Faecal Sludge Treatment Research Articles

Persistence of respiratory, enteric, and fecal indicator viruses in fecal sludge from on-site sanitation in Dakar, Senegal

ABSTRACT As wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) broadens to include prevalent diseases with significant global health impact, existing surveillance systems concentrate on sewer-based infrastructure, which excludes the 2.7 billion people using non-sewered systems. To address this gap, our study explores the potential of fecal sludge treatment plants for WBE, emphasizing the stability of virus RNA targets within pooled fecal sludge. We screened fecal sludge from a centralized treatment facility in Dakar, Senegal for SARS-CoV-2, human norovirus, and microbial source trackers pepper mild mottle virus and tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). Decay kinetics of viral genomic RNA markers were examined at 4, 15, and 30 °C over 70 days. Results indicate the high persistence of viral targets in fecal sludge (T90 value of 3.3 months for exogenous SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 and 6.2 months for ToBRFV), with all targets detected throughout the 70-day experiment under various temperatures with limited decay (<90% reduction). This study addresses a crucial gap in understanding virus persistence in on-site sanitation systems by providing essential decay rate constants for effective target detection. Our results indicate that sampling at centralized facilities treating fecal sludge from on-site sanitation could facilitate localized pathogen surveillance in low-income settings.

Assessment of the Status and Characteristics of Faecal Sludge Management in populated unplanned settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This study evaluates faecal sludge management in densely populated informal settlements of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using suitable standardized methods. The data indicates that latrines are built with less emphasis on quality compared to the construction of houses, resulting in the use of inferior materials and technology. Various techniques are employed for emptying pits, with vacuum trucks and manual pit emptying being the predominant methods. However, lack of access to households poses a significant obstacle to vacuum truck emptying, as 39.67% cannot be reached by transportation means. The pit emptying industry faces high costs and restricted technological accessibility. Semi-manual and semi-mechanized technology innovations for hygiene emptying in less accessible dwellings have not gained sufficient appeal among inhabitants in densely crowded unplanned settlements. DAWASA owns treatment plants for faecal sludge treatment, but these are located far away, increasing transportation expenses. Implementing decentralized faecal sludge treatment plants appears to be a more effective approach. The collection and handling of faecal sludge now overlook the potential for resource recovery and re-use, which might greatly enhance the sustainability of faecal sludge management. Two government ministries have partially incorporated the faecal sludge management or sanitation sector into their health and water policies and programs, but the separation of responsibility has hindered its growth and lack of emphasis on information diffusion in urban areas.

Exploring fecal sludge treatment technologies in humanitarian settings at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: a comprehensive assessment of treatment efficiency through characterization of fecal sludge

IntroductionEfficient treatment of fecal sludge in densely populated settings is essential as it has a direct impact on public health and the environment. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of fecal sludge treatment technologies in Rohingya camps at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, focusing on removal efficiencies and compliance with regulatory standards.MethodsSeventeen treatment plants of five different technologies were evaluated based on removal efficiency and standard discharge guidelines for various physicochemical and microbiological parameters.ResultsWaste Stabilization Pond (WSP) was the top performer compared to four other different treatment technologies evaluated, achieving notable removal rates: 97.3% reduction in E. coli, 100% in helminth eggs, 98.3% for COD, 97.8% for BOD, 98.7% for TSS, 92.1% for TS, 82.8% for phosphate, and 93.3% for total nitrogen. Lime Stabilization Ponds showed lower removal rates, except for E. coli (98.9%), with reductions of 99.7% for helminth eggs, 81.6% for COD, 80.9% for BOD, 86.3% for TSS, 68.6% for TS, and 49.2% for phosphate. Upflow Filters demonstrated good removal efficiencies for E. coli (99.7%), TSS (95.9%), COD (91.7%), BOD (93.5%), and helminth eggs (93.7%). WSP consistently outperformed other technologies across all seasons. Despite these, none of the technologies fully met discharge standards.DiscussionThese findings highlight the need for a comprehensive approach, the combination of physicochemical and biological processes, to enhance efficacy. Promoting improved fecal sludge management technologies through awareness campaigns and technical support can mitigate environmental health risks in densely populated humanitarian settings.

