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Ecological Approaches to Sanitation

Water-borne diseases are a common cause of illness and death in the developing world. Approximately 90% of the sewage in cities and 95% of the total amount of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated. Hence, there is an urgent need for proper operation of conventional sewage treatment facilities and for new solutions to sanitation.

Flush-and-discharge systems make the problem of sanitation and wastewater worse because a relatively small amount of dangerous material (i.e., human feces) is allowed to pollute a large amount of water. Yet, this approach is promoted in cities and towns around the world, even in poor countries where people cannot afford it and in arid areas where there is insufficient water for drinking.

Ecological sanitation is an alternative appropriate in some circumstances. The approach is not to mix the various components of wastewater: 1) human urine and feces (in the toilet), 2) human excrement and water, 3) black water (from toilets) and grey water (from kitchens and laundries), 4) household waste and industrial waste, and 5) waste and rainwater.

Urine contains forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are readily available to plants. Urine diluted by water can be used directly in gardens or in agriculture or it can be stored for later use. If it cannot be used as a fertilizer, it may be infiltrated into the ground. Urine is separated from feces by use of a dry toilet with urine separation. Feces are preferably processed in two steps before they are reused: dehydration locally in pits, followed by high temperature composting to ensure destruction of pathogenic organisms. The compost product can be used as a fertilizer or soil conditioner.

Grey water from households has a much lower BOD₅ and phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations than mixed wastewater. It is therefore easier to treat grey wastewater by the methods already presented. Other possibilities are use of wetlands directly or for infiltration. Grey wastewater may be used after simple filtration (for example, by settling) for irrigation.

By not mixing storm water and wastewater, one can store, treat, and recycle storm water locally. However, maintaining separate streams requires two systems of drains and is expensive. Industrial wastewater may contain toxic chemicals and must, in most cases, be treated at the source.

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