International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 11 Issue: 05 | May 2024
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p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Faecal Sludge Characterisation, Treatment and Management Facilities: A Review Angela Bandi1, Dr. Akshay Thorvat2 1MTech Scholar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kolhapur Institute of Technology's
College of Engineering (Autonomous), Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kolhapur Institute
of Technology's College of Engineering (Autonomous), Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
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Abstract - Inadequate management of faecal sludge from
global urbanization accelerates and urban infrastructures lag behind, a growing number of cities and towns in low and middle-income countries rely primarily on these onsite containment systems for sanitation needs. However, the improper management of the vast quantities of fecal sludge generated poses a severe public health and environmental hazard.
onsite sanitation systems poses severe public health and environmental risks, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas of developing countries. This review paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the critical challenges and potential solutions for safe and sustainable faecal sludge management (FSM). Methods for reliably estimating quantities and qualities of accumulated sludge are evaluated, including surveys, empirical data analysis, and testing approaches. Decentralized treatment technologies are examined, with a focus on affordable options like waste stabilization ponds, drying beds, and composting that enable resource recovery of products such as soil conditioners, animal feed, and energy. Integrated policy frameworks, institutional models involving stakeholder coordination, financial mechanisms combining tipping fees with publicprivate partnerships, and community engagement strategies are analyzed. Real-world case studies across cities in subSaharan Africa and South Asia showcase attempts at implementing comprehensive FSM programs through a combination of technical interventions and enabling environments. The findings highlight the need for contextspecific solutions tailored to local socio-economic and environmental conditions. Key recommendations emphasize developing robust quantification techniques, promoting decentralized resource recovery-oriented treatment, formulating supportive governance structures, ensuring sustainable financing, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to collectively address the escalating urban sanitation crisis.
Globally, around 2.7 billion people rely on onsite sanitation systems like pit latrines and septic tanks, generating vast quantities of fecal sludge that is often indiscriminately dumped in the environment due to lack of proper management. This results in staggering economic and health costs, especially in densely populated urban areas. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 specifically targets achieving adequate and equitable sanitation access and halving the proportion of untreated wastewater by 2030. Effective fecal sludge management is therefore a key priority for achieving these international goals on sanitation, public health and environmental protection. However, it requires addressing a range of interlinked technical, governance and financial challenges through contextualized solutions. Innovative approaches combining affordable decentralized treatment technologies, resource recovery business models, strengthened regulations and service chains, stakeholder partnerships and robust data management can pave the way. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF's 2021 estimates, 3.6 billion people globally lack access to safely managed sanitation services that hygienically separate human waste from human contact. A staggering 43% of the global population relies on pit latrines, septic tanks or other onsite sanitation facilities where the fecal sludge requires emptying and further treatment (WHO/UNICEF 2021). In urban areas across nations in subSaharan Africa, southern Asia, and parts of Latin America, this proportion exceeds 60% in some cases (Bashir et al. 2020) [13].
Key Words: Faecal sludge management, onsite sanitation, developing countries, decentralized treatment, resource recovery, quantification methods.
1.INTRODUCTION Faecal sludge refers to the sludge and semi-solid material that accumulates in onsite sanitation systems like pit latrines, septic tanks, and un-sewered public toilets. As
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