BASE WASA – ANTARCTIC WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND ZERO DISCHARGE
Mechanical and biological wastewater treatment was evaluated in a full scale test during the 1991-92 Wasa base expedition period. The base was erected on a nunatakk in the Norwegian Antarctic sector and housed 10-20 people. The results indicated that wastewater organics were reduced by a total of 70 %. Small changes in other constituents were also detected. Approximately 59 l of wastewater was generated per person and day, including flows from one urinal but not flush toilets as dry toilets were used. The potential of zero wastewater discharge with solar aided evaporation was tested using primary treated wastewater. Evaporation tests were performed in a preassembled tower, ventilated with solar heated air. During the Antarctic summer period, the daily practical evaporation capacity was estimated to be 4-5 l/m2 of solar collector surface area and day