Community led integrated model for sustainable and inclusive faecal management and WASH services

For better WASH services, we need infrastructure, energy to clean water, incentives to ensure community participation and funds to make WASH services sustainable. An integrated model, which is a combination of a community biogas plant (CBP), a reverse osmosis (RO) plant and community toilets, provides a one stop solution for quality WASH services. In this model the sceptic tank is attached to the CBP, which produces biogas used to generate electricity to power the RO plant. Slurry, from CBP, is converted to vermicompost and the increasing demand for organic manure makes it a community led sustainable business model. Profits can be used to build community infrastructure so the community no longer has to depend on outside funds. It enhances the capacity of the community to work together, augments income and reduces disease. Community participation in this model addresses the major challenge of WASH professionals - community ownership of WASH services.