Co-design of retrofitted Nature-based Solutions for decentralized greywater treatment in urban areas of Costa Rica

verfasst von

Maria Perez Rubi

betreut von

Jochen Hack

Abstract

The water quality of urban rivers in Latin America is increasingly degraded by the discharge of untreated wastewater. One of the main challenges in the region is achieving sustainable management of urban wastewater to restore river ecosystems. In Costa Rica, water supply networks serve more than 94% of the population; however, only an estimated 14% of wastewater is properly treated. The lack of adequate sanitation infrastructure has led to widespread use of septic tanks and the discharge of untreated greywater into rivers, contributing to the environmental degradation of surface waters. Retrofitting conventional centralized sewer networks and treatment plants into existing urban areas poses significant social, economic, and technical challenges. This research explores the application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as alternative decentralized technologies for retrofitting greywater treatment in urbanized areas. The inherent complexity of social-ecological dynamics in urban environments necessitates an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to address this challenge. To conduct this research, a Real-World Lab was established in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica, employing a transdisciplinary approach. This provided a physical space and social context to integrate site-specific aspects and understand the various factors influencing the implementation of NbS. Co-design and prototyping of NbS were key methods used to develop knowledge and achieve results. The findings demonstrate the technical potential of NbS for decentralized greywater treatment. However, limitations exist in the governance frameworks and financing mechanisms required to implement and scale up NbS as a decentralized technology across the country. This research offers insights into the requirements for the widespread implementation of NbS, which can be applied to other regions facing similar sanitation retrofitting challenges in Latin America.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Umweltplanung

Typ

Dissertation

Anzahl der Seiten

180

Publikationsdatum

14.04.2025

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 6 – Sauberes Wasser und sanitäre Einrichtungen, SDG 11 – Nachhaltige Städte und Gemeinschaften

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.15488/18929 (Zugang: Offen)