1. Ecological sanitation - innovative wastewater management systems
Christine Werner, Patrick Bracken, Florian Klingel
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH
ecological sanitation programme, Division 44 – environment and infrastructure
Commissioned by:
Water Resources Protection Workshop, 2-6 May, 2005, Selam Hotel, Asmara
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

2. world water and sanitation crises
The international context
world water and sanitation crises
Freshwater - increasingly scarcity and degrading quality
1,1 billion people no access to safe drinking water
2,6 billion people inadequate/no sanitation
Expected growth of the global population by 2 billion people in next 25 years, mostly in urban areas in developing and emerging market economies, and many of them doomed to poverty if no concerted effort is made to resolve the water crisis
90 % of wastewater either poorly treated or not treated at discharge (only 25% of WWTPs built in DCs functioning)
80 % of all diseases and 25 % of all deaths in developing countries can be attributed to polluted water (WHO)
In Sub-Saharan Africa at least 1/3 of incomes spent to treat water-borne diseases, 90% of all malaria deaths, more than 200 Million bilharzia infections, diarrhoeal diseases 240 times hi-income (Hansen, 2004)
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

3. millennium development goals (MDGs)
Achievement of poverty eradication and sustainable development by rapidly increasing access to basic requirements such as clean water, sanitation, energy, health care, food security and the protection of biodiversity
Set target for water and sanitation: To halve by 2015 the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and those without adequate sanitation
To reach this the sanitary provision rates of the ‘90s will have to be quadrupled (UN WWDR 2003)
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

4. Why is sanitation important?
It provides a healthy environment = healthy people (able to secure improved livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty and ill-health)
For children - no diarrhoeal disease or other health hazards results in increased school attendance etc.
Can reduce number of children below 5 who die as a result of unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Can particularly help improve women’s lives and increased security can protect against sexual harassment and violence for women and girls.
Preventive environmental health measures are as important and at time more cost-effective than health treatments
Basically - it saves lives!!!
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

5. Some Principles of Sanitation
It is about behaviour and hygiene, not (just) about building toilets
It is a household decision with public implications
Central and local govt have roles, but behaviour is, in the end, decided at the household level
Children matter!!
90% of health benefits are among pre-school kids… and worm infections among school-age children
Supply and demand are critical
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

6. Why do people want sanitation ?
Top 5 reasons - from the Philippines
1. No smell and flies
2. Cleaner surroundings
3. Privacy
4. Less embarrassment when friends visit
5. Less disease
In Benin
1. Prestige and status Comfort convenience and privacy Protection against accidents in the bush 4. Increase the rent
Rarely is disease prevention mentioned!!
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

7. shortcomings of conventional watercarriage sanitation
Introduction to ecosan
shortcomings of conventional watercarriage 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 subsidization of prosperous areas and neglect of poorer settlements
Loss of valuable nutrients and trace elements contained in excrements due to discharge into waters
Problems with contaminated sewage sludge in combined, central systems
Linear end-of-pipe technology
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

8. shortcomings of conventional „drop and store“ sanitation
Introduction to ecosan
shortcomings of conventional „drop and store“ sanitation
Retention of solids
Infiltration of liquids
Polluted groundwater
Nitrates
Viruses
Pathogens
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

9. excreta are a valuable resource
Introduction to ecosan
excreta are a valuable resource
million tons per year
(as N + P2O5 + K2O)
135 50
Represents nutrients with a market value of around 15 Billion US dollars.
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

10. excreta are a valuable resource
recovery of energy content (covering about 20% of cooking energy needs for a typical family in a developing country)
energy savings in fertilizer production & wastewater treatment
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

11. need for a new approach to sanitation
Introduction
need for a new approach to sanitation
“business as usual“ will not allow us to provide sanitation to those who need it most. Conventional systems have failed - costs, resource efficiency, safeguarding public health and sustainability,
we cannot continue to waste our non-renewable resources
the global water, hygiene and soil degradation crisis requires new approaches
Innovative, holistic and sustainable approaches needed to provide safe and decent sanitation, reduce poverty, contribute to food security, preserve our environment and maintain the natural basis of life
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

12. Alternative approach: ecological sanitation – “ecosan“
Introduction to ecosan
Alternative approach:
ecological sanitation – “ecosan“
 What does it mean?
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

13. advantages of ecological sanitation
introduction
advantages of ecological sanitation
Improvement of health by minimizing the introduction of pathogens from human excrements into the water cycle
Promotion of safe, hygienic recovery and use of nutrients, organics, trace elements, water and energy
Preservation of soil fertility, Improvement of agricultural productivity
Conservation of resources
Preference for modular, decentralised partial-flow systems for more appropriate, cost-efficient solutions
Promotion of a holistic, interdisciplinary approach
Material flow cycle instead of disposal
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

