Sustainable sanitation
Sustainable sanitation
Sustainable sanitation (pronunciation: /səˈsteɪnəbəl saniˈtāSH(ə)n/) refers to the management of human excreta, wastewater, and solid waste in a manner that is beneficial to both human health and the environment. The term is derived from the Latin words "sustinere" meaning "to hold up" and "sanitas" meaning "health".
Definition
Sustainable sanitation is a sanitation system designed to meet certain criteria and work in a sustainable manner. These criteria include aspects such as long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability, as well as technical functionality. The system should be economically viable, socially acceptable, technically and institutionally appropriate, and it should protect the environment and the natural resources.
Components
Sustainable sanitation systems consider the entire sanitation chain, which includes the collection, transport, treatment, and reuse or disposal of human excreta, wastewater, and solid waste.
Collection
The collection component of sustainable sanitation involves the initial accumulation of waste, often in a toilet or latrine.
Transport
Transport refers to the movement of waste from the point of collection to the point of treatment or disposal. This can involve sewerage systems, septic tanks, or manual transport.
Treatment
Treatment involves the processing of waste to reduce its volume, remove hazardous components, and prepare it for safe disposal or reuse. This can involve processes such as composting, anaerobic digestion, or various forms of wastewater treatment.
Reuse or disposal
The final step in the sanitation chain is either the safe disposal of waste or its reuse. Reuse can involve the production of biofuel, compost for agriculture, or treated wastewater for irrigation.
Related terms
- Ecological sanitation: A type of sustainable sanitation system that aims to close the nutrient loop by safely recycling human excreta back into the environment.
- Waste management: The collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste, including solid waste and wastewater.
- Water sanitation: The process of cleaning water to make it safe for human use, often a component of sustainable sanitation systems.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Sustainable sanitation
- Wikipedia's article - Sustainable sanitation
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