UNH Students Studying The Use Of Urine As Fertilizer

DURHAM, N.H. (CBS) --- Urine as fertilizer? Four University of New Hampshire students say "Pee-pare yourself."

Taylor Walter, Adam Carignan, Elizabeth McCrary and Alyson Packhem are the whiz kids behind the study.

Walter, a senior majoring in environmental engineering, says nitrogen in urine is a pollutant and even though a lot of it is taken care of in Durham's Wastewater Treatment Plant, under Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, there is still some that goes into Oyster River and Great Bay.

"We're going to do a feasibility study to see if we can remove some of that nitrogen," Walter said.

The students say by collecting the urine, and using it as a fertilizer, they can help the environment.

But how are they going to collect the urine?

Working with school and town officials, the town agreed to sponsor a "pee bus," sort of like a Portapotty, that will be on campus for students to use. The trailer is going to be set up Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when the students are out at the bars, Walter said.

"You will have privacy, it's an enclosed structure, separated for men and women," Walter said. "Your urine won't be flushed away though, it will be disinfected."

Once collected, the urine will undergo a 60-day disinfection process.

The students hope to test the fertilizer at local hay farms this summer.

"We hope to put a positive face on urine diversion," Walter said.

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