Urine could tackle wastewater challenge, study finds

A study by a university has found using human urine could be key to making agriculture and wastewater treatment more sustainable and energy efficient.

Research by the University of Surrey says it contains the majority of essential nutrients for plants, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

It found that simple pre-treatment steps can significantly improve performance making the system more viable for long-term use.

Dr Siddharth Gadkari, lecturer in chemical process engineering at the University of Surrey and lead author of the study, says: "It is strange to say, but it has the added benefit of being true – our pee is an underutilised resource."

Researchers believe their work could help reduce reliance on energy-intensive fertiliser production, lower carbon emissions and support more sustainable water and nutrient management worldwide.

The work was carried out in collaboration with the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, where source-separated urine systems are already being explored at scale.

Gadkari added: "Even though it contains the key nutrients we need for agriculture, we currently treat it as waste.

"Our research shows that with the right treatment approach, we can recover these nutrients efficiently while reducing the energy demands of wastewater treatment.

"What is particularly exciting is that we have demonstrated how this system behaves under realistic conditions using real human urine.

"If we can effectively manage fouling, this technology can move much closer to practical, long-term use."

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