Low-pressure aeration is a sustainable landfill management technique in which atmospheric air is introduced to the waste body with the aim of promoting aerobic respiration and thereby speeding up waste stabilization. This strategy has been implemented at Braambergen, a pilot landfill in the Netherlands, for several years. Landfill operators and regulators are eager to determine the efficacy of this intervention. In this thesis, several novel testing methods were implemented to characterize the gas flow properties of the pilot landfill and evaluate the significance of preferential pathways, which are considered a limiting factor in landfill aeration. The test methods were also evaluated for their utility in landfill monitoring.

Pressure field tests (PFTs) were used in combination with two gas flow models to quantify the gas permeability of the waste body. Partitioning gas tracer tests (PGTTs) were used to evaluate the saturation of the waste body. Additionally, a dual porosity model was applied to estimate the immobile gas fraction, gas velocity, dispersion coefficient, and mass transfer rate. Finally, gas push-pull tests (GPPTs) were used to calculate the oxygen consumption rate.

The results showed that PFTs could be used to estimate gas permeability anisotropy and monitor the high-permeability pathways, but the method did not capture the differences between aerobic and anaerobic regions of the waste body. PGTTs seemed to better represent these differences, but there were major problems with the quality of the data and the applicability of the dual porosity model. If these issues are resolved, the method could be of great use to landfill operators. GPPTs were successfully used to estimate respiration rates,
but the methodology needs improvement. Not enough successful GPPTs were performed to determine their relationship to other test methods.

This research explores the feasibility of implementing ceramic microfiltration (CMF) treatment in Maputo, Mozambique, to reclaim wastewater for industrial reuse, addressing the city's pressing water scarcity challenges. As rapid urbanization increases Maputo's reliance on potable water for industrial and agricultural needs, this study evaluates reclaimed wastewater as a sustainable alternative to alleviate demand on the city's limited freshwater resources. Using a CMF pilot plant, the project tested wastewater from the recently upgraded Infulene Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to assess whether CMF treatment could achieve quality standards suitable for applications such as cooling, concrete production, car washes, agricultural irrigation, and municipal park irrigation. Furthermore, the opportunity of scalability was tested through a water balance, while relevant stakeholders were interviewed and costs estimated to complete the feasibility assessment.

Laboratory results indicated that CMF treatment effectively reduces turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological pollutants like E. coli and coliforms. However, dissolved particles and heavy metals were not removed, limiting its efficacy for high-specification uses. While the treated effluent met quality standards for lower-specification applications, such as local car washes and park irrigation, it did not reach the stricter requirements needed for cooling water or concrete production. This underscores a need for process optimization, particularly through coagulation, to expand CMF's application range.

To assess sustainable water availability, a water balance analysis of the Infulene WWTP considered seasonal flows and local agricultural demands. The findings suggest that although the current water supply is insufficient during dry months, full capacity utilization and improved sewer network connections in the future could support CMF-based water reuse consistently across seasons, with potential scalability for additional users.

Economic analysis compared CMF's capital and operational costs with revenue from reclaimed water sales, showing that while considerable initial investment is required, direct piping could potentially make CMF-treated water competitively priced against potable supplies under the condition of reaching maximum treatment capacity at a scaled up CMF plant. High costs associated with truck-based delivery, however, present a barrier to adoption for potential users. Stakeholder interest was strong across industrial users and developers, though contingent on achieving cost parity with the existing water network.

This study concludes that, while integrating CMF technology into Maputo's water management strategy offers promise, challenges remain in achieving quality standards for certain industrial applications and in lowering costs. Addressing these technical and economic barriers could open avenues for CMF's broader adoption, especially with future assessments that include alternative suppliers and configurations.