This review looks at the factors affecting the presence and growth of microorganisms in piped networks, and the practices of water supply organisations that can directly or indirectly influence their presence and growth. This review is intended for policymakers but it is also relevant to engineers and scientists responsible for water supply planning, operations and monitoring.
AINSWORTH, R. (2004): Safe Piped Water: Managing Microbial Water Quality in Piped Distribution. Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO) URL [Visita: 13.05.2019]Library
Behind headline successes in providing first-time access to water lie a number of pressing challenges to the dominant approach to rural water supply in developing countries, namely community management following a demand-responsive approach. These challenges manifest themselves in poor performance of service providers, high rates of hardware failure, and very low levels of service. This paper argues that tackling these challenges requires a shift in emphasis in rural water supply in developing countries: away from a de-facto focus on the provision of hardware for first-time access towards the proper use of installed hardware as the basis for universal access to rural water services.
MORIARTY, P. ; SMITS, S. ; BUTTERWORTH, J. ; FRANCEYS, R. (2013): Trends in Rural Water Supply. Towards a Service Delivery Approach. Entradas: Water Alternatives: Volume 6 , 329-349. URL [Visita: 13.05.2019]This case study is about a demonstration project in the headquarters of GTZ in Eschborn, Germany. The project consists of 50 urine-diversion flush toilets, 23 waterless urinals and 10 m³ urine storage tank.
WINKER, M. SADOUN, A. (2011): Urine and brownwater separation at the GTZ main office building, Eschborn, Germany. (= SuSanA - Case Studies ). Eschborn: Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]End-product from 16 public mixed latrine style composting toilets (CTs) at 12 sites between 50 and 2100 m.a.s.l. in Western North America was tested in order to evaluate the effect of composting variables on compost quality and hygiene.
HILL, G. B. ; BALDWIN, S. A. ; VINNERAAS, B. (2013): Composting Toilets a Misnomer: Excessive Ammonia from Urine Inhibits Microbial Activity yet Is Insufficient in Sanitizing the End-Product. Entradas: Journal of Environmental Management: Volume 119 , 29-35. URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]From 2000 to 2006, the cross-cutting project Novaquatis explored the potential of urine source separation – also known as NoMix technology. Novaquatis comprises nine work packages, largely organized around the various stages of a nutrient cycle (e.g. user acceptation, sanitary technologies, storage and transport, urine treatment and fertiliser production, micropollutants in urine, urine-based fertilisers). The final report contains the results of all working packages as well as a practical guide for interested NoMix user.
LARSEN, T. A. LIENERT, J. (2007): Novaquatis final report. NoMix – A new approach to urban water management. Duebendorf: Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science (EAWAG) URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]Critical article by environmental activist and Stockholm Water Price Laureate Sunita Narain, on why it is mindless to waste so much clean water to flush away excreta.
NARAIN, S. (2002): The Flush Toilet is Ecologically Mindless. Entradas: Down to Earth: Volume 19 URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]Fossa alterna with a urine diversion component (optional). Image from Flickr
This case study investigates whether toilet bags are a feasible sanitation alternative for poor urban settlements including the socio-cultural acceptance.
GTZ (2009): Results of a medium-scale trial of single-use, self-sanitising toilet bags in poor urban settlements in Bangladesh. Eschborn: German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) GmbH URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]This study aims at finding out if the Peepoo meets the expectations and perceptions of end users, if it is biodegradable and also if it is economically viable in terms of generating organic manure for sale.
JAC (2009): Impact Assessment Report on the Peepoo bags, Silanga Village, Kibera, Nairobi-Kenya. Nairobi: Jean Africa Consultants (JAC) URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]Factsheet including information related to microbial die-off rates and health risks.
U.S. EPA (1999): Water Efficiency Technology Fact Sheet - Composting Toilets. Washington D.C. (USA): United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Office of Water. EPA 832-F-99-066 URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]This GIZ publication explains the design, use and operational requirements of composting toilets. Ample examples for composting toilets from around the world are included in the publication to show that these types of toilets have a wide range of applications under a variety of circumstances (for wealthy or poor people; for cold, hot, wet or dry climates; for urban or rural settings). The appendix contains a listing of suppliers.
BERGER, W. (2011): Technology Review of Composting Toilets. Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) URL [Visita: 12.05.2019]This poster illustrates how to transform faecal waste to usable compost.
NETWAS (n.y): Primary and Secondary Processing of Ecosan By-Products. Kampala: Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS) URL [Visita: 11.05.2019]This diploma thesis describes the production of terra preta (collection, lacto-fermentation, vermicomposting) as a new sanitation concept (in german).
HESTERMANN, N. (2010): Herstellung von Terra Preta bei der Umsetzung ökologischer Sanitärkonzepte. (= Diplomarbeit ). Hamburg Harburg: Techische Universität Hamburg Harburg TUHH) URL [Visita: 11.05.2019]Critical article on the sustainability of burning biomass to produce terra preta for climate change mitigation.
KLEINER, K. (2009): The bright prospect of biochar. Entradas: Nature reports climate change: Volume 3 , 72-74. URL [Visita: 11.05.2019]Many people in developing countries rely upon untreated groundwater supplies for their drinking water (e.g. from drilled boreholes, tube wells, dug wells or springs). The introduction of on-site sanitation systems might lead to groundwater contamination. The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance on how to assess and reduce the risk of contamination of groundwater supplies from on-site sanitation systems and is aimed at those responsible for planning low cost water supply and sanitation schemes.
ARGOSS (2001): Guidelines for Assessing the Risk to Groundwater from On-Site Sanitation. (= Commissioned Report , 142 ). Keyworth: British Geological Survey URL [Visita: 11.05.2019]This presentation introduces the new and innovative concept of the addition of charcoal; lacto-fermentation and subsequent vermicomposting to treat the products of urine diversion dry toilets. The new process is inspired by the practices of the pre-Colombian culture in the Amazonian region that produced highly fertile anthropogenic soil (terra preta).
OTTERPOHL, R. (n.y): a: Terra Preta Sanitation- full reuse in sanitation and bio-waste-management. Hamburg: Institute of Wastewater Management and Protection (aww), Technical University Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH) URL [Visita: 11.05.2019]