This article reviews low-cost sewerage options, their potential and their limitations. It also provides guidance on how to choose the most appropriate option, and gives examples of their successful application.
MARA, D. (1996): Low-cost Sewerage. Leeds: University of Leeds URL [Accessed: 28.05.2019]
This technical note describes the main technical elements involved in designing a sewer system.
USAID (1982): Designing Sewer Systems. Washington D.C. (USA): United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Water for the World -Technical Note No. SAN.2.D.4 URL [Accessed: 28.05.2019]
Over the coming 90 years, combined sewer systems will be phased out in the Municipality of Aalborg. Instead, the Municipality will introduce separate systems for stormwater and sewage.
LADEN, B. (2010): No more overloaded sewer systems. Copenhagen: Information Center for Climate Change Adaptation, Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy, Danish Energy Agency URL [Accessed: 28.05.2019]
A study on management and institutional aspects regarding the challenges and possible improvements in managing faecal sludge.
STRAUSS, M. MONTANGERO, A. (2002): FS Management – Review of Practices, Problems and Initiatives. London and Duebendorf: DFID Project R8056, Capacity Building for Effective Decentralised Wastewater Management, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science (EAWAG), Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (SANDEC) URL [Accessed: 28.05.2019]
The purpose of this document is to disseminate the simplified sewer technology more widely in the developing world, so that it can be used in peri-urban sanitation programmes and projects to improve health of poor communities. The document contains chapters on theory, planning and also practical advice.
MARA, D. SLEIGH, A. (2001): PC Based Simplified Sewer Design. Leeds: University of Leeds URL [Accessed: 28.05.2019]
This document is the final report of the MAPET project in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Project objectives were to contribute to the improvement of environmental sanitation in unplanned areas by facilitating an effective and hygienic pit emptying services, and to improve the informal traditional pit emptying method by making it more efficient and hygienic.
MULLER, M.S. RIJNSBURGER J. (1992): MAPET. A neighbourhood based pit emptying service with locally manufactured hand pump equipment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Gouda: WASTE advisers on urban environment and development URL [Accessed: 28.05.2019]The Henderson Water Utility (HWU) webpage contains useful information which shows the difference between combined and separated sewer systems.
Rather old design manual for onsite wastewater treatment options. However, valuable information on established systems such as septic tanks, sandfilters, aerobic treatment units (suspendend growth and fixed film), disinfection, nutrient removal as well as wastewater segregation and recycling are given. Additional information is given on disposal methods and appurtenances.
U.S. EPA (1980): Design Manual - Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems. (= EPA 625/1-80-0 ). United States Environmental Protection Agency and Office of Water Office of Research and Development URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
This guide describes a marketing approach to composting, and is intended to help compost producers run more viable initiatives by unlocking the value of their product. The handbook does not cover everything there is to know about marketing, but starts with the basics and introduces the key principles and techniques. These include understanding the ‘marketing environment’, identifying appropriate target customer groups, and developing and promoting products to suit the market.
ROUSE ROTHENBERGER, S. ZURBRUEGG, C. (2008): Marketing Compost. A Guide for Compost Producers in Low and Middle-Income Countries. Duebendorf: Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (SANDEC), Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science (EAWAG) URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
Supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) is an innovative and effective destruction method for organic wastewater and sludge. Several tests of the destruction of sewage sludge by SCWO have been done at two state-of-the-art pilot plants.
GIDNER , A. STENMARK, L. (n.y): Supercritical Water Oxidation of Sewage Sludge – State of the Art. Karlskoga: Chematur Engineering AB URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
10 to 20m3 biogas digesters were installed in three different prisons and fed with human excreta and kitchen waste. Pathogen requirement were only partially fulfilled and slurry application as fertilizer needs further investigation and promotion.
EAWAG ; SANDEC (2009): Evaluation of Biogas Sanitation Systems in Nepalese Prisons. Summary Presentation of Evaluation Results. Duebendorf: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science (EAWAG), Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries (SANDEC). [Accessed: 27.04.2010] PDF
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are emerging as promising technology for the treatment of wastewaters. The potential energy conversion efficiencies are examined. The rates of energy recovery (W/m3 reactor) are reviewed and evaluated. Some recent data relating to potato-processing wastewaters and a hospital wastewater effluent are reported. Finally, a set of process configurations in which MFCs could be useful to treat wastewaters is schematised. Overall, the MFC technology still faces major challenges, particularly in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency.
AELTERMAN, P. ; RABAEY, K. ; CLAUWAERT, P. ; VERSTRAETE, W. (2006): Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment. المُدخلات: Water Science & Technology: Volume 54 , 9-15. URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
In this chapter, a variety of secondary sludge post treatment methods for energy recovery, including incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, direct liquefaction, supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) and anaerobic digestion were overviewed. A critical comparison between these methods is presented with respect to their net energy efficiencies. The advantages and drawbacks of each treatment option are also highlighted.
XU, C.C. LANCASTER, J. (n.y): Treatment of Secondary Sludge for Energy Recovery. Thunderbay: Department of Chemical Engineering, Lakehead University URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]On its homepage, the EAWAG (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) is highlighting one of their innovative research projects in Nepal, which combines improved sanitation with increased food security. The STUN project investigated the feasibility of collecting urine to produce a phosphorus-based fertiliser called Struvite.
This article investigates the potential for using soil solution chemical properties to study the consequences of recycling sewage-sludge incinerator ash on agricultural land.
BIERMAN, P. ; ROSEN, C. ; BLOOM, P. ; NATER, E. (1995): Soil Solution Chemistry of Sewage-Sludge Incinerator Ash and Phosphate Fertiliser Amended Soil. المُدخلات: Journal of Environmental Quality: Volume 24 , 279-285. URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
This study focused on the main components of sewage sludge incinerated ash, which are silicic acid and alumina, as well as the components for nucleation. Based on this idea, the production of glass-ceramic using sewage sludge incinerated ash as the main material has been attempted.
SUZUKI, S. ; TANAKA, M. ; KANEKO, T. (1997): Glass-ceramic from Sewage Sludge. المُدخلات: Journal of Materials Science: Volume 32 , 1775-1779. URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
This presentation describes the need for recycling phosphorus and the economic sector of the enterprise. There is further information on the process and the pilot plant. Aspects of benchmark and finance are included as well as a brief description of the need for recycling phosphorous (in German).
HERMANN, L. BACHLEITNER, E. (2004): Recycling von Phosphor aus Klärschlammaschen. Vienna: ASH DEC Umwelt AG URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
The intermediate project report gives an overview on the STUN (Struvite Recovery from Urine in Nepal) project. STUN is a joint collaboration project of Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) and UN-Habitat Nepal (The United Nations Human Settlement Pro¬gramme). The goal of the STUN project is a feasibility assessment of the conversion of urine into Struvite powder as a viable means for capturing the nutrients contained in source separated urine.
ETTER, B. (2009): Struvite recovery from urine at community scale in Nepal. Project intermediate report submitted to EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne). Kathmandu: UN Habitat URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]
Sensible alternatives are being sought to the present method of disposing of mechanically de-watered sewage sludge such as dumping, agricultural use, drying and incineration.
PUTZMEISTER (2001): Co-incineration of Sewage Sludge in Coal-Fuelled Power Stations. Aichtal: Putzmeister Holding GmbH URL [Accessed: 27.05.2019]