Sohail 190416 ICE paper Reinvented toilets 22nd Oct.pdf (287.34 kB)
Download fileTransformative technologies for safely managed sanitation
journal contribution
posted on 2016-11-24, 14:56 authored by M. Sohail (Khan), Sue Cavill, Oluwasola AfolabiOluwasola AfolabiSome 2·4 billion people lack access to safe sanitation. The potential of new technologies to address this need in low- and middle-income countries has been under-addressed in research, programming and policy. Despite the global efforts to improve access to sanitation, there has been insufficient attention to the role of transformative technologies to respond to these needs. There is an urgent need for innovation, in particular for safe faecal sludge management, not least to secure its benefits for health and well-being. This paper provides a short review of evolving technologies that are being developed to treat human faecal sludge together with insights into the use and implications of such technologies. A case study on the toilet reinvented by Loughborough University is presented, which uses hydrothermal carbonisation processes. The paper concludes with essential considerations for guiding national policymakers, the private sector, sanitation programme implementers and donors focused on improving access to safely managed sanitation.middle-income countries has been under-addressed in research, programming and policy. Despite the global efforts to improve access to sanitation, there has been insufficient attention to the role of transformative technologies to respond to these needs. There is an urgent need for innovation, in particular for safe faecal sludge management, not least to secure its benefits for health and well-being. This paper provides a short review of evolving technologies that are being developed to treat human faecal sludge together with insights into the use and implications of such technologies. A case study on the toilet of Loughborough University is presented, which uses hydrothermal carbonisation processes. The paper concludes with essential considerations for guiding national policymakers, the private sector, sanitation programme implementers and donors focused on improving access to safely managed sanitation.
Funding
The authors acknowledge the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its funding to Loughborough University, in particular Dr Doulaye Kone and Dr Carl Hensman.
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Research Unit
- Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC)