Green roofs are widely recognized as a viable solution in the context of water-sensitive urbanization, especially with respect to their effects on heat island mitigation and future-proof urban drainage [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. In order to support their dissemination throughout different regions, comparisons of performance under varying climatic conditions can be very useful. Storm characteristics such as rainfall depth, intensity and duration can be expected to play an important role, as well as the temporal distribution of storm events relative to seasonal patterns of temperature, radiation and wind. This paper summarizes the first of several such data- and model-based comparisons between Germany and China planned in the Sino-German cooperative project “Smart Technologies for Sustainable Water Management in urban Catchments as Key Contribution to Sponge Cities” (KEYS).

Objectives: (i) To ensure that knowledge developed during the project is properly captured and dissemination is effectively targeted and carried out systematically (ii) To promote a continuous knowledge exchange and transfer for project outcomes with interested stakeholders beyond the consortium (iii) To formulate fact based policy recommendations that stimulate the transition towards a circular economy (iv) To create public awareness concerning the need for a circular economy and the actions required to move towards its realisation

The Data Management Plan (DMP) is a guidance document which introduces a series of clear rules and procedures to improve data management during the project and foster the reuse of publications and data in open access. ; Version submitted to EU (v0.1.0)

Thermal-pressure hydrolysis and thermal-alkaline hydrolysis of secondary sludge, from the wastewater treatment plant Waßmannsdorf, were compared based on the physical changes of the treated sludges. For this purpose, seven parameters were determined for investigation. These were: Viscosity, particle size distribution, microscopic images, capillary suction time (CST), TR after the laboratory centrifuge test, zeta potential and foaming potential. To measure these parameters, methods were developed and then applied respectively to sludges from both treatments. The thermal-pressure hydrolysis performed better than the thermal-alkaline hydrolysis in each parameter investigation. In particular, the dewaterability of the sludges after digestion, which represents an important cost factor in sewage plant operation, could be improved by thermal-pressure hydrolysis, but not by thermal-alkaline hydrolysis.

The focus of this study investigation was laid on the plant-specific applicability of a NaOH and thermal pretreatment of activated sludge AS with following mesophilic digestion and the influence on the biomethane potential BMP. Firstly, the hydrolysis of activated sludge from the granular sludge process of the Nereda technology, which differs from conventional activated sludge in terms of sludge formation, sludge stabilization, and sludge age, was investigated for the first time. A higher dose of NaOH (0.02 - 0.08 g NaOH per gVS, 70 °C) raised the COD and phosphate degree of digestion and the digester gas yield by 22 - 47 %. Different hydrolysis temperatures (50 - 90 °C, 0.05 g NaOH per gVS) also increased the sludge parameters. However, the BMP only enhanced by 12 % at temperatures higher than 70 °C. With increasing hydrolysis temperature, the digestion time was reduced by 2 - 5 days. Despite the process-related differences between conventional AS (from the Stahnsdorf wastewater treatment plant) and AS from the granular sludge processing, comparable results were obtained in the BMP test, with and without pretreatment. Due to a lack of time, the experiments could only be carried out once or twice. As there are currently no further experience and references on this subject, additional attempts for achieving significant results will follow. In the second part, sludges from the Waßmannsdorf sewage treatment plant were used. Laboratory tests have shown that primary sludge has no influence on the digestion process. The calculated BMP of 176.5 NmL/gCSB deviates by 3% from the value of 181.9 NmL/gCSB measured in the laboratory test. It is directly related to the ratio of the used sludges. Hydrolysis according to PONDUS (70 °C; 2 h; 2.5 mL NaOH 50 % per L AS) at laboratory revealed a comparable influence on the sludge parameters as with hydrolysis on a pilot scale. During the BMP test, the laboratory sample achieved a maximum gas yield of 143 NmL/gCSB, which is a 9 % higher BMP in comparison to the pilot sample with 132 NmL/gCSB. The laboratory results can, therefore, be transferred to the pilot scale, so that the effects of changes in operation can be reliably assessed by cost, time and effort saving laboratory tests. This thesis was written within the framework of the project “Evaluation of process options for the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of Berlin sewage treatment plants" at the Berlin Centre of Competence for Water.