scholarly journals Potential Use of Biochar in Pit Latrines as a Faecal Sludge Management Strategy to Reduce Water Resource Contaminations: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 11772
Author(s):  
Matthew Mamera ◽  
Johan J. van Tol ◽  
Makhosazana P. Aghoghovwia ◽  
Alfredo B. J. C. Nhantumbo ◽  
Lydia M. Chabala ◽  
...  

Faecal sludge management (FSM) in most developing countries is still insufficient. Sanitation challenges within the sub-Saharan region have led to recurring epidemics of water- and sanitation-related diseases. The use of pit latrines has been recognised as an option for on-site sanitation purposes. However, there is also concern that pit latrine leachates may cause harm to human and ecological health. Integrated approaches for improved access to water and sanitation through proper faecal sludge management are needed to address these issues. Biochar a carbon-rich adsorbent produced from any organic biomass when integrated with soil can potentially reduce contamination. The incorporation of biochar in FSM studies has numerous benefits in the control of prospective contaminants (i.e., heavy metals and inorganic and organic pollutants). This review paper evaluated the potential use of biochar in FSM. It was shown from the reviewed articles that biochar is a viable option for faecal sludge management because of its ability to bind contaminants. Challenges and possible sustainable ways to incorporate biochar in pit latrine sludge management were also illustrated. Biochar use as a low-cost adsorbent in wastewater contaminant mitigation can improve the quality of water resources. Biochar-amended sludge can also be repurposed as a useful economical by-product.

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lina Cardoso ◽  
C. Esperanza Ramírez ◽  
E. Violeta Escalante

There are problems associated with sludge management in small treatment plants (<10 L/s) located in rural communities, due to costly conventional technology for sludge stabilization. Many of these plants have only sludge drying beds. Mexican Institute of Water Technology has proposed developing suitable low-cost technologies, one of which is vermicomposting a biodegradation system using earthworms of the species Eisenia foetida (earthworm) which stabilize sludge and reduce its pathogenicity. The objective of this work is to present two case studies where vermicomposting technology has been applied in Mexico. The first study corresponds to a plant where 4.8 m3/month of sludge are produced; for these wastes, a vermicomposting system was built and installed. The second study is a treatment plant where 9 m3/month of sludge are produced; experimental tests were conducted with sludge and water hyacinth and a vermicomposting system was designed. The vermicomposts were analyzed using parameters defined by Mexican standards. In regards to stabilization, TVS was reduced by 38% and the microbiological quality of the vermicompost was Class A and B, with a reduction in fecal coliforms and Helminth eggs according to NOM-004-SEMARNAT-2002. A CRETI (Corrosivity, Reactivity, Explosivity, Toxicity and Ignitability) analysis (NOM-052-SEMARNAT-2005) was used to show that the process reduced the concentration of releasable sulfides. The agronomic quality of the vermicompost exhibited a high content of organic matter comparable to many organic manures and high content of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. It is concluded that it is possible to improve the conditions of sewage sludge management in small plants of rural communities with a minimum investment (less than $10,000.00 USD) and with a requirement of a minimum area of 60 to 70 m2 for a production of less than 9 m3/month of dehydrated sludge (80% humidity).


Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-120
Author(s):  
Bárbarah Brenda Silva ◽  
Bárbara Sales ◽  
Ana Carolina Lanza ◽  
Léo Heller ◽  
Sonaly Rezende

Abstract The Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRWS), adopted as UN Resolutions since 2010, contemplates key elements that seek to ensure equal and non-discriminatory access to water and sanitation, including the elimination of gender inequalities. Working in populations with socio-environmental vulnerabilities, this study aims to assess gender division of labor in households of two rural communities in the North and Northeast Brazilian macroregions and identify why greater impacts occur on the lives of women when compared to men, resulting in human rights concerns. A qualitative analysis was carried out through semi-structured interviews and direct observation. The study showed that in the two rural Brazilian communities there is a clear labor division for water and sanitation access from a gender perspective. Men undertake more specialized work, sometimes requiring greater physical effort. As for women, they are assigned functions related to the domestic environment, including activities concerning water and sanitation. When facilities are inadequate, there is a disproportionate impact on women's health and quality of life, showing that the non-compliance with the human rights to water and sanitation often results in more harmful consequences for them.


