Michaela Rohrbach

Michaela Rohrbach has been a research scientist at ISOE since January 2018. She studied climate change adaptation (Water Management) and Urban Environmental Management in the Netherlands. During her master thesis, she investigated the possibility of combining decentralised wastewater technologies with urban agriculture within a building complex by means of material flow analyses.

Focus of research

Circular economy (water and nutrients)
Climate change adaptation

Publications

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Kerber, Heide, Michaela Rohrbach, Martina Winker (2025): Advancing Water Reuse through Technical and Social Innovation: Insights from a Living Lab in German Hydroponic Agriculture. IWA International Water Association, Water Research Commission, 98
Schramm, Engelbert, Michaela Rohrbach, Martina Winker, Christian Remy, Martin Zimmermann (2025): Substitution von Trinkwasser: Potenziale der Betriebswassernutzung in Frankfurt am Main. fbr-wasserspiegel (2/25), 6–12
Dockhorn, Thomas, Andreas Kolb, Hooman Mohammadi, Paul Keβeler, Sylvia Kratz, Elke Bloem, Joachim Clemens, Martina Winker, Jonathan Pillen, Markus Rauchecker, Michaela Rohrbach, Engelbert Schramm, Stefanie Meyer, Christoph Siemers, Franziska Gromadecki, Janina Heinze, Hans-Oskar Baron, Johannes Müller-Schaper, Oliver Hermanussen (2024): Aufbau eines Netzwerks zum ressourceneffizienten Phosphor-Recycling und -Management in der Region Harz und Heide - Erfahrungen aus dem Verbundprojekt P-Net. Gewässerschutz - Wasser - Abwasser, 257. Aachen: Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Instituts für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen, 57/1-57/15
Lorber, Philipp, Michaela Rohrbach (2024): Collection of Mismanaged Plastic Waste. Incorporating mismanaged plastic waste into solid waste management. Guide to Municipal Plastic Waste Management in Bangladesh. Weimar, Germany: SCIP Plastics Project, 74–76
Rohrbach, Michaela (2024): Social Business Model Canvas. Identification of business models and partnerships for waste management with local experts. Guide to Municipal Plastic Waste Management in Bangladesh. Weimar, Germany: SCIP Plastics Project, 35–37
Schramm, Engelbert, Michaela Rohrbach, Martina Winker, Martin Zimmermann (2024): Substitution von Trinkwasser. Ermittlung des Pro-Kopf-Betriebswasserbedarfs. gwf-Wasser/Abwasser International 165 (1), 61–66
Schramm, Engelbert, Michaela Rohrbach, Martina Winker, Christian Remy, Martin Zimmermann (2024): Substitution von Trinkwasser. Potenziale der Betriebswassernutzung in Frankfurt am Main. gwf-Wasser/Abwasser International 165 (10), 77–83
Rauchecker, Markus, Engelbert Schramm, Jonathan Pillen, Franziska Gromadecki, Janina Heinze, Heinrich Ripke, Michaela Rohrbach, Martina Winker (2024): Transformation zu einer nachhaltigen regionalen Phosphor-Kreislaufwirtschaft durch den Aufbau von Struvitnetzwerken. ISOE-Materialien Soziale Ökologie, 76. Frankfurt am Main: ISOE - Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13919962
Rohrbach, Michaela, Engelbert Schramm, Martina Winker (2023): Ämterübergreifende Zusammenarbeit ermöglicht blau-grüne Infrastrukturen: Akteure der Anpassung an den Klimawandel in Stuttgart und Frankfurt am Main. KW Korrespondenz Wasserwirtschaft 16 (2), 99–107
Rohrbach, Michaela, Martin Zimmermann (2023): Improving sewage sludge treatment and utilisation in China: a German perspective on barriers to and measures for the dissemination of innovative technologies. H2Open Journal, DOI: 10.2166/h2oj.2023.022
Schramm, Engelbert, Martina Winker, Michaela Rohrbach, Martin Zimmermann, Christian Remy (2022): Abschätzung theoretischer Trinkwassersubstitutionspotenziale in Frankfurt am Main. Optionen der Betriebswassernutzung und deren ökonomische und ökologische Auswirkungen im Betrachtungshorizont bis 2050. ISOE-Studientexte, 26. Frankfurt am Main: ISOE - Institut für sozial-ökologische Forschung
Winker, Martina, Jutta Deffner, Michaela Rohrbach, Engelbert Schramm, Melina Stein (2022): Enhancing blue-green infrastructure in German cities with the involvement of urban society: insights from Frankfurt/Main and Stuttgart. Blue-Green Systems 4 (2), 230–246. DOI: 10.2166/bgs.2022.017
Rohrbach, Michaela, Martin Zimmermann (2021): Hürden und Handlungsmöglichkeiten für einen nachhaltigen Umgang mit Klärschlamm in China. gwf-Wasser/Abwasser International 162 (12), 77–83

Current Publications

Advancing Water Reuse through Technical and Social Innovation: Insights from a Living Lab in German Hydroponic Agriculture

Abstract Book Oral Presentations. 14th IWA International Con...

Advancing Water Reuse through Technical and Social Innovation: Insights from a Living Lab in German Hydroponic Agriculture

Heide Kerber, Michaela Rohrbach, Martina Winker

2025
Available online
Substitution von Trinkwasser: Potenziale der Betriebswassernutzung in Frankfurt am Main

fbr-wasserspiegel

Substitution von Trinkwasser: Potenziale der Betriebswassernutzung in Frankfurt am Main

Engelbert Schramm et al.

2025
Aufbau eines Netzwerks zum ressourceneffizienten Phosphor-Recycling und -Management in der Region Harz und Heide - Erfahrungen aus dem Verbundprojekt P-Net

Gewässerschutz - Wasser - Abwasser

Aufbau eines Netzwerks zum ressourceneffizienten Phosphor-Recycling und -Management in der Region Harz und Heide - Erfahrungen aus dem Verbundprojekt P-Net

Thomas Dockhorn et al.

2024
Collection of Mismanaged Plastic Waste. Incorporating mismanaged plastic waste into solid waste management

Guide to Municipal Plastic Waste Management in Bangladesh

Collection of Mismanaged Plastic Waste. Incorporating mismanaged plastic waste into solid waste management

Philipp Lorber, Michaela Rohrbach

2024
Social Business Model Canvas. Identification of business models and partnerships for waste management with local experts

Guide to Municipal Plastic Waste Management in Bangladesh

Social Business Model Canvas. Identification of business models and partnerships for waste management with local experts

Michaela Rohrbach

2024

Projects

LiveSewer – AI-based wastewater monitoring

Water

LiveSewer – AI-based wastewater monitoring

In the research project LiveSewer, real-time wastewater data are processed and analyzed using AI-supported pattern recognition (machine learning).
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SCIP Plastics – Strengthening Waste Prevention in Khulna and Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution

Chemical Risks Transformation

SCIP Plastics – Strengthening Waste Prevention in Khulna and Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution

The SCIP Plastics research project is developing a master plan for the city of Khulna (Bangladesh) that aims to transform the municipal waste management system in a sustainable way.
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HypoWave+ – Implementation of a hydroponic system for sustainable water reuse in agriculture

Water Land Use

HypoWave+ – Implementation of a hydroponic system for sustainable water reuse in agriculture

Hypowave+ is supporting the implementation of the piloted HypoWave concept. It focuses on integrated quality management, which stands for a holistic view of water treatment processes and regional vegetable production.
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P-Net – Regional network for resource-efficient phosphorus recycling and management

Water

P-Net – Regional network for resource-efficient phosphorus recycling and management

The project is investigating ways of establishing regional networks to process precipitated phosphorus into phosphorus fertilizers in so-called struvite plants.
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IntenKS – Improving sewage sludge treatment in China for energetic and material utilisation

Water

IntenKS – Improving sewage sludge treatment in China for energetic and material utilisation

The aim of the IntenKS research project is to develop an ecologically and economically sustainable concept for the optimized material and energy recovery of sewage sludge.
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Assessment of the potential for the use of service water in Frankfurt am Main

Water

Assessment of the potential for the use of service water in Frankfurt am Main

The aim of the project is to determine the potential demand for process water in Frankfurt am Main and at the same time to identify ways in which this demand can be met.
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INTERESS-I – Integrated strategies to strengthen urban blue-green infrastructures

Water Transformation

INTERESS-I – Integrated strategies to strengthen urban blue-green infrastructures

The INTERESS-I research project is dedicated to the development of innovative and sustainable strategies for the water management of urban green spaces.
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EPoNa – Water Reuse in Northern Namibia

Water

EPoNa – Water Reuse in Northern Namibia

The aim of the project is to improve the performance of wastewater pond facilities. To this end, ISOE is investigating aspects of governance and developing management structures and financial controlling procedures.
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MULTI-ReUse – Modular treatment system for water reuse

Water

MULTI-ReUse – Modular treatment system for water reuse

The project develops and evaluates a modular system for the treatment of municipal wastewater, with a focus on industrial applications in Germany.
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HypoWave – New Pathways Towards Wastewater Re-Use in Agriculture

Water

HypoWave – New Pathways Towards Wastewater Re-Use in Agriculture

HypoWave promotes a more sustainable use of water as a resource. Nutrients bound in wastewater are to be reused.
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Water –

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Focus of research

Publications

Current Publications

Advancing Water Reuse through Technical and Social Innovation: Insights from a Living Lab in German Hydroponic Agriculture

Substitution von Trinkwasser: Potenziale der Betriebswassernutzung in Frankfurt am Main

Aufbau eines Netzwerks zum ressourceneffizienten Phosphor-Recycling und -Management in der Region Harz und Heide - Erfahrungen aus dem Verbundprojekt P-Net

Collection of Mismanaged Plastic Waste. Incorporating mismanaged plastic waste into solid waste management

Social Business Model Canvas. Identification of business models and partnerships for waste management with local experts

Projects

LiveSewer – AI-based wastewater monitoring

SCIP Plastics – Strengthening Waste Prevention in Khulna and Reducing Marine Plastic Pollution

HypoWave+ – Implementation of a hydroponic system for sustainable water reuse in agriculture

P-Net – Regional network for resource-efficient phosphorus recycling and management

IntenKS – Improving sewage sludge treatment in China for energetic and material utilisation

Assessment of the potential for the use of service water in Frankfurt am Main

INTERESS-I – Integrated strategies to strengthen urban blue-green infrastructures

EPoNa – Water Reuse in Northern Namibia

MULTI-ReUse – Modular treatment system for water reuse

HypoWave – New Pathways Towards Wastewater Re-Use in Agriculture