Abstract
Abstract On-site sanitation systems such as pit latrines are extensively used around the world, while there is a growing number of evidence documenting the impact of pit latrines on groundwater quality that may affect human health. Hence, this paper summarizes the various safe-sanitation technologies by broadly categorizing them into fecal pathogen disinfection methods (anaerobic digestion, chemical disinfection, biological additives, solar pasteurization and vermicomposting) and capturing methods (pit lining and permeable reactive barriers, the latter of which simultaneously capture and sanitize fecal sludge in pit latrines). While some of the reviewed technologies have been widely practiced for mitigating microbial contamination of the groundwater, others are still in the early stage of commercialization and field validation. Though there are challenges to the selection and adoption of the most appropriate technology, this paper discusses the readiness of each technology as a stand-alone fecal sludge management solution.
Highlights
In 2015, United Nations included the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on achieving universal and equitable access to safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene by 2030 (UN General Assembly 2015)
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that infectious diseases highly associated with unsafe water and inadequate sanitation are a major cause of death and disease annually in both low- and middle-income countries, especially among children,5 years of age (Mills & Cumming 2016)
A big challenge is to disseminate this information to the local masons and sanitation workers who are responsible for toilet construction and maintenance. These masons often lack a formal training or the ability to disseminate the correct technology options to the user (Roberts et al 2007). This results in poor toilet design, construction and maintenance, thereby causing non-adoption of safe-sanitation practices and eventually reverting people back to unsafe sanitation practices including OD (Busienei 2019)
Summary
In 2015, United Nations included the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on achieving universal and equitable access to safe water and adequate sanitation and hygiene by 2030 (UN General Assembly 2015). Chemical and biological disinfection During disaster events or humanitarian emergencies where important losses and damage are inflicted upon communities and individuals, immediate assistant is essential to stabilize the situation and enhance recovery (Reed et al 2016; Gensch et al 2018) In such emergency situations, pit latrines and container-based toilet systems (CBSs) are most commonly used sanitation technologies for decentralized fecal sludge management (Zindoga 2016). Rao & Malini (2015) demonstrated heterotrophic denitrification capability of bentonite-enhanced sand PRB by reducing nitrate concentration by 85–90% in batch and column tests. Rao et al (2018) successfully field-tested a modified twin-pit toilet (mentioned above in section 3.1) that used a bio-barrier constructed using sand, gravel and cattle manure mixers to facilitate denitrification reactions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
