Sustainable approach to urban development
A new district emerging in Helsingborg, Sweden, has put environment and sustainability on the agenda.
Oceanhamnen is a newly developed urban living district in Helsingborg, Sweden focusing on environment and sustainability. The area was previously home to an old port and an industrial area.
Brf Ophelia’s Brygga, which can be translated to Housing Association of Ophelia’s Pier, is a residential building in Oceanhamnen. The building has Jets® vacuum toilets and source separated pipes, which they call “Three Pipes Out”. Black water, grey water and food waste is separated and treated at RecoLab.
RecoLab is a local waste treatment facility in Helsingborg, Sweden. The facility handles source-separated waste from Oceanhamnen, the mentioned "Three Pipes Out" system. This source separation allows for more efficient recovery of valuable resources from wastewater and food waste, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and clean water.
The world’s population is growing rapidly, and cities are expanding – housing more people than ever before. This creates a critical need for smarter infrastructure and more efficient resource utilisation. The way we build and develop real estate today will define how well we adapt to future challenges and needs.
A prime example of a sustainable approach to urban development can be found in Sweden. Oceanhamnen in Helsingborg was nothing more than an old port and industrial area. A location like many others around the world. Helsingborg saw the potential and put their vision into life – with sustainability and environment front and center. Oceanhamnen is one of the largest urban development projects in modern times. Transformed into a vibrant, modern district designed for the future.
Comfortable and innovative
A key part in realising the vision for Oceanhamnen is something we rarely think about, but something that every city depends on – sanitation. Toilets and wastewater management are an essential part of our everyday life, and finding new solutions for sanitation is crucial for more sustainable urban development.
Oceanhamnen is home to 1 000 vacuum toilets, and has taken an innovative approach to sustainable urban living. The new district offers seaside homes with nice courtyards, roof terraces and balconies with a stunning view. One of the residential buildings here is Brf Ophelias Brygga (Housing Association of Ophelia’s Pier). Charmain Lars-Inge Persson explains that each apartment is equipped with a "three-pipe" system.
- This means that three sources of waste is separated into three distinct streams: food waste (all apartments have food waste disposers), greywater (from baths, dishwashing, and laundry), and blackwater (wastewater from vacuum toilets).
Circular process
Most of us rarely think about how the toilet works. A traditional toilet uses several litres of drinking water every time you flush. A Jets® vacuum toilet reduces the amount of water used by up to 90%. This is great for more sustainable water-usage but also means a severe reduction in sewage volume. Jets® vacuum toilets also enable the type of source separation used in Oceanhamnen. But how does one handle source separated wastewater? And how is it useful?
Another innovative part of Oceanhamnen area is RecoLab, a local treatment facility, that truly shows the type of wastewater management we need in the future.
- The three waste streams, from for example Brf Ophelia’s Brygga, are directed into separate pipes leading to RecoLab, where each can be processed in the most efficient way possible, says Amanda Haux, Head of Business Development, Northwest Skåne Water and Wastewater (NSVA).
- In addition to significantly reducing potable water consumption, this system simplifies the recovery of phosphorus and nitrogen in a concentrated form. These are resources that local farmers are eager to reuse as fertiliser for their fields. It's a circular process that benefits many. The greywater can be treated and reused as drinking water, but in the case of Oceanhamnen, it is primarily planned to supply the pools in the new public swimming facility. Meanwhile, blackwater and food waste are combined to generate biogas, Haux explains.
Chairman Persson proudly demonstrates how he can activate 45 minutes of gas supply for the communal outdoor grill in the courtyard. One of many tangible proofs of true circularity. Residents contribute by adopting a new way of waste separation and, in return, benefit from biogas as an added advantage. The town of Helsingborg is leading the way in sustainable living and putting real environmental commitment into action.
New ways of handling sanitation
Jets® vacuum sanitary systems, such as those in Oceanhamnen, make it possible to change the way wastewater is handled. Jets® vacuum toilets use only a fraction of the water required by traditional toilets, significantly reducing overall consumption. The vacuum system also enables efficient separation and transport of blackwater, making it easier to recover valuable resources.
By integrating vacuum technology, buildings can lower their environmental footprint while supporting circular waste solutions. Finding new ways to handle sanitation that make it easier to utilise resources, can help cities create smarter and more sustainable infrastructure.
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