Time and motion assessment of pit-emptying operations in Kigali, Rwanda

To ensure sanitation for all by 2030, fecal sludge collection services in low-income urban areas with no sewer connections need improvement. One of the major issues is the gap between low-income household's willingness to pay and the cost of emptying services in low-income areas. One way of lowering the cost of these services is through process optimization. In this regard, we conducted a time and motion study to better understand the bottlenecks associated with the collection of fecal waste from different types of on-site sanitation facilities. Our results show that emptying pit latrines, which make up 53% of the market for emptying services in Kigali, takes twice longer than emptying septic tanks. 33% of households that requested the service were located in an informal settlement with no access to road and could only be served by a semi-mechanized method which required use of barrels, and a portable pump. In general, interventions related to minimizing trash disposal in pits and septic tanks can go a long way in making the emptying process more time and cost-efficient. Additionally, developing effective and efficient pumping technologies that are suitable for use in inaccessible areas should be prioritized.

Effect of fecal matter co-digestion with kitchen waste on Hermetia illucens’s larval weight and protein content

Sustainable treatment of fecal matter is a long-standing challenge in sanitation, particularly in developing countries. Although recent developments have seen the evolution of innovative onsite sanitation technologies, the treatment of fecal waste collected still remains a daunting task. This study evaluated the effect of formulated feedstock: fecal matter from urine-diverting dry toilets and kitchen waste (1:0, 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, and 0:1) on waste weight reduction, Hermetia illucens’s larval weight gain, and crude protein content during co-digestion. Samples were collected after every 2 days for larval weight determination and protein content analysis using the Kjeldahl method of nitrogen determination. The waste reduction index (WRI) was determined after 50% pupation. The larvae grew on all substrates yielding 32.97–38.6% dry matter (DM) protein content and larval weight ranging from 1.12 to 1.70 g per five larvae. Results indicate that a 1:1 co-digestion ratio resulted in a high WRI (3.61), DM crude protein content (38.6%), and larval weight (1.70 g per five larvae). This study used the circular economy-based approach which provides a win–win situation to sanitation provision and environmental management while realizing products with potential for livelihood improvement.

Analysis of Factors Affecting the Contamination of Entamoeba sp. cyst and Soil-Transmitted Helminths egg on Dug Well Water

Dug well water is often polluted by fecal waste containment such as septic tank and pit latrine system due to its distance. The common pathogenic parasites found in fecal waste containment are E. histolytica and Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH). The port de entry of both parasites is ingestion of contaminated food or water by fecal materials. This study was aimed to analyze factors affecting the existence of Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg on dug well water in Bungatan Village, Situbondo. This observational analytic study used cross-sectional approach, carried out 30 respondents in Bungatan Village, Situbondo. Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg were examined using sedimentation method, the distance of fecal waste containment to dug well measured by measuring tape. The characteristic of fecal waste containment and dug well was observed using questionnaires. The results showed 100% fecal containment used pit latrine system, 100% had an incomplete well standard, 66,7% had unstandardized distance with fecal waste containment. Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg were not found on all water samples. The soil condition near the dug well (acidity, temperature, moisture, and sunlight intensity) and physical condition (temperature) of dug well water were inappropriate to the development of Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg. The dug well's component and its distance to fecal containment did not affect Entamoeba sp. cyst and STH egg existence in all dug well water. The physical soil condition near the dug well and the temperature of dug well water were inappropriate to the development of both parasites. Keywords: Entamoeba sp., Soil Transmitted Helminths, Dug Well, Fecal Waste Containment

Microbial Source Tracking Approach to Investigate Fecal Waste at the Strawberry Creek Watershed and Clam Beach, California, USA

Clam Beach is located in Northern California, USA, and is listed as an impaired waterway by the federal government. The scope of this study was to investigate this beach and surrounding watershed to determine, if possible, the source of the impairment by conducting an 11-h beach study and 8-week watershed study. We used traditional fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and microbial source tracking (MST) methods to help identify source(s) of the FIB. Our study was focused on four possible contributors: human, ruminant, canine, and bird. A total of 169 samples were collected, analyzed, and compared to the California Department of Health single sample maximum (SSM) objective. In the beach study, 29 (44%) samples exceeded at least one SSM objective, which would have resulted in a resample per state regulations for recreational primary contact use. MST methods showed that the most abundant marker detected was bird, in 65% of the samples, but varied by sample location, which is likely due to a natural population of nearshore birds regularly observed along Clam Beach. The watershed study highlighted the potential influence from ruminants throughout the region, while humans did not appear to be a significant contributor. Health risk to humans appears to be low.

Evaluasi Teknik Operasional dari Kinerja Instalasi Pengolahan Lumpur Tinja di Kota Kendari

Fecal waste requires treatment (IPLT) that contains pollutant compounds which result in creating damage to the environment or potentially creating pollution. Therefore, we need a performance evaluation to optimize the performance of the Kendari City IPLT. The Kendari City IPLT serves processing of sewage sludge throughout the sub-district with sources from domestic waste processing units and facilities. Sludge desludging is only carried out by 3% of the total septic tank units that must be vacuumed. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the performance of the IPLT in treating waste and determine whether the effluent generated from the IPLT has met the specified quality standards. This research method is to compare the effectiveness of Kendari City IPLT conditions with LH Regulation No. 05 of 2014. The BOD content after analysis was 125.1 mg/L and the oil content was 1 mg / l. The Kendari City IPLT treatment unit consisting of an imhoff tank, anaerobic pool, facultative pool and maturation pool in good condition some ponds did not meet the criteria according to the Ministry of Public Works in 1998. The imhoff tank was only 3.7 m (criteria 6-9 m), the anaerobic pool caused odor that can interfere, facultative pool water height of 2.0 m (criteria 1.2 - 2.4 m).

