A 1998 estimate predicts that U.S. wastewater treatment systems generated nearly 8 million dry tons of sludge in 2005. This sludge requires significant energy to treat, ranging from 30-80% of total electrical input to a wastewater treatment system.
The need for global solutions to environmental, social, and economic challenges is greater than ever. The Center for Sustainable Systems, within the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan, leads interdisciplinary research to support the design, assessment, and management of systems that meet societal needs in a more sustainable manner.


