Capacity Building for Ecological Sanitation in India

Lic. Phil. Michael Kropac, seecon international (Switzerland)

& Ecosan Services Foundation, Pune

The Problem: No Sanitation…

650 Mio. Indians do not have access to adequate sanitation at all

The Problem: Pit Latrines, Soak Pits…

On-site wastewater disposal systems: groundwater contamination possible (infiltration of wastewater)

Source: (4)

The Problem: Conventional Waterborne Sanitation…

…are “flush and forget” sanitation solutions, where human wastes are flushed away with huge amounts of scarce freshwater, polluting rivers and the drinking water of people living further downstream.

Limitations of Conventional Sanitation

• Unsatisfactory purification or uncontrolled discharge of more than 90 % of wastewater worldwide

• Severe water pollution, unbearable health risks

• Consumption of precious water for transport of waste

• High investment, energy, operating and maintenance costs

• Frequent neglect of poorer settlements

• Loss of valuable nutrients for agriculture

• Linear end-of-pipe technology

Source: GTZ (9)

Agricultural reuse

NUTRIENTS NUTRIENTS

closing the loopbetween sanitation

and agriculture

FOODFOOD

Pathogen destruction

Ecological Sanitation (ecosan) systems aim to:Reduce the health risk related to sanitation, contaminated water and wasteImprove the quality of surface and groundwaterImprove soil fertilityOptimise the management of nutrients and water resources

Ecological Sanitation as a sustainable alternative

Advantages of ecosan systems: turning waste into resources

faeces(brownwater)

anaerobic digestion,drying, composting,mixing with organic

solid waste

biogas, soil

improvement

constructedwetlands, gardening,

wastewater ponds, biol.treatment, membrane-

technology

Greywater (showers, washing,

etc.)

irrigation,

groundwater recharge ordirect reuse

urine (yellowwater)

liquid or dry fertiliser

hygienisation by storage or

drying

filtration,biol. treatment

rainwater

water supply,groundwater

recharge

treatment

utilisation

substances

Separation of flow streams:

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Urine Diverting Dehydration Toilet, Navsarjan Primary School, Gujarat

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

There are three holes: One for the faeces, one for urine and one for washing water. The faeces hole and the urine hole are covered to prevent flies from entering.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

An improved Ecosan three hole Indian squatting platform made out of ceramic can now purchased at Shital Ceramics, Ahmedabad (Gujarat).

Anal washing water

FaecesUrine

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Sawdust, or even better ash is used and put into the excreta hole after defecation to dry the faecal matter.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Sawdust, or even better ash is used and put into the excreta hole after defecation to dry the faecal matter.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

There are no water taps to reduce water consumption, as the school does not have piped water. All water has to be brought in by tanker, which is very costly.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

One toilet is in use, while the other is used for taking baths. The holes are covered so water does not percolate to the faecal matter.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Like that, the faecal matter has time to dry completely. During this process, most pathogens die. The faecal matter should be left untouched for at least 6 months.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

After six months, the dried product can be used as a soil conditioner. Certain precautionary measures have to be taken during the application though.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

The urine from the toilets (urine hole) and the men’s urinals is collected and stored for hygienisation.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Collection TankSchool Garden

Vertical Flow Filter

Greywater from the bathrooms, washbasins and laundry place are collected, filtered through a vertical flow filter and collected in a tank.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Only greywater is used to water the garden as freshwater is too expensive. Urine is added to the greywater as a fertiliser to

enhance plant growth.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Through proper training, the students have become Ecosan experts and constructed a model of their toilet.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

With this model, showing the exact stream flows of their toilet, the students even won the first prize in the Ahmedabad School Science Fair.

Ecosan Examples: Raika Primary School, Gujarat

Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets (UDD) systems as shown in this example are just one of many possible Ecosan technologies ranging from low cost sanitation solutions to high tech Ecosan systems using vacuum sewerage and membrane filter technology.

Ecosan Examples: ACTS Public Eco-Toilet, Bangalore

Public Toilet in Slum Area, Urine Diverting Toilets + Treatment Off-site

Ecosan Examples: ACTS Public Eco-Toilet, Bangalore

Public Toilet in Slum Area, Urine Diverting Toilets + Treatment Off-site

Ecosan Examples: ACTS Public Eco-Toilet, Bangalore

Closing the loop:

eco-friendly public toilet

urine storage

banana plantation

biogas plant

biogas for cooking sludge drying compost

greywater to municipal sewer

baskets from banana leaves

local women

transport of urine & brownwater

using a vacuum suction truck

Ecosan High-Tech Solutions: Flintenbreite, Germany

Vacuum sewerage, anaerobic biogas system, constructed wetland for greywater

Ecosan Training Course at NRTC, Nashik

Registration and further information at:

www.ecosanservices.org

Ecosan Services Foundation, “Vishwa Chandra”, 1002/42 Rajenda Nagar Pune – 411030, Maharashtra, INDIA

Tel/Fax: 0091 (0)20 64 000 736, Mobile: 0091(0)98 230 111 06 or 0091(0)98 925 756 88

Email: ecosanindia@gmail.com