Neurology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamin E.S. Jaiteh ◽  
Stefan A. Helwig ◽  
Abubacarr Jagne ◽  
Andreas Ragoschke-Schumm ◽  
Catherine Sarr ◽  
...  

Objective:Quality of neurologic emergency management in an under-resourced country may be improved by standard operating procedures (SOPs).Methods:Neurologic SOPs were implemented in a large urban (Banjul) and a small rural (Brikama) hospital in the Gambia. As quality indicators of neurologic emergency management, performance of key procedures was assessed at baseline and in the first and second implementation years.Results:At Banjul, 100 patients of the first-year intervention group exhibited higher rates of general procedures of emergency management than 105 control patients, such as neurologic examination (99.0% vs 91.4%; p < 0.05) and assessments of respiratory rate (98.0% vs 81.9%, p < 0.001), temperature (60.0% vs 36.2%; p < 0.001), and glucose levels (73.0% vs 58.1%; p < 0.05), in addition to written directives by physicians (96.0% vs 88.6%, p < 0.05), whereas assessments of other vital signs remained unchanged. In stroke patients, rates of stroke-related procedures increased: early CT scanning (24.3% vs 9.9%; p < 0.05), blood count (73.0% vs 49.3%; p < 0.01), renal and liver function tests (50.0% vs 5.6%, p < 0.001), aspirin prophylaxis (47.3% vs 9.9%; p < 0.001), and physiotherapy (41.9% vs 4.2%; p < 0.001). Most effects persisted until the second-year evaluation. SOP implementation was similarly feasible and beneficial at the Brikama hospital. However, outcomes did not significantly differ in the hospitals.Conclusions:Implementing SOPs is a realistic, low-cost option for improving process quality of neurologic emergency management in under-resourced settings.Classification of evidence:This study provides Class IV evidence that, for patients with suspected neurologic emergencies in sub-Saharan Africa, neurologic SOPs increase the rate of performance of guideline-recommended procedures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
André Rocha ◽  
Leandro de Oliveira

This paper presents a debate on water policy and ecology focuses on access to water and sewage network in the outskirts of the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). A theoretical and critical discussion is held based on political ecology and an overview of access to water and the sewage network is presented, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Qualitative analysis of the data shows that access is inefficient for the majority of the population in the periphery and indicates the need for further observation on the quality of water and sewage services. Another highlight is the need for greater reflection on the sector’s privatization, since water cannot be treated as a commodity, but as an essential right for the populations.


Author(s):  
Maiara Luzia Grigoli OLIVIO ◽  
Elizângela Flávia Jacob ESTEVES ◽  
Dagmar Aparecida de Marco FERRO

Comumente o sulfato de alumínio é o coagulante químico utilizado nas Estações de Tratamentos para a clarificação da água, embora produza um lodo tóxico de difícil deposição no ambiente. No entanto, os coagulantes naturais como sementes de Moringa oleífera Lam. têm demonstrado vantagens para tratamento em comparação aos químicos, pela simplicidade de uso e baixo custo. O estudo objetivou analisar a eficiência coagulante da semente de Moringa oleífera na clarificação de água com turbidez e comparar com os parâmetros do coagulante químico sulfato de alumínio. As amostras de água foram coletadas no Córrego Jacu Queimado e as sementes colhidas em um plantio da própria espécie. Foram realizados, em laboratório, etapas sequenciais do experimento: comparação da eficiência da semente verde e seca, determinação da concentração e tempo de exposição da semente à água, comparação de agitação manual e magnética entre elas e do coagulante biológico com o químico, sendo analisados os aspectos físico, químico e biológico antes e após a adição de ambos. Observou-se que apenas a semente seca realiza a clarificação da água em comparação com os resultados das análises da água clarificada com o sulfato, determinando-se que 5 sementes são eficazes para tratar 1 litro de água com turbidez de até 25,0 NTU, considerando-se mais relevante a agitação manual para o efeito de coagulação e o aguardo de 2 horas para o término da decantação. Conclui-se, que a semente de Moringa é um coagulante biológico que se apresenta como alternativa para o tratamento de água com turbidez, porém, ainda não é indicada para a potabilidade. É preciso dar continuidade ao tratamento em busca de processos que visam melhorar a qualidade da água para aproximar-se aos parâmetros aceitáveis para o consumo humano.   Moringa oleífera Lam SEEDS: EFFICIENT USE OF BIOLOGICAL COAGULANT FOR WATER TURBIDITY TREATMENT, COMPARED TO ALUMINUM SULFATE CHEMICAL COAGULANT   ABSTRACT Aluminum sulfate is a chemical coagulant commonly used at Water Treatment Plants for water clarification, although it produces a toxic sludge of difficult deposition in the environment. However, natural coagulants such as Moringa oleíferaLam seeds have evidenced the advantages for the treatment when compared to chemicals, due to either their simplicity in and low cost.  This research aims at reviewing the efficient use of   Moringa oleífera seeds as coagulants for turbid water clarification as well as comparing the parameters of aluminum sulfate chemical coagulants. The water samples were collected at Córrego Jacu Queimado and the seeds were harvested from a crop of its own species. Sequential steps were performed in the lab for this experiment: Comparison of green and dry seeds efficiency, concentration and time of exposition of the seed to water measurements, comparison of manual and magnetic stirring among them and among biological and chemical coagulants, being analyzed physical, chemical and biological aspects before and after adding both of them. It was observed that only the dry seed enables water clarification when comparing the analysis results to sulfate water clarification, it was ascertained that 5 seeds are efficient to treat a liter of 25,0 NTU turbidity in water, considering as more relevant manual stirring for coagulation effect after a two-hour rest for decantation completion. It was concluded that Moringa seed is a biological coagulant presented as an alternative for turbid water treatment, although it is not indicated for drinkability. Further treatment is necessary in order to keep searching for processes that target to improve the quality of water and meeting acceptable parameters for water consumption.   Keywords: Biological Coagulant. Chemical Coagulant. Efficiency. Water Clarification. Comparative Parameters.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8981
Author(s):  
Osvaldo Moiambo ◽  
Raúl Mutevuie ◽  
Filipa Ferreira ◽  
José Matos

Currently, in sub-Saharan African countries, 65 to 100% of the urban population is served by on-site sanitation systems, typically pit latrines and septic tanks. Faecal sludge dewatering in drying beds is one of the most commonly adopted low-cost treatment technologies in developing countries due to favourable climate conditions in terms of temperature and radiation and because their operation and maintenance are simple. Nevertheless, research in tropical dry zones regarding these processes is scarce. In this paper, a mathematical model for faecal sludge dewatering in sludge drying beds (SDBs) focusing on gravity drainage and evaporation processes is presented and discussed. Experimental campaigns were carried out at a pilot site in Tete, Mozambique, to determine the model parameters. The results suggest that the model can be used to estimate, in similar situations, the dewatering process of different types of faecal sludge. The present research might be considered as a contribution to the design and operation of SDBs, supporting sludge management and allowing the estimation of drying times and optimal loading cycles, namely, the sludge thickness and final moisture content.


2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vodounhessi ◽  
E. von Münch

