Software
2018 • University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) Poseidon – a decision support tool for water reuse
Poseidon is a pre-feasibility decision support tool designed to compare wastewater treatment options for water reuse. It assesses 37 unit processes and 70 treatment train combinations based on pollutant removal efficiency, lifecycle costs, and multi-criteria factors. Developed to promote water reuse, it is user-friendly and supports capacity-building for non-experts. Poseidon incorporates data on water quality standards and technologies, enabling users to identify suitable treatment options for diverse applications such as irrigation, industrial use, or potable reuse. The tool is open-access and implemented in Excel for accessibility and transparency.
Recovered Materials & Products
Water reuse
Waste Streams
Wastewater
Confirmed countries
Germany
What is this tool intended for?
Poseidon evaluates and ranks wastewater treatment technologies to support water reuse initiatives. It enables decision-makers to identify feasible treatment trains tailored to local conditions, enhancing resource recovery and water management.
How does this tool work?
Poseidon is an Excel-based tool that combines pre-loaded technical data with user-defined inputs. Users specify water quality, treatment requirements, and reuse applications. The tool evaluates pollutant removal efficiencies, lifecycle costs, and criteria such as reliability, ease of operation, and environmental impact. Results are presented as ranked treatment options suitable for the specified reuse context.
Who might use this tool and with which types of stakeholders?
The tool is designed for urban planners, engineers, researchers, and decision-makers. It is particularly suited for municipalities, water utilities, and regions exploring water reuse schemes.
What stages of a process can this tool support?
Poseidon supports the pre-feasibility stage, aiding in capacity-building, planning, and preliminary evaluation of water reuse systems.
What skills, capabilities, and resources are required to use this tool?
Poseidon requires basic spreadsheet skills and access to wastewater quality and quantity data. While non-experts can use the tool for initial assessments, advanced users can customize inputs for detailed analysis.
Where can this tool be used?
Globally applicable, Poseidon is particularly relevant for regions facing water scarcity or exploring advanced wastewater treatment for reuse. The tool has been tested though application in global water reuse scenarios and benchmarked against international water quality standards.
Get the Tool
The tool is freely available and open-source, with supplementary materials and a detailed user handbook accessible online.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1971932
Learn more
Scientific paper describing the tool: Oertlé, Emmanuel, Christoph Hugi, Thomas Wintgens, and Christos A. Karavitis. "Poseidon—Decision support tool for water reuse." Water 11, no. 1 (2019): 153.
https://doi.org/10.3390/w11010153
Technologies
Reverse osmosis
Ultrafiltration
Microfiltration
Activated sludge
Waste stabilization ponds
Trickling filters
Tertiary filtration
Membrane bioreactor
Themes
Design
Environmental Impact Assessment