUBT, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Roland A. Müller

    (Department Systemic Environmental Biotechnology-SUBT, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

  • Lucie Moeller

    (Department Systemic Environmental Biotechnology-SUBT, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment efficiency and applicability of using textile-based mats as roof biofilters on urban buildings for purifying preliminary treated wastewater (PTW) collected from a three-chamber septic tank. Therefore, a pilot plant with a 15° pitched wooden roof and two tracks for laying two mats made of different materials—polypropylene (PP), designated as Mat 1, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), designated as Mat 2—was constructed at ground level under outdoor conditions. The plant was operated in parallel for a period of 455 days. Significant differences ( p < 0.05) were observed in the results of the mass removal efficiencies between the two mats, with Mat 1 achieving mean removals of five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium-nitrogen (NH 4 -N), and total nitrogen (TN) of 85%, 73%, 75%, and 38%, respectively, and Mat 2 achieving comparatively higher removals of 97%, 84%, 90%, and 57%, respectively. The mean concentrations of BOD 5 and COD at the outflow of both mats met the minimum water quality requirements for discharge and successfully met the minimum water quality class B for agricultural reuse. However, the comparatively low mean E. coli removal efficiencies of 2.0 and 2.4 log-units in Mat 1 and Mat 2, respectively, demonstrate the need for an effluent disinfection system. Highly efficient mass removal efficiencies were observed in the presence of dense vegetation on the mats, which may lead to a potential improvement in the urban climate through high daily evapotranspiration. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for using lightweight, textile-based mats on rooftops to efficiently treat PTW from urban buildings, offering a promising decentralized wastewater management approach for climate-resilient cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Khaja Zillur Rahman & Jens Mählmann & Michael Blumberg & Katy Bernhard & Roland A. Müller & Lucie Moeller, 2025. "Performance of Textile-Based Water-Storage Mats in Treating Municipal Wastewater on Urban Rooftops for Climate-Resilient Cities," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:7:y:2025:i:3:p:75-:d:1739094
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    References listed on IDEAS

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