Dive Brief:
- The OmniProcessor, a water treatment plant prototype designed by Washington-based Janicki Energy, can effectively convert human waste and sludge into electricity and recycled water.
- The project, backed and endorsed by philanthropist and tech billionaire Bill Gates, aims to bring the processing unit to places like India and Africa.
- The OmniProcessor is touted as more efficient than treatment plants currently in use, as it recaptures unused energy and transforms it into a commodity.
Dive Insight:
According to the developer of the plant, Peter Janicki, the water treatment facility is a conglomerate of the following: a stream power plant, an incinerator, and a water filtration system.
The prototype is capable of processing up to 14 tons of sewage into electricity and water daily. The system also creates a non-toxic ash as a byproduct, while the ash contains phosphorus and potassium and can be used as a fertilizer.
