Low cost sanitation alternatives of wastewater treatment for developed and developing countries

Abstract

Several low cost sanitation alternatives applicable to both developed and developing countries are discussed. Conventional sewerage systems are culturally and economically unsuitable for many of the developing countries. Sanitation in many of the developing countries could be greatly improved by adapting low cost sewage treatment technologies intermediate between pit privies and conventional sewerage systems. Other low cost wastewater treatment alternatives such as oxidation ponds, aerated lagoons and anaerobic lagoons are discussed with regard to their scope of application in the developing countries. On‐site sanitation alternatives such as septic tanks are feasible in developed countries. On‐site sanitation alternatives for sewage disposal are becoming quite popular in the U.S. However, sufficient care must be exercised with regard to on‐site disposal systems on problem soils to alleviate any possible contamination threat to the groundwaters. Sand envelopes have been reported to be suitable to the situa...