From Centralized to Decentralized: a Comparative Analysis of Six Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Research Article
Open access

From Centralized to Decentralized: a Comparative Analysis of Six Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Renxi Wang 1 , Mingxuan Chen 2*
  • 1 Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK    
  • 2 Faculty of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University - Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai,519087,China    
  • *corresponding author 984507599@qq.com
Published on 20 June 2025 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2755-2721/2025.24254
ACE Vol.168
ISSN (Print): 2755-273X
ISSN (Online): 2755-2721
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-205-8
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-206-5

Abstract

With the growing urban population and water requirement, the need for decentralized wastewater treatment to complement centralized systems is imminent. This paper reviews six decentralized domestic wastewater treatment technologies and evaluates them with efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, and applicability. RAF-HRBC and GDMBR technologies are best suited for urban areas since their high efficiency and small footprint. In contrast, artificial wetlands are more suitable for rural environments due to the large amount of land they require. Despite the promise of these technologies, most of them are unable to meet drinking water standards, suggesting that they still need to be supplemented with other treatment methods to achieve potable water quality.

Keywords:

Decentralized Systems, Domestic Wastewater Treatment, Application in Urban Areas

Wang,R.;Chen,M. (2025). From Centralized to Decentralized: a Comparative Analysis of Six Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment Technologies. Applied and Computational Engineering,168,99-108.
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References

[1]. Water Overview: Development news, research, data | World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/overview (accessed 2024-07-20).

[2]. Huang, Y.; Zhang, J.; Ren, Z.; Xiang, W.; Sifat, I.; Zhang, W.; Zhu, J.; Li, B. Next Generation Decentralized Water Systems: A Water-Energy-Infrastructure-Human Nexus (WEIHN) Approach. Environ. Sci. Water Res. Technol. 2023, 9 (10), 2446–2471. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00506B.

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[4]. Lu, S.; Pei, L.; Bai, X. Study on Method of Domestic Wastewater Treatment through New-Type Multi-Layer Artificial Wetland. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 2015, 40 (34), 11207–11214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.05.165.

[5]. Philip, L.; Ramprasad, C.; Krithika, D. Sustainable Wastewater Management Through Decentralized Systems: Case Studies. In Water Scarcity and Ways to Reduce the Impact: Management Strategies and Technologies for Zero Liquid Discharge and Future Smart Cities; Pannirselvam, M., Shu, L., Griffin, G., Philip, L., Natarajan, A., Hussain, S., Eds.; Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2019; pp 15–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75199-3_2.

[6]. Zheng, Y.; Wang, X. C.; Dzakpasu, M.; Ge, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Xiong, J. Performance of a Pilot Demonstration-Scale Hybrid Constructed Wetland System for on-Site Treatment of Polluted Urban River Water in Northwestern China. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2016, 23 (1), 447–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5207-y.

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[8]. Yadav, R. K.; Chiranjeevi, P.; Sukrampal; Patil, S. A. Integrated Drip Hydroponics-Microbial Fuel Cell System for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery. Bioresour. Technol. Rep. 2020, 9, 100392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100392.

[9]. Yadav, R. K.; Sahoo, S.; Patil, S. A. Performance Evaluation of the Integrated Hydroponics-Microbial Electrochemical Technology (iHydroMET) for Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment. Chemosphere 2022, 288, 132514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132514.

[10]. Zhang, Q.; Wang, X.; Liang, R.; Xie, J.; Zhou, M. A Pilot Scale of Electrochemical Integrated Treatment Technology and Equipment Driven by Solar Energy for Decentralized Domestic Sewage Treatment. Chemosphere 2023, 340, 139991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139991.

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[12]. Wang, C.-N.; Nguyen, T. T. T.; Dang, T.-T.; Hsu, H.-P. Exploring Economic and Environmental Efficiency in Renewable Energy Utilization: A Case Study in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2023, 30 (28), 72949–72965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27408-0.

[13]. Cheng, H.; Lee, W.; Wen, C.; Dai, H.; Cheng, F.; Lu, X. A Sustainable Integrated Anoxic/Aerobic Bio-Contactor Process for Simultaneously in-Situ Deodorization and Pollutants Removal from Decentralized Domestic Sewage. Heliyon 2023, 9 (11), e22339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22339.

[14]. Molecules | Free Full-Text | Optimising the Hydraulic Retention Time in a Pilot-Scale Microbial Electrolysis Cell to Achieve High Volumetric Treatment Rates Using Concentrated Domestic Wastewater. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/12/2945 (accessed 2024-07-30).

[15]. Gong, W.; Liu, X.; Wang, J.; Zhao, Y.; Tang, X. A Gravity-Driven Membrane Bioreactor in Treating the Real Decentralized Domestic Wastewater: Flux Stability and Membrane Fouling. Chemosphere 2023, 334, 138948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138948.

[16]. Liu, R.; Wang, L.; Yang, L.; Liu, Q.; Gao, Y.; Ye, J.; Xiao, J.; Hu, Q.; Zhang, X. Ultrafiltration and Microfiltration Membrane Performance, Cleaning, and Flux Recovery for Microalgal Harvesting. J. Appl. Phycol. 2020, 32 (5), 3101–3112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02204-2.

[17]. Zou, H.; Yang, X.; Zhu, J.; Wang, F.; Zeng, Z.; Xiang, C.; Huang, D.; Li, J.; Wang, R. Solar-Driven Scalable Hygroscopic Gel for Recycling Water from Passive Plant Transpiration and Soil Evaporation. Nat. Water 2024, 2 (7), 663–673. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-024-00265-y.

[18]. Liu, X.; Mishra, D. D.; Wang, X.; Peng, H.; Hu, C. Towards Highly Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation for Desalination. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8 (35), 17907–17937. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA12612K.

[19]. Li, X.; Ren, B.; Kou, X.; Hou, Y.; Buque, A. L.; Gao, F. Recent Advances and Prospects of Constructed Wetlands in Cold Climates: A Review from 2013 to 2023. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2024, 31 (32), 44691–44716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34065-4.

[20]. Enhanced Wastewater Nutrients Removal in Vertical Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland: Effect of Biochar Addition and Tidal Flow Operation. Chemosphere 2022, 286, 131742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131742.

[21]. Ülgüdür, N.; Demirer, G. N. Anaerobic Treatability and Residual Biogas Potential of the Effluent Stream of Anaerobic Digestion Processes. Water Environ. Res. 2019, 91 (3), 259–268. https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.1048.

[22]. Hekmatnia, M.; Ardakani, A. F.; Isanezhad, A.; Monibi, H. A Novel Classification of Virtual Water Trade for the Sustainability of Global Freshwater Resources. Environ. Dev. Sustain. 2024, 26 (3), 7377–7408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03012-7.

Cite this article

Wang,R.;Chen,M. (2025). From Centralized to Decentralized: a Comparative Analysis of Six Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment Technologies. Applied and Computational Engineering,168,99-108.

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Volume title: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Materials Chemistry and Environmental Engineering

ISBN：978-1-80590-205-8(Print) / 978-1-80590-206-5(Online)
Editor：Harun CELIK
Conference website: https://2025.confmcee.org/
Conference date: 17 January 2025
Series: Applied and Computational Engineering
Volume number: Vol.168
ISSN：2755-2721(Print) / 2755-273X(Online)

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References

[1]. Water Overview: Development news, research, data | World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water/overview (accessed 2024-07-20).

[2]. Huang, Y.; Zhang, J.; Ren, Z.; Xiang, W.; Sifat, I.; Zhang, W.; Zhu, J.; Li, B. Next Generation Decentralized Water Systems: A Water-Energy-Infrastructure-Human Nexus (WEIHN) Approach. Environ. Sci. Water Res. Technol. 2023, 9 (10), 2446–2471. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3EW00506B.

[3]. van Duuren, D.; van Alphen, H.-J.; Koop, S. H. A.; de Bruin, E. Potential Transformative Changes in Water Provision Systems: Impact of Decentralised Water Systems on Centralised Water Supply Regime. Water 2019, 11 (8), 1709. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11081709.

[4]. Lu, S.; Pei, L.; Bai, X. Study on Method of Domestic Wastewater Treatment through New-Type Multi-Layer Artificial Wetland. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 2015, 40 (34), 11207–11214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.05.165.

[5]. Philip, L.; Ramprasad, C.; Krithika, D. Sustainable Wastewater Management Through Decentralized Systems: Case Studies. In Water Scarcity and Ways to Reduce the Impact: Management Strategies and Technologies for Zero Liquid Discharge and Future Smart Cities; Pannirselvam, M., Shu, L., Griffin, G., Philip, L., Natarajan, A., Hussain, S., Eds.; Springer International Publishing: Cham, 2019; pp 15–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75199-3_2.

[6]. Zheng, Y.; Wang, X. C.; Dzakpasu, M.; Ge, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Xiong, J. Performance of a Pilot Demonstration-Scale Hybrid Constructed Wetland System for on-Site Treatment of Polluted Urban River Water in Northwestern China. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2016, 23 (1), 447–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5207-y.