14. eco-sanitation concepts and strategies
… is not just one technology, but an approach based on an eco-system-oriented view of material flows to deal with what is presently regarded as waste and wastewater for disposal
… applies the basic natural principal of closing the loop by using modern and safe sanitation and reuse technologies
… opens up a wider range of sanitation options than those currently considered.
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

15. between sanitation and agriculture
Principles of ecosan systems
closing the loop
between sanitation and agriculture
FOOD
NUTRIENTS
Pathogen destruction
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

16. Principles and objectives of ecological sanitation
The main objectives of eco-sanitation are to:
provide affordable, hygienically safe, and desirable sanitary facilities;
reduce the health risks related to sanitation, contaminated water and waste;
prevent the pollution of surface and groundwater;
prevent the degradation of soil fertility;
optimise the management of nutrients and water resources.
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

17. ecosan is a cross-sectoral approach
Climate protection
Resource conservation
Business and labour promotion
Flood protection
ecosan
Food security
Integrated Water Resources Management
Sustainable agriculture +
Conservation of soil fertility
Health
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

18. composition of household wastewater
Introduction to ecosan
composition of household wastewater
Organics
kg COD/ (Person·year)
12.3
3.6
14.1
Nutrient content
kg N,P,K / (Person·year) N P K
0.8
5.3
1.0
– l
500 l
50 l
source: Otterpohl
Volume
Liter / (Person·year)
greywater urine faeces
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

19. characteristics of substances
Introduction to ecosan
characteristics of substances
of no major hygienic concern
volumetrically the largest portion of wastewater
contains almost no nutrients (simplified treatment)
may contain spent washing powders etc.
3. greywater
less hygienically critical
contains the largest proportion of nutrients available to plants
may contain hormones or medical residues
2. urine
hygienically critical
consists of organics, nutrients and trace elements
improves soil quality and increase its water retention capacity
1. faeces
characteristic
fraction
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

20. fertilizer potential of human excreta
Introduction to ecosan
fertilizer potential of human excreta
source: Drangert, 1998
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

21. separation of substances
urine
(yellowwater)
liquid or dry
fertiliser
hygienisation by
storage or
drying
faeces
(brownwater)
anaerobic
digestion,
drying,
composting
biogas,
soil
improvement
constructed wetlands, gardening,
wastewater ponds, biol. treatment, membrane- technology
greywater
(shower,
washing, etc.)
irrigation,
groundwater-
recharge or
direct reuse
filtration,
biological
treatment
rainwater
water supply,
groundwater-
recharge
composting,
anaerobic
digestion
organic waste
soil
improvement,
biogas
substances
treatment
utilisation
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

22. eco-sanitation concepts and strategies
Introduction to ecosan
eco-sanitation concepts and strategies
To optimise cost efficient, high quality treatment and recycling options, two principles are very often being applied in ecosan systems:
flow streams with different characteristics, such as faeces, urine and greywater, are often collected separately. Rainwater harvesting and the treatment of organic waste and animal manure can also be integrated into the concepts!!
the unnecessary dilution of the flow streams is avoided, for example by using dry, low flush or vacuum transport systems. This minimises the consumption of valuable drinking water and produces high valued concentrations of recyclables.
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

23. Sanitising urine Time and Temperature
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

24. Sanitising faeces Temperature pH Ammonia Dryness Solar radiation
Competition
Nutrients
Oxygen
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

25. Technology examples
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

26. overview of ecosan technology-components
ecosan technologies
overview of ecosan technology-components
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

27. examples of urine diverting toilets
ecosan system components
examples of urine diverting toilets
China
Wost-Man, Sweden
Roediger, Germany
Dubletten, Sweden 
dry/wet:
faeces without, urine with flush 
dry/wet:
faeces with, urine without flush 
wet:
faeces & urine with flush
GTZ, Mali 
waterless:
faeces and urine without flush
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

28. examples of urine diverting toilets
Made from concrete in Mexico, Namibia, Botswana ....
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

29. examples of urine diverting toilets
Indoor UDS in Peru
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

30. Examples of urine diversion toilet slabs
Urine diverting concrete slab
Composting toilet with urine separation (China)
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

31. waterless urinals ecosan system components vacuum urinal
KfW-building, Germany
Ethiopia
Mon Museum, Sweden
South Africa
Tepoztlan, Mexico
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

32. examples of composting toilets
ecosan system components
examples of composting toilets
composting toilet, Germany
(Berger Biotechnik)
Schweden
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

33. examples of composting toilets
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

34. examples of dehydrating toilets
ecosan system components
examples of dehydrating toilets
various dehydration systems (with and without urine separation)
“SolaSan”-prefabricated system, South Africa
“Enviroloo”-prefabricated system, South Africa
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