Characterization of Fecal Sludge Combined with Sawdust as Briquettes

This study aimed to characterize fecal sludge (FS) combined with sawdust (SD) as non-charcoal briquettes. The combination consists of var.1 (FS 75% : SD 25%), var.2 (FS 50% : SD 50%), and var.3 (FS 25% : SD 75%). Fecal sludge was obtained from the sludge drying bed of a fecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) in Malang City, and sawdust was obtained from the furniture workshop. Labor scale briquettes were produced, measured and analyzed the calorific value (ASTM D 5865-01), proximate analysis (SNI 06-3730-1995 and SNI 01-6235-2000), sulfur (ASTM D3177), and density (SNI 8021-2020). The characteristic results the moisture content 3.26%-7.57%, volatile matter 48.68%-68.97%, ash content 12.02%-32.97%, fixed carbon 11.44%–26.62%, calorific value 4,237.78–5.158.64 cal/g, sulfur 0.23%–0.41%, and density 0.50-0.68 (g/cm3). Compared with pure fecal sludge briquettes, the addition of sawdust increased the calorific value of fecal sludge briquettes by up to 32% and decreased ash content by up to 40%. All variations met the standard of SNI 8021:2020, except for the density for var.2 and var 3. Based on MCA, the best variation is var.2 with a score of 45 and requires modification for density to meet the standard of SNI 8021:2020.

Open-Bin Composting for Enhancing the Processed Fecal Sludge Quality with Co-Composting Materials as Admixture

Processed fecal sludge generated from a sludge treatment plant rich of organic content, micronutrients, and several heavy metals that might potentially exist. Composting process recognized as a promising and cost-effective method to improve the sludge quality. The composting process was carried out in this study by using modified Compost Bag with processed sludge from fecal sludge treatment plant as the main material and organic waste and dry leaves as co-composting materials. The macro-micronutrients and heavy metal concentration of the produced compost were further analyzed. The potential application was also considered by indulging the risk assessment. The main and co-composting materials were investigated in three different ratios of processed fecal sludge (S), organic waste (OW), and dry leaves (DL) to get the optimum composition that meet the compost quality standard. Compost R2 with the ratio of 50S: 25OW: 25DL as an optimum composition which resulted good quality compost with the C/N ratio of 10.29, Total P2O5 about 2.45%, Total K2O of 0.38%, and the Cu removal up to 91.17%. The produced Compost R2 has met the compost quality standard with Hazard Quotient (HQ) for non-carcinogenic effects less than 1 revealed no potential for disease-causing effects thus safe to be used in daily life.

Innovative sanitation solutions: evaluating the performance of faecal sludge treatment plant in humanitarian settings: A case study from Rohingya camps in Bangladesh

The Rohingya crisis has precipitated one of the most significant humanitarian emergencies, resulting in over 900,000 refugees residing in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The rapid influx of refugees has posed substantial challenges in providing essential services, particularly sanitation, in a densely populated and resource-constrained environment. This study examines the performance of faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) implemented in the Rohingya camps, focusing on key performance indicators such as treatment efficiency, operational challenges, health outcomes, and resource recovery potential. Analysis reveals that FSTPs have played a crucial role in reducing pathogen levels in treated sludge, thereby mitigating the risk of waterborne diseases and environmental contamination. Despite these successes, operational challenges such as frequent desludging, infrastructure maintenance, and the logistical complexities of waste collection and transport persist. The study highlights the importance of addressing these challenges through regular maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and innovative logistical solutions. Health outcomes have shown improvement with a reduction in sanitation-related diseases, underscoring the health benefits of effective FSTP implementation. Additionally, resource recovery from treated sludge presents a sustainable approach, with potential applications in agriculture and energy production. Community engagement has emerged as a critical factor in the success of these interventions. Effective community involvement in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of sanitation facilities has been instrumental in ensuring their acceptance and proper use. The study emphasizes the need for continued community education and participation to sustain these benefits. In conclusion, while FSTPs have significantly improved sanitation conditions in the Rohingya camps, ongoing efforts are required to enhance operational efficiency, address logistical challenges, and foster community involvement. The findings provide valuable insights for the design and implementation of innovative sanitation solutions in similar humanitarian settings worldwide.