Detection and quantification of enteric pathogens in aerosols near open wastewater canals in cities with poor sanitation

ABSTRACTUrban sanitation infrastructure is inadequate in many low-income countries, leading to the presence of highly concentrated, uncontained fecal waste streams in densely populated areas. Combined with mechanisms of aerosolization, airborne transport of enteric microbes and their genetic material is possible in such settings but remains poorly characterized. We detected and quantified enteric pathogen-associated gene targets in aerosol samples near open wastewater canals (OWCs) or impacted surface waters and control sites in La Paz, Bolivia; Kanpur, India; and Atlanta, USA via multiplex qPCR (37 targets) and ddPCR (13 targets). We detected a wide range enteric pathogen-specific targets, some not previously reported in extramural urban aerosols, with more frequent detections of all enteric targets at higher densities in La Paz and Kanpur near OWCs. We report density estimates ranging from non-detects to 4.7 ⨯ 102 gc per m3air for targets including ST-ETEC, C. jejuni, EIEC/Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., norovirus, and Cryptosporidium spp. An estimated 25%, 76%, and 0% of samples containing positive pathogen detects were accompanied by culturable E. coli in La Paz, Kanpur, and Atlanta, respectively, suggesting potential for viability of enteric microbes at the point of sampling. Airborne transmission of enteric pathogens merits further investigation in cities with poor sanitation.Abstract FigureSYNOPSISWe detect and quantify molecular targets associated with important enteric pathogens in outdoor aerosols from cities with poor sanitation to assess the potential role of the aeromicrobiological pathway in enteric infection transmission in such settings.

A Comparative Analysis of Septage Management in Five Cities in the Philippines

This study assessed and compared septage management systems in Baliwag, Calamba, Muntinlupa, Pasig, and San Fernando, the Philippines, using fecal waste flow diagrams and service delivery scorecards. According to the fecal waste flow diagrams, San Fernando is the most successful in preventing its environment’s pollution. It is followed by Baliwag, Muntinlupa, and Pasig. In Calamba, all of the fecal waste is disposed of to the environment. According to the scorecards, Pasig has the most efficient septage management service, followed by San Fernando, Baliwag, Muntinlupa, and Calamba. Among the five areas, San Fernando can be considered to have the most efficient septage management system as it had the best fecal waste flow diagram and second highest ratings in the service delivery scorecard. It might have been an advantage that the city itself is managing the whole system—from implementing rules for septic tank plans, to the collection, treatment, and disposal of septage.

Analysis of the problems and methods of processing fecal waste of railway transport

he current scheme for the turnover of human waste is imperfect and has a number of serious problems that lead to the risk of pollution of the surrounding natural environment, the emergence of threats to human health, the accumulation of waste water that is not suitable for further use. one of the aspects of the turnover of human waste is the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport. The article develops the topic raised in the research work on the topic No. 7280-20 «Improving the mechanisms of ecological and economic regulation of the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport», carried out by the authors in 2020. A quantitative assessment of the volume of fecal waste is made, the ways of its utilization in a number of countries are described, the current legislative norms of the Russian Federation that regulate these processes, the existing turnover schemes, in which there are significant amounts of different chemical composition and possible ways of using sewage sludge. possible ways of processing are described, based on the existing world experience and theoretical developments confirmed by experiments. the problems and risks of human involvement in the natural cycle of these wastes are considered, while the ambiguity of the situation and the lack of the only correct solutions are noted. The purpose of the article is to consider the technological directions and techniques that can be useful for creating technologies for processing this material into a competitive product and choosing priority directions in the processing of fecal waste. Special attention is paid to the waste generated during the operation of railway passenger transport and the design of the technological chain that allows more efficient processing of these wastes and minimizes the negative impact on the natural and man-made environment.

Efficiency of the system of ecological and economic regulation of the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport in the Russian Federation

The article is devoted to the analysis and development of recommendations for improving the efficiency of the system of environmental and economic regulation of the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport in the Russian Federation. The article deals with the ecological and economic aspects of the functioning of closed sanitary systems for collecting sewage from the toilets of passenger trains, stationary points for cleaning tanks-collections of environmentally friendly toilets, as well as their processing and disposal. It is shown that the system of environmentally friendly toilet complexes requires updating and improving the mechanisms of ecological and economic regulation of the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport. The procedure for assigning waste of hazard classes I–IV to a specific hazard class is considered. The requirements for determining limits on the placement of fecal waste of railway transport are analyzed. The procedure for calculating and charging fees for the negative impact on the environment when placing fecal waste from railway transport is given. Possible regional benefits for income tax from activities related to the collection, transportation, processing, disposal, neutralization, and disposal of hazard class IV waste, including fecal waste from railway transport, are indicated. The rules for the transit of fecal waste from railway transport are given. The rules for regulating relations between consumers and performers in the field of services for organizing the collection and removal of fecal waste in terms of consumer protection are outlined. Recommendations are given for improving the system of environmental and economic regulation of the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport. An approach to the formation of methods of ecological and economic regulation of the turnover of fecal waste of railway transport, taking into account the industry risk of technological development, is proposed.