35. Prefabricated dry UD toilet - South Africa
examples of dehydrating toilets
Prefabricated dry UD toilet - South Africa
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

36. Solar drying toilet in El Salvador
examples of dehydrating toilets
Solar drying toilet in El Salvador
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

37. vacuum systems elements:
ecosan system components
vacuum systems
elements:
vacuum toilets, vacuum urinals, vacuum conductions, pumping station
advantages:
water saving, concentrated black water collection, decentralised treatment possible (anaerobic)
manufacturer:
i.e. Roediger GmbH
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

38. vacuum systems
Gabarone, Botswana: Decentral wastewater collection using vacuum technology
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

39. ecosan system components
membrane technology
Highly effective removal of soluble and biodegradable materials in wastewater stream
selective permeable membrane (pore sizes < bacteria)
treated water recycle potential for non-potable application
compact, flexible system
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

40. anaerobic treatment with biogas production
ecosan system components
anaerobic treatment with biogas production
small scale biogas plants:
decentralised treatment of household wastewater with or without agricultural waste
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

41. ecosan system components
aqua culture
wastewater treatment by aquatic plants and fish with nutrient recyling by human consumption
offers high quality protein at low cost
predominantly in Asian countries
fish production of 1-6 tons/ha·year) achieved
tilapia
carp
duckweed
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

42. urine storage ecosan system components
Various containers for urine storage:
Gebers, Schweden
Lambertsmühle, Deutschland
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

43. composting with organic waste
ecosan system components
agricultural use
direct injection of liquid fertiliser
irrigation
urban agriculture
dried faeces - „soil amelioration“)
composting with organic waste
urban agriculture
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

44. Practical examples
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

45. experimental on-site sanitation in Koulikoro, Mali (supported by GTZ)
ecosan pilot projects
experimental on-site sanitation in Koulikoro, Mali (supported by GTZ)
Experimental on-site sanitation module consisting of a urine diverting dehydrating latrine, shower and greywater garden
Urine diverting concrete slab
Greywater garden
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

46. ecosan pilot projects
Integrated natural ressources management in Botswana (supported by IUCN, DED, GTZ)
Introduction of ecosan systems in three communities: dehydration toilets, urine separation and fertilisation of gardens with urine
urine diversion toilet made out of plastic
Awareness workshop on a village level
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

47. ecosan pilot projects
participatory development of ecosan solutions in Gibeon and Marienthal, Namibia (supported by GTZ)
Information, awareness building, situation and stakeholder analysis
Participatory development of ecosan systems
Pilot and demonstration units (fixed and movable dehydration toilets with urine diversion)
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

48. Traditional use of dried faeces, Afghanistan
Traditional urine separating dehydration latrine with infiltration of the urine in the underground through soak pits
Upgrading UDS
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

49. ecosan pilot projects
ecosan public toilet centre Bangalore, India (supported by ACTS, SDC, Uni Oslo and GTZ)
8 toilet cabins, separate collection of urine, washing water and faeces, co-composting of faeces with paper and organic waste, urine and washing water for fertilizing and irrigation of the banana plantation
source: seecon GmbH
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

50. biogas septic tanks Lesotho (supported by GTZ and DED)
ecosan pilot projects
biogas septic tanks Lesotho (supported by GTZ and DED)
1st step (2002): small bore sewer grid for 8 houses, a biogas-septic tank unit, upflow filter based on recycled plastic bottles, wetland, 800m² vegetable and fruit garden, two household connections for the biogas as full cooking energy source
2nd step (2003): field tests of black, greywater and urine separation
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

51. Zimbabwe / Mozambique The “fossa alterna” Source: Peter Morgan, 2004
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

52. GTZ headquarters, main building, Germany
ecosan pilot projects
GTZ headquarters, main building, Germany
separation, processing and agricultural reuse of urine (implementation 2004/2005)
GTZ House1
Eschborn, Germany
Urine diversion toilets and waterless urinals
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

53. Chinese „four in one“ model
ecosan pilot projects
Chinese „four in one“ model
pig – toilet – biogas – vegetable
combined with Greenhouse Production
more than times in Northern China
Use of nutrients, organics, energy and carbon dioxyde
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

54. ecosan dry toilet promotion in Guangxi-Province, China
ecosan pilot projects
ecosan dry toilet promotion in Guangxi-Province, China
Large ecosan project in the phase of up-scaling
1997, pilot project funded by SIDA/Unicef, 70 ecosan (urine diverting dehydration toilets) built in pilot village, Dalu Village
1998, 10,000 urine-diverting toilets were built in 200 ecosan villages in Guangxi
2002, 100,000 ecosan toilets in Guangxi
2003, 685,000 ecosan toilets in 17 provinces (Ministry of Public Health)
Factors of success: cultural acceptance, political commitment, technical flexibility, low cost, income generation, pressure from water pollution and water scarcity, promotion and marketing
Photos: Sandec, Text: Mi Hua
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

