Material Flow Analysis
Naomi Radke, seecon international GmbH
Material Flow Analysis
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The contents of the SSWM Toolbox reflect the opinions of the respective authors and not necessarily the official opinion of the funding or
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Depending on the initial situations and respective local circumstances, there is no guarantee that single measures described in the toolbox
will make the local water and sanitation system more sustainable. The main aim of the SSWM Toolbox is to be a reference tool to provide
ideas for improving the local water and sanitation situation in a sustainable manner. Results depend largely on the respective situation
and the implementation and combination of the measures described. An in-depth analysis of respective advantages and disadvantages and
the suitability of the measure is necessary in every single case. We do not assume any responsibility for and make no warranty with
respect to the results that may be obtained from the use of the information provided.
Material Flow Analysis
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Contents
1. What is Material Flow Analysis (MFA)?
2. How to use MFA for SSWM
3. Applicability
4. Advantages and Disadvantages
5. References
Material Flow Analysis
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1. What is Material Flow Analysis (MFA)?
Quantification and assessment of ...
... matter (in SSWM: water, food, excreta, wastewater, ...)
and substances (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, ...) mass flows
(primary natural resources)
in a (human) system (city, country, ...)
during a defined period.
Material Flow Analysis
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1. What is Material Flow Analysis (MFA)?
MFA contains the following main steps:
1. Identification of the relevant material flows
2. System analysis (selection of the relevant matter, processes**,
indicator substances* and system boundaries)
3. Quantification of mass flows of matter and indicator substances*
4. Identification of weak points in the system
5. Development and evaluation of scenarios and schematic
representation, interpretation of the results
*Indicator substances for MFA in SSWM are generally: nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P), carbon (C or CO2), NH3
** Processes: transformation, transport or storage of substances (for
SSWM: households, wastewater treatment plants, agricultural soils)
Material Flow Analysis
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1. What is Material Flow Analysis (MFA)?
Example of a System Analysis (Step 2 of MFA)
Boxes designate
processes, arrows
represent the flows of
(matter or substance)
mass within a system.
Source: FORSTER et al. (2003)
Material Flow Analysis
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1. What is Material Flow Analysis (MFA)?
Why doing a MFA?
• To optimise your local SSWM system:
• Identifying problems and quantifying the impact of potential
measures on resource recovery and environmental pollution
• Comparing different sanitation technology options regarding
their environmental and financial impact
Example: Pour-flush toilet or
Arborloo?
Two sanitation technologies that
differ in material flows and
possible in environmental impact
(where are nutrients from
excreta transported to?)
Material Flow Analysis
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2. How to Use MFA for SSWM?
Example of MFA for nitrogen at household-level (1/3)
Step 1: Identifying the relevant material flow
• Relevant goods in SSWM: inputs and outputs to and from the
household (food, excreta, blackwater, greywater, organic solid waste)
• Relevant material flows in SSWM: Phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon
(energy or calorific values), etc.
• Relevant processes in SSWM: Households (food and water
consumption, digestion, kitchen wastes) and on-site sanitation system
Material Flow Analysis
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2. How to Use MFA for SSWM?
Example of MFA for nitrogen at household-level (2/3)
Step 2: System Analysis: Nitrogen (N)-containing goods are
transformed in these 2 processes.
3. Leaving human
organism as excreta
2. digestion
Example of system
boundaries at the
household-level. “I” is
import, “E” is export.
Source: YIOUGO (2010)
Material Flow Analysis
1. N enters the human
organism as food
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2. How to Use MFA for SSWM?
Example of MFA for nitrogen at household-level (3/3)
Step 3: Quantifying good and substance flows in the system
• Good = Substance or mixture of substances e.g. Food or solid waste
• N flow in excreta = kg excreta/capita/day * N concentration in
excreta
• Source data: Literature, estimations, measurements, calculations
Material Flow Analysis
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2. How to Use MFA for SSWM?
Example of MFA for nitrogen at household-level (3/3)
Step 4+5: Graphing and interpreting the data
• Graph: Open-source software STAN can be used for graphic
representation
MFA with graphic representation
of mass of goods flows. Units can
show mass in t/year or
t/capita/year. Nitrogen masses
can be calculated from mass of
goods Source: YIOUGO (2010)
Material Flow Analysis
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3. Applicability
MFA can be used for:
• Environmental impact assessments
• Development of environmental policy for hazardous substances
• Nutrient management in watersheds
• Waste management
• Evaluating the environmental soundness of sanitation options by
calculating and comparing the quantity of nitrogen or phosphorus
within the city for each option
• Sanitation planning:
 Choosing the best options which do not pollute groundwater,
surface water and allow for nutrient recycling
Material Flow Analysis
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4. Advantages and Disadvantages
MFA applied to SSWM
Advantages:
• Allows critical view of
sanitation/water management
• Helps to evaluate the
environmental soundness of
sanitation options
• Can be used as a decision tool
to choose sustainable
sanitation technology
• Ideal technical basis for
planning and decision making
• In developing countries,
proven suitable for early
detection of environmental
problems
Material Flow Analysis
Disadvantages:
• Needs a lot of data to be
implemented
• Limited reliable data available
in developing countries
• There is a need to deal with
uncertainties
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6. References
FORSTER, D.; SCHERTENLEIB, R.; BELEVI, H. (2003): Linking Urban Agriculture and Environmental
Sanitation. Duebendorf: Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science (EAWAG). URL:
http://www.susana.org/lang-en/library?view=ccbktypeitem&type=2&id=327 [Accessed: 16.10.2013]
Material Flow Analysis
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“Linking up Sustainable Sanitation,
Water Management & Agriculture”
SSWM is an
initiative
supported by:
Created
by:
Material Flow Analysis
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