This resource book is a guide on ‘waterless urinals’ (WLU), that will assist individuals, builders, engineers, architects, and policy makers in promoting them.

Usage of Green Technology makes the product water and energy positive. It uses naturally growing product to provide the best of sanitation at an optimal cost.
Biological Toilets convert human waste into non toxic, non contaminating water compatible with environmental standards, through application of multi strain bacteria culture, using both aerobic and anaerobic forms of bacteria.

Kochi, June 25, 2012: The Ecosan toilet project formulated by Centre for Water Resources and Management (CWRDM), here, to curb groundwater pollution due to the unscientific treatment of septage, is scripting a new story in ecological sanitation in the district.

As a pilot project, the CWRDM established Ecosan toilets at four locations in Chathamangalam Grama Panchayat last year and owing to the huge success of the project more panchyats have come forward to set up these toilets which are very eco-friendly.

Megh Pyne Abhiyan (MPA) in partnership with SAMTA (partner organization in Khagaria district) is piloting the localized version of Phaydemand Shauchalay  aka productive toilet/ecological sanitation in two tolas (hamlets) (Nepal and Railway tola of Khagaria district) as an alternative and appropriate utility  for the flood prone areas of Bihar.

About the initiative
Megh Pyne Abhiyan in partnership with Water Action is executing a peoples’ centered, driven and owned alternative secure sanitation, personal and menstrual hygiene management process and facilities in Burmi Tola, a flood prone hamlet of Rupaulia village of West Champara district in Bihar. The initiative is being supported by Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden and Wash Institute, India.

When responding to an emergency situation, ensuring safe excreta disposal is an urgent priority in the disaster relief effort. Aid organizations typically dig trench or pit latrines, but in some challenging environments, different methods such as ecological sanitation (Ecosan) must be employed. Ecosan is sanitation methods and technologies which promote the safe reuse rather than the disposal of excreta. Currently, Ecosan is mostly implemented in disaster relief for flood-prone areas and locations where excavation is not possible.

Most of the cities in Nepal,  except  Kathmandu,  the