Microbiome and antibiotic resistome in bioelectrochemical toilets for onsite treatment of fecal sludge

Effective management of fecal sludge (FS) is essential for preventing environmental and public health risks. Developing safe and efficient FS treatment technology is crucial for reducing the health risks of onsite sanitation systems. In this study, bioelectrochemical toilets (BETs) were developed to treat FS onsite. Compared with the open-circuit BETs (OC-BETs), BETs exhibited higher removal efficiencies for total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Specifically, the enhancements in removal efficiencies were 18.82 ± 1.73 %, 7.28 ± 0.32 %, and 11.41 ± 0.05 % for urine, and 19.28 ± 4.08 %, 21.65 ± 1.23 %, and 24.68 ± 0.95 % for feces, respectively. Microbiome analysis indicated that the dominant populations were affiliated with electroactive bacteria (Desulfuromonas and Pseudomonas) in the electrode biofilm of BETs. The species co-occurrence network showed that the electrode biofilm microbiome in BETs had more complex correlations than that in OC-BETs, suggesting that a weak electrical current enhanced the microbiome stability. The relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in BETs and OC-BETs reduced by 59.85 ± 1.32 % and 53.01 ± 2.81 % compared with the initial FS, respectively. These findings indicate that BETs are an alternative system for enhancing onsite treatment of fecal sludge and provide a theoretical foundation for the implementation of BETs.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among desludging operators in Uganda

BackgroundDespite the limited evidence, desludging operators remain at a heightened risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study established the prevalence and predictors of WMSDs among desludging operators in Uganda.MethodsA digitalized structured questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional data on musculoskeletal disorders and routine workplace activities from 303 desludging operators in 11 cities in Uganda. These cities were purposively selected based on the presence of a fecal sludge treatment plant or wastewater treatment plant. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to assess WMSDs. Simple random sampling with replacements was used to select respondents. Data were analyzed using STATA version 15.0. Modified Poisson Regression was used to measure the strength of association between the independent variables and WMSDs.ResultsA total of 303 study participants were interviewed (97.7% response rate). The average age of the respondents was 34.0 years (SD ± 9.8). The prevalence of WMSDs among desludging operators was 29.7%. The body parts affected by MSDs were; the elbow for 4.6% (14/303), shoulder for 5.0% (15/303), and wrist/hand for 6.3% (19/303) of the respondents. At multivariable analysis, after controlling for age, desludging operators’ ability to influence the availability of equipment needed to do their work (APR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.20–0.99), and feeling that everything done was an effort (APR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.01–2.87) were significantly associated with WMSDs.ConclusionThe prevalence of WMSDs was high among desludging operators in Uganda. Desludging operators’ ability to influence the availability of equipment needed to do their work and frequency of feeling that everything done was an effort were significantly associated with WMSDs. Interventions should focus on ensuring adequate provision of ergonomic equipment and promoting practices that reduce the physical strain associated with desludging tasks. Additionally, comprehensive training programs addressing proper lifting techniques and posture awareness could significantly mitigate the risk of WMSDs among desludging-operators.

Septic tank usage and its faecal sludge management in Cuenca, Ecuador

ABSTRACT On-site sanitation systems such as septic tanks are widely used for treating domestic wastewater in urban and rural areas which lack sewage systems. However, a large portion of these systems do not properly treat human excreta. A main challenge to improve this is the absence of comprehensive data regarding the usage, emptying and maintenance. In this study, records of septic tank desludging frequency during 2009–2022 and the sewerage coverage updated to 2022 were used to investigate their spatial and temporal utilisation, and the persistence of septic tank usage in areas with sewer networks and uncover the current state of Faecal Sludge Management in Cuenca, Ecuador. The spatial behaviour revealed that OSSs are still in use besides the presence of a sewer network. In 2022, there were 109 septic tanks in urban areas with 14.7% in sectors with sewerage service. In rural areas, 469 septic tanks were recorded with 7.8% situated in areas with sewer networks. Although there is no specialised infrastructure in place for the treatment and disposal of faecal sludge, the city has effectively managed it with the existing sanitation facilities. This assessment contributes to the formulation of a secure framework for a safely managed sanitation.