[7]. Chinese emission standards.Ministry of Ecological Environment of the People's Republic of China. https://www.mee.gov.cn/ywgz/fgbz/bz/bzwb/shjbh/swrwpfbz/199801/t19980101_66568.shtml (accessed 2024-08-17).

[8]. Yadav, R. K.; Chiranjeevi, P.; Sukrampal; Patil, S. A. Integrated Drip Hydroponics-Microbial Fuel Cell System for Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery. Bioresour. Technol. Rep. 2020, 9, 100392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100392.

[9]. Yadav, R. K.; Sahoo, S.; Patil, S. A. Performance Evaluation of the Integrated Hydroponics-Microbial Electrochemical Technology (iHydroMET) for Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment. Chemosphere 2022, 288, 132514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132514.

[10]. Zhang, Q.; Wang, X.; Liang, R.; Xie, J.; Zhou, M. A Pilot Scale of Electrochemical Integrated Treatment Technology and Equipment Driven by Solar Energy for Decentralized Domestic Sewage Treatment. Chemosphere 2023, 340, 139991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139991.

[11]. Sirés, I.; Brillas, E.; Oturan, M. A.; Rodrigo, M. A.; Panizza, M. Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes: Today and Tomorrow. A Review. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2014, 21 (14), 8336–8367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2783-1.

[12]. Wang, C.-N.; Nguyen, T. T. T.; Dang, T.-T.; Hsu, H.-P. Exploring Economic and Environmental Efficiency in Renewable Energy Utilization: A Case Study in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2023, 30 (28), 72949–72965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27408-0.

[13]. Cheng, H.; Lee, W.; Wen, C.; Dai, H.; Cheng, F.; Lu, X. A Sustainable Integrated Anoxic/Aerobic Bio-Contactor Process for Simultaneously in-Situ Deodorization and Pollutants Removal from Decentralized Domestic Sewage. Heliyon 2023, 9 (11), e22339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22339.

[14]. Molecules | Free Full-Text | Optimising the Hydraulic Retention Time in a Pilot-Scale Microbial Electrolysis Cell to Achieve High Volumetric Treatment Rates Using Concentrated Domestic Wastewater. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/12/2945 (accessed 2024-07-30).

[15]. Gong, W.; Liu, X.; Wang, J.; Zhao, Y.; Tang, X. A Gravity-Driven Membrane Bioreactor in Treating the Real Decentralized Domestic Wastewater: Flux Stability and Membrane Fouling. Chemosphere 2023, 334, 138948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138948.

[16]. Liu, R.; Wang, L.; Yang, L.; Liu, Q.; Gao, Y.; Ye, J.; Xiao, J.; Hu, Q.; Zhang, X. Ultrafiltration and Microfiltration Membrane Performance, Cleaning, and Flux Recovery for Microalgal Harvesting. J. Appl. Phycol. 2020, 32 (5), 3101–3112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02204-2.

[17]. Zou, H.; Yang, X.; Zhu, J.; Wang, F.; Zeng, Z.; Xiang, C.; Huang, D.; Li, J.; Wang, R. Solar-Driven Scalable Hygroscopic Gel for Recycling Water from Passive Plant Transpiration and Soil Evaporation. Nat. Water 2024, 2 (7), 663–673. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-024-00265-y.

[18]. Liu, X.; Mishra, D. D.; Wang, X.; Peng, H.; Hu, C. Towards Highly Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation for Desalination. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8 (35), 17907–17937. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9TA12612K.

[19]. Li, X.; Ren, B.; Kou, X.; Hou, Y.; Buque, A. L.; Gao, F. Recent Advances and Prospects of Constructed Wetlands in Cold Climates: A Review from 2013 to 2023. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2024, 31 (32), 44691–44716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34065-4.

[20]. Enhanced Wastewater Nutrients Removal in Vertical Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland: Effect of Biochar Addition and Tidal Flow Operation. Chemosphere 2022, 286, 131742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131742.

[21]. Ülgüdür, N.; Demirer, G. N. Anaerobic Treatability and Residual Biogas Potential of the Effluent Stream of Anaerobic Digestion Processes. Water Environ. Res. 2019, 91 (3), 259–268. https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.1048.

[22]. Hekmatnia, M.; Ardakani, A. F.; Isanezhad, A.; Monibi, H. A Novel Classification of Virtual Water Trade for the Sustainability of Global Freshwater Resources. Environ. Dev. Sustain. 2024, 26 (3), 7377–7408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03012-7.

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