55. ecosan-study and reuse experiments in Havana, Cuba (supported by GTZ)
Study of options for reuse of urine and faeces in existing urban agriculture in Havana
improved soil quality through reuse of organics
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

56. GTZ supported ecosan activities around the world
ecosan pilot projects
GTZ supported ecosan activities around the world
ecosan activities supported by GTZ
Germany
Bulgaria
Algeria
Turkey
Afghanistan
Mali
Benin
Jordan
China
Iran
Cuba
Vietnam
Egypt
India
El Salvador
Yemen
Philippines
Burkina Faso
Ecuador
Zambia
Indonesia
Peru
Kenya
Namibia
Lesotho
Botswana
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

57. How would the city look?
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

58. Conventional Wastewater System
urban ecosan concepts
Conventional Wastewater System
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

59. urban ecosan concepts
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

60. Periphery urban ecosan concepts food faeces urine greywater
drinking water
Periphery
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

61. urban ecosan concepts
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

62. Residential Area urban ecosan concepts food faeces urine greywater
treated greywater
drinking water
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

63. urban ecosan concepts
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

64. Downtown Area urban ecosan concepts food faeces urine greywater
treated greywater
drinking water
irrigation
of urban green
vacuum
sewerage
biogas
plant
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

65. Titel des Vortrags, einzeilig
urban ecosan concepts
Titel des Vortrags, einzeilig
oder zweizeilig 65
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana
WfB, Rom – 12.Jan.2005

66. Aims of the GTZ-ecosan program
To promote the development and pilot application of holistic ecologically, economically and socially sustainable recycling- based wastewater and sanitation concepts in developing countries
To contribute to the global dissemination and application of ecosan approaches and establish these as state-of-the-art techniques – in both, developing and in industrialised countries
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

67. GTZ – ecosan R&D project
2000: 1st International Symposium on ecological sanitation in Bonn, Germany
2001: start 1st phase of the supra-regional research and development ecosan-project of GTZ, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
- development of ecosan knowledge management tools - building up of a global ecosan-network, - initiation of pilot projects
2003: 2nd International Symposium on ecological sanitation in Lübeck, Germany start 2nd phase of the ecosan-project of GTZ - further development of knowledge management tools - support to the global ecosan-network - implementation of pilot projects
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

68. Key activities of the GTZ ecosan program
knowledge management and networking
e-newsletter
ecosan website
ecosan source book (in progress)
ecosan-project data sheets (in progress)
ecosan-technical data sheets (in progress)
brochures, posters, professional articles, films, etc.
conferences & workshops
cooperation in the field
national & international working groups
ecosan pilot research and demonstration projects
baseline and feasibility studies for sanitation systems, treatment and reuse systems
advocacy and decision making workshops
training workshops
technical and operational advice for implementation
accompanying research
upscaling of projects and dissemination of experiences
more than 40 pilot projects worldwide
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

69. main challenges increasing of awareness
integration of reuse into planning from the beginning
revision of legal frameworks & technical standards
establishment of full cost analysis and risk and benefit comparisons
finding innovative investors and adapting financing instruments
implementation of large scale urban demonstration projects (in Africa large degree of experience with pilot installations - urgent need to go to scale)
Source: Petter Jenssen
Greywater treatment in Norway
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

70. a vision for alternative water management in urban areas
future full-scale eco-sanitation systems in urban areas will most probably consist of a spatial multiple layer “patchwork“ of technical and management solutions for:
different areas (e.g. different solutions for city centre, commercial zones, individual housing areas, individual building entities, etc.) and
different wastewater flows (different solutions for urine, greywater, brownwater or mixed wastewater)
have to offer the same or a better level of comfort as the present systems
individual and flexible systems adapted to local and frame-work conditions
flexible in time: the transition from the standard centralised system to alternative systems will happen stepwise and start from certain patches (e.g. development areas) and for certain wastewater flows (e.g. greywater or urine)
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

71. present obstacles for the implementation of new sanitation concepts in urban areas
inertia of the existing infrastructure (often designed for 50 or more years) and management systems
legal system tailored to centralised end-of-pipe systems
principles of source separation and resource recovery not reflected in current discharge standards and environmental laws
products from human excreta don´t appear in fertilizer regulations
monitoring structures exist only for centralized systems
alternatives not yet economically competitive, externalities and risks not reflected in costs of the current system
planners not yet familiar with the whole range of technological options and user centred planning methods
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana

72. Thanks for your attention & interest!!!
conclusion
Thanks for your attention & interest!!!
subscribe the ecosan-newsletter by sending an with the text “subscribe ecosan” to:
Sector Network SOWAS, October 2004, Accra Ghana