Study of the sizing of a fecal sludge treatment station in the town of Kissidougou (Republic of Guinea)

The management of fecal sludge is a concern for cities in Guinea such as the city of Kissidougou. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of setting up a fecal sludge treatment station at the Songbo public landfill, 3 km from the city center of Kissidougou. The methodology adopted for this study is based on: the choice and installation site of the treatment structure, the determination of the geometric parameters of the station, the identification of construction materials and the estimation of the cost of carrying out the the work. For this reason, the upstream hypotheses were defined and the analytical formulas were used. The emptying flow produced by the urban municipality is estimated at 176 m3/day of materials. The volumes of these works are: optional basin (1300 m3); anaerobic pond (384 m3) and maturation pond (1828 m3). The investment cost of building the station amounts to 25 301 546 000 GNF over a requested area of 2 hectares. However, before the establishment of these stations, the Guinean government, through state structures, should carry out preliminary actions to raise awareness among all stakeholders in the sector and regulate it in order to be able to perpetuate this study project.

Developing an Infrastructure Intervention for Solid Waste Exclusion in Pit Latrine Faecal Sludge

Pit latrine emptying is an important maintenance practice meant to increase a toilet's lifespan. However, the presence of solid waste in faecal sludge pose a great challenge during pit emptying, faecal sludge treatment and processing. Recent studies have demonstrated that solid wastes cause pits to fill up at a faster rate, destruct faecal sludge decomposition, and cause damage to emptying devices by blocking machine parts, and in some cases breaking them. When such occurs, emptying devices are usually withdrawn to manually remove the trapped debris, causing a loss of valuable time and reductions in daily revenue. One way of averting the adverse effects of solid wastes in pit latrines is by preventing them from mixing with faecal sludge in the pit. Therefore, the study aimed to design, develop and test an infrastructure intervention that would exclude solid waste from pit latrine faecal sludge. The study used a quantitative approach in which experimental methods were used to collect primary data. The methodology included the design, fabrication, and installation of a solid waste screening unit on a pit latrine. The screening unit was positioned directly below the squat hole to intercept solid waste while allowing excreta to pass through it. The unit was tested on a pit latrine that was used by 20 individuals over a period of 120 days, after which mass measurements of the intercepted solid wastes were done. The data obtained was analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 version. It was found that the screening unit was capable of intercepting 88.2±0.6 % of the solid waste that entered the toilet through the squat hole. This confirmed that although behavioral, and education interventions have been conducted, there was little change in behavior towards the dumping of solid wastes in pit latrines. The study also showed that installing solid waste screening systems in future pit latrines can be one way of preventing solid wastes from mixing with pit latrine faecal sludge. These findings suggest that incorporating solid waste screening systems into future pit latrines could effectively prevent solid waste from mixing with faecal sludge. This intervention promises to complement existing behavioral and educational interventions prevalent in many developing countries. The study's application and findings promise improvements in faecal sludge management during pit emptying, treatment, and processing, thereby enhancing public health outcomes.

Influence of toilet flushing water when using an on-site faecal sludge treatment combining electrocoagulation-flotation and anaerobic digestion

Addressing the need for sustainable sanitation in public transport and tourism, this study evaluates electrocoagulation-flotation (ECF) combined with anaerobic digestion (AD) for treating synthetic human faecal sludge (FS). Especially the effects of influent aeration and the use of either rainwater or tap water for flushing on the efficiency of pollutant removal and methane production were investigated. In detail, flushing with rainwater combined with influent aeration resulted in the highest removal efficiency of total COD (tCOD), non-soluble COD (nsCOD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphate (TP) of 55 %, 27 %, 22 %, and 75 %, respectively, during ECF treatment, compared to 48 %, 15 %, 14 %, and 63 %, respectively, when tap water was used. As such, post-treatment is mainly necessary for the removal of TN. Combining flushing with rainwater and influent aeration also resulted in the highest faradeic efficiency (107 %) and the most insoluble iron coagulant formation. In contrast, the application of influent aeration during ECF of FS produced using rainwater flushing led to a decrease in methane production from 354 mL/g VS (when no aeration is applied) to 281 mL/g VS during subsequent AD. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that ECF can be applied as a good pre-treatment for sanitation water due to the high nsCOD and TP removal, by which ECF could replace, e.g., a septic tank. Furthermore, the potential of combining ECF with AD is demonstrated in view of energy recovery.

