A film by Philip Montasser
Documentary 43/50 min, ZDF/3sat

What flows through our sewers each day is far more than simple waste. Beneath our cities, a hidden stream carries a complex blend of substances—rich in energy, nutrients, and even subtle traces of our daily routines. Today, scientists are beginning to see this wastewater in a new light.
The treatment plant of the future is no longer just a place where impurities are removed. It becomes a power station and a biorefinery in one: generating electricity, producing bioplastics, and recovering phosphorus—one of the planet’s scarcest and most essential nutrients.
Step by step, we follow researchers as they venture into this often overlooked world. Their mission: to uncover the valuable resources concealed within our wastewater. It is a scientific treasure hunt in a place few of us ever think about, yet one that may help shape the future of sustainable living.