In a very recent study published in Science of the Total Environment, Sahar Dalahmeh, a researcher at the Environmental Engineering Unit and her co-workers investigated concentrations and partitioning of 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in wastewater, surface water, soil and crop plants (yam, maize and sugarcane) in Nakivubo wetland and Lake Victoria at Kampala, Uganda.
Location of the study area at Kampala, Uganda, and the sampling sites
Category: English
Water Research School annual meeting in Luleå
This year’s annual meeting of the Water Research School, of which many members of the kretsloppsteknik research group are part of, was hosted by Luleå Tekniska Universitet (LTU) between 7-8 February. Solveig Johannesdottir, Jennifer McConville and Prithvi Simha from our group made it to Luleå for the 2-day event. On the first day, they got to hear about LTU’s current research on urban drainage & stormwater management, VR platforms for visualisation, and the effects of shifting the city centre in Kiruna & Gällivare on urban water and sanitation. Day 2 started with two interesting lectures – the first where Prof. Lennart Elfgren shared his views on ‘how to do a PhD and feel good about it’; the second where Prof. Javier Martin-Torres talked about discovering transcient water on Mars. 
Water Research School group picture at Gråsjälören. PC: Salar H. Afshar
Building blocks of modular BSF treatment are put together in a course
Our one-day-course in modular fly larva treatment is in high demand. After the first course opportunity in December 2017, the course was organized again on 14 March 2018, with eight participants from different Swedish companies and universities.
In the morning Cecilia Lalander and Evgheni Ermolaev gave an in-depth introduction to the concept of a modular system developed at SLU and presented the possibilities on waste management with the black soldier fly larvae. Details on both the fly rearing and waste treatment modules were presented.
Research-Policy Interaction for Sustainable Development
Prithvi Simha, PhD student at the Kretsloppsteknik group attended a course on research-policy interaction at the Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development (GMV). The course was given as part of the ‘Water Research School‘ for PhD students in Sweden, of which several candidates from our group are part of. The course involved creating a research-to-policy plan related to Prithvi’s PhD research on urine dehydration, understanding models for stakoholder interaction and learning to effectively communicate with policymakers. Course participants also got to hear from Johan Kuylenstierna, former CEO of Stockholm Environmental Institute, on his personal experiences of science-policy interaction. 
Course participants from the Water Research School; PC – Linda Kanders
Molecular Methods course in Finland
Jenna Senecal attended a course on Molecular Methods for Detection of Food- and Waterborne Pathogens in Helsinki, Finland (04.03.2018-08.03.2018). The course was taught and attended by top researchers from the Nordic countries. She learned about the latest available technologies for DNA extraction and analyses being used for detecting pathogenic strains of viruses, bacteria and parasites.
Group Photo with PCR
SPANS project work in Uganda
There is a lot going in the SPANS project in Uganda right now.
We have started demonstration units of nutrient-recovery treatment technologies for fecal sludge at the Luibgi wastewater treatment plant in Kampala. Two MSc students from Luleå University of Technology are currently operating demonstration units for treatment with lime and urea. The students are collecting and analyzing samples to determine if the technologies are functioning properly with regard to reduction of public and environmental health risks. They are also doing interviews with workers at the wastewater treatment plant and other stakeholders to understand the levels of acceptance and feasibility of implementing such technologies within the existing management structures. Soon two students from Makerere University will be starting a demonstration unit with Black Soldier Fly composting at the wastewater treatment plant.
Sanitation Round Table meeting in Nairobi, Kenya
SLU and IAS (International Aid services) jointly hosted a round table meeting on the 25th of January in Nairobi, Kenya. Different stakeholders such as local politicians, NGOs and researchers took part in the meeting, to discuss how to jointly solve the sanitation situation in Africa’s largest urban slum, Nairobi’s Kibera.
Participants of the round table meeting. PC: Sheila Gatumu
Course in modular fly larvae treatment: rearing and composting
Foto: Evgheni Ermolaev
Date: 14/3-2018, 9 – 16
Location: Campus Ultuna (Biosfären och Flugväxthuset), Uppsala
Price: 5000 SEK/person
Under this one-day course the course delegates will be presented with a general introduction to fly larvae treatment, including both the fly rearing and composting steps. We will present the theory behind the different steps of the module based fly larvae treatment and practical exercises on handling of larvae, pupae and flies. The course will be given in English.
Bachelor thesis presentation: Greenhouse gas emissions from fly larvae composting
Foto: Viktoria Wiklicky
Frida Erlöv will present her Bachelor thesis about Greenhouse gas emissions from fly larvae composting on 22 February at 2 pm in Ekoln. Håkan Jönsson is the examinor. The presentation will be held in Swedish.
Abstract
Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) composting have proven to be very effective in degradation of organic waste products, while generating valuable products, such as animal feed and organic fertilizers or biofuels. Treatment with black soldier fly larvae has thereby a potential to contribute to a more environmental friendly and economically viable management of biological waste fractions. The aim of this study was to measure greenhouse gas emissions from black soldier fly composting and to compare these with emissions from thermophilic aerobic composting. Gas emissions from three different black soldier fly larvae composts were measured: one with only larvae and two in which specific fly larvae bacteria were added as well as the larvae. In addition, various parameters (pH, bulk density, compost maturity, total solids, organic content and total-N) were measured, to get a better understanding concerning present processes.
Professor Håkan Jönsson for the Water Prize
Photo: Julio Gonzales/SLU On March 14th, Professor Håkan Jönsson will be awarded the Water Prize by Föreningen Vatten (Society Water). “Never during my 10 years in the board of Föreningen Vatten have we received so many heavy nominations for a certain person. Most universities, organizations and individuals in the industry have shown strong support for this prize winner“, writes Marta Ahlquist-Juhlén, the chairman of Föreningen Vatten. Among others, Prof. Jönsson has actively worked to close the cycle between cities and rural areas for 25 years, and his research has made a great impression. Most well-known is his commitment to upstream solutions in wastewater systems and his work on recycling plant nutrients from wastewater to arable land.