Many sub-Saharan African towns currently face a “faecal sludge crisis”, because large amounts of faecal sludge from unsewered toilets (pit latrines, septic tanks etc.) are dumped into the environment. This causes public health problems and environmental degradation. The objective of this research was to investigate how faecal sludge management (FSM) can be made an integrated part of a sustainable ecological sanitation (ecosan) approach, with an emphasis on financial sustainability. Kumasi, a city in Ghana, West Africa, with 1.48 million inhabitants was chosen as a case study. Our research shows that the FSM of the city can be independent of donors’ financial support and thus financially sustainable if the potential revenue in both households and farmers is realised. This potential revenue was evaluated by (i) analysing the relevant functional groups and their relationships, (ii) a Capacity-to-Pay approach for households whereby they would spend up to 0.5% of their income on the toilet pit/septic tank emptying service (including a cross-subsidy approach), and (iii) on the farmers’ Willingness-To-Pay for compost (treated faecal sludge) based on a price of US$ 1.4 per 50 kg bag of compost. This additional revenue, which should be allocated to the System Manager (Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly) in the proposed financial scheme, was estimated to be US$ 57,000 per month from households and US$ 18,000 per month from farmers (based on 6300 m3/month of faecal sludge collected in Kumasi and a simplified financial analysis of the system).


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-402
Author(s):  
Dylan Collings ◽  
Roman Tandlich ◽  
Cyril S. Dube ◽  
Phindile Madikizela ◽  
Nosiphiwe P. Ngqwala ◽  
...  

This study describes the results of a series of laboratory experiments on aimed at developing of a protocol for the use of fly ash as a pit additive in the ventilated improved pit latrines (VIPs) in South Africa. Model VIP vaults were prepared in the laboratory and filled with synthetic faecal sludge; and dosed with fly ash in amounts ranging from 5 to 20 % (w/w). The maximum leachable chemical oxygen demand (COD) accounted for 3.2 % of the total organic matter, while the maximum leachable ammonium accounted for 1.4 % of the leachable ammonium present in the synthetic faecal sludge. All phosphate in the synthetic faecal material was leachable. Mixing of the 20 % dose of fly ash into the synthetic faecal sludge resulted a minimum 98.9 % reduction (or about two log units) in the faecal coliform concentration after 28 days of incubation. As a result, addition of fly ash can decrease microbial threats to public and environmental health threats from the VIP faecal wastes, but can cause environmental contamination with phosphate. The fly ash dose and the duration of the faecal sludge treatment require further optimisation. Relationship between the chemical composition of the fly ash used as an additive to stabilise the VIP faecal sludge and the leaching of phosphorus from the sludge will also have to be investigated further.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Wilfried Arsène Letah Nzouebet ◽  
Ebenezer Soh Kengne ◽  
Guy Valerie Djumyom Wafo ◽  
Chistian Wanda ◽  
Andrea Rechenburg ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (60) ◽  
pp. 8258-8272
Author(s):  
HO Addo ◽  
◽  
KK Addo ◽  
B Langbong ◽  
◽  
...  

Water constitutes about 70% of the earth’s total mass and all life is dependent on water. Inadequate sanitation is a major cause of disease worldwide and improving sanitation is known to have a significant beneficial impact on health both in households and across communities. Water and sanitation are closely related and cannot be isolated. If uncontaminated water is available, reliable and convenient to collect, more water is consumed, both for hygienic purposes and for drinking which can improve health. In this study, the effect of sanitation on the bacteriological quality of water was evaluated. The study also assessed the sanitation facilities available in the three communities, the water facilities used and the bacterial contamination of household water. A cluster survey system was employed in three communities namely Tetegu, Mayera and Ashongman village in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Thirty households were clustered within each community. Within each household in each community, domestic water stored was analyzed for bacterial contamination using UriSelect 4 medium. This was used because it allows the isolation and counting of all organisms using a standard bacteriological loop plating method. Standardized questionnaires were administered in each household to ascertain the type of water and sanitation infrastructure. Seventy-seven percent and 87% of respondents relied on public standpipes in the Ashongman and Tetegu communities, respectively. Eightythree percent of respondents in Mayera relied on the Nsaki river. Eighty percent of respondents used the KVIP at Mayera, 97% of respondents at Tetegu resorted to open defecation, and 57% of respondents also used the pit latrine at Ashongman community. A total of ten bacterial species namely: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus agalactiae. Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus saprophytic, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus were identified in domestic water stored. This study therefore recommends that policy makers must ensure the provision of basic infrastructure such as toilet facilities to reduce the likely contamination of water sources from poor sanitation facilities.


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