Assessing the Performance of Jatropha Curcas and Moringa oleifera Conditioners Towards Improving Fecal Sludge Treatment for Agricultural Purpose

Moringa oleifera (MO) and Jatropha Curcas (JC) conditioners have been proposed as alternative solutions to replace chemical conditioners for fecal sludge (FS) treatment. However, their effectiveness in treating FS for safe agricultural use has not been thoroughly evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of FS treated with Moringa oleifera and Jatropha Curcas conditioners for agricultural use. Physicochemical parameters Indexes, salinity and sodium hazard levels (Wilcox Diagram analysis), and removal efficiency of nutrients and pathogens were evaluated. Qualitative experiments were conducted using dewatering treatment chambers containing untreated control FS samples, FS treated with Moringa oleifera and Jatropha Curcas conditioners at the University of Dar es Salaam Water Laboratory.

Cucumeropsis mannii and Luffa acutangula Seed Proteins Analysis as a Novel Plant-Based Bio-coagulant: Fecal Sludge Treatment and Dewatering

Cucumeropsis mannii and Luffa acutangula Seed Proteins Analysis as a Novel Plant-Based Bio-coagulant: Fecal Sludge Treatment and Dewatering

Faecal sludge management and treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa - the case of the Infulene WWTP, Maputo, Mozambique

Faecal sludge management and treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa - the case of the Infulene WWTP, Maputo, Mozambique

A GIS-based approach for improving urban sanitation planning and services delivery: A case study from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Spatial planning and resource allocation are decisive factors in the effective delivery of sanitation services, especially in urban contexts. In low-income countries, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the design and decision-making process in the delivery of such services is still very limited. This study, conducted in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, designs a GIS system with a data-oriented modelling infrastructure to assist and improve faecal sludge management (FSM) in the urban context. The estimation of faecal sludge (FS) daily production is achieved through field surveys and direct observations. The spatial planning system is further used to map and analyse the spatial distribution of existing FSM infrastructure, district-wise, address the inadequate distribution of emptying trucks parking lots within the city and therefore propose suitable sites for the establishment of new faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs). Moreover, an optimal path planning circuit for faecal sludge collection, transport and evacuation is designed based on the minimization of travel distance to the nearest FSTP. The proposed framework leverages GIS in city-wide FSM, virtually appealing to all urban contexts across sub-Saharan Africa, and sheds light on urban planners and managers on the need to incorporate GIS infrastructure within urban services delivery.

Evaluation of psychosocial factors affecting faecal sludge desludging practice compliance in Bekasi City

Desludging operators have important role in on site sanitation to achieve safe sanitation. Desludging practice have to comply with the principles of safe sanitation and regulations to maintain the health and safety of the worker, the community, and the environment. However, the implementation of desludging sometimes does not comply with safe sanitation principle and regulation. This study aims to identify the compliance of faecal sludge desludging with regulation and safe sanitation principle. Furthermore, Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) is applied to explore psychosocial factors of the operators that affect desludging practice. Questionnaire assessing desludging practice and psychosocial factors based on TDF was given to 32 desludging operators that works in local government and private desludging services in Bekasi City. Desludging practice in Bekasi City were not comply desludging practice procedure. From desludging procedure compliance, only 56% of the respondents claimed to have carried out the desludging practice in accordance with the procedures, low percentage also found in the worker’s safety procedure especially in wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) eventhough mostly do not do high risk action in emptying. Related to faecal sludge disposal procedure, high percentage (84%) of workers always discharge to Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP), while some small amount (16%) often follow the discharge procedure. Spearman’s Rank Correlation analysis was used to determine domains in TDF that significantly affecting desludging practice compliance. From the correlation analysis, Knowledge (ρ = 0.505; P =0.003), Beliefs about consequences (ρ =0.473; P = 0.006), and Environmental context and resources (ρ =0.389; P = 0.028) are statistically significant affecting desludging practice.

Development of a Kinetics Based Onsite Treatment System for Faecal Sludge Treatment and Resource Recovery

The management of faecal sludge in cities without a sewerage system is a challenging problem that requires immediate attention. The high organic and nutrient content, pathogen load, and pharmaceutical residues in faecal sludge necessitate special attention for its treatment to ensure environmental and public health safety. Onsite treatment of faecal sludge with a focus on resource recovery is a sustainable approach to its management. However, studies in these areas are limited, particularly in the Indian context. In this study, the aim is to generate primary data on the current status of faecal sludge management in a model region without a sewerage network. Additionally, kinetic parameters were examined to design an anaerobic bioprocess and an engineered system for resource-oriented faecal sludge treatment. One of the wards in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Kerala was selected for the study. Fresh faecal sludge collected from an apartment complex was used for the experimental studies. Anaerobic treatment of fresh faecal sludge was validated in bench-scale experimental bioreactors using different combinations: with mixing without inoculum, with mixing with inoculum, without mixing without inoculum, and without mixing with inoculum. The primary focus was on monitoring the organic removal efficiency as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of these combinations. Among the four combinations tested the units "without mixing with inoculum" and "with mixing with inoculum" demonstrated COD removal efficiencies of 20.89% and 18.91%, respectively, with a first-order rate constant of 0.0008 hr-1 for both combinations. The other combinations exhibited comparatively lower COD removal efficiency and rate constants. Since the combinations with mixing and inoculum showed higher COD removal efficiency, either of them can be adopted for design purposes. Based on these results, a combined anaerobic-aerobic treatment unit is proposed for the treatment of faecal sludge.

The Status Quo of Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant at Khulna and Its Future Prospec-tive About Biomass Energy (Briquette)

As many developing countries are moving towards increased sanitation coverage, Bangladesh has been striding successfully towards full sanitation coverage with the proper management of fecal sludge city-wide. Following the situation, Khulna City Corporation built a Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) with six units of CW (constructed wetlands) and six units of drying beds in 2017. The main objective of this study is to discuss the current situation of Khulna FSTP based on treatment efficiency and its future perspective on biomass energy (briquette). In Khulna FSTP, the collected fecal sludge from septic tanks and pits is treated, and finally, its effluent is discharged into the environment, satisfying the disposal standards. The removal efficiency of final effluent for Biochemical Oxygen Demands (BOD5) and Total Solids was found to vary between 97.8% - 97% and 98% - 93% in the previous year to the present, respectively. Total Suspended Solis and Fecal Coliform never exceeded the allowable limit 100gm/L and 1000 N/100ml in final effluent. Furthermore, dried sludge is used as handmade processing biomass energy (briquette) without further treatment, which has some procedural problems such as loose compaction and pathogenic contamination.

Feasibility study of faecal sludge treatment by Geotube and jute tube-based technologies.

The decentralized standalone treatment of faecal sludge is a generally cumbersome, energy-intensive, and expensive process. Particle size enlargement, dewatering, and disinfection are the crucial unit operations that contribute to the major portion of the operational expenditure. Therefore, the present study took up the task to investigate and yield a natural alternative to each of the above-delineated unit operations. Crushed seed powders of Moringa, Guilandina bonduc, Nirmali, tamarind, soap nut, nutmeg, jackfruit, and custard apple were experimented as natural coagulants, while a double-stitched cow dung-lined jute tube was utilized as the media for solid-liquid separation. Finally, the powder of Neem and custard apple seed and leaf were considered herbal disinfectants for the separated liquid and solid fractions, respectively. The findings of the physicochemical and biological analyses of the above unit operations were compared with a conventional polymer-based Geotube-driven treatment scheme. The natural alternatives registered some promising outcomes. However, the combined treatment efficiency of 79.32% (mean value of TS, TSS, TDS, COD, and BOD percentage removal) for pollutant removal and disinfection could not exceed the value of 97.98% offered by the conventional method. Further, the financial comparison for processing a 10 KL batch of FS indicates that the conventional scheme is considerably cheaper (USD 7.95) than the herbal alternate (USD 22.1). Therefore, though the present findings depict promising alternatives for sustainable and eco-friendly faecal sludge treatment, the authors advocate conducting further research to address the existing challenges to facilitate their seamless implementation on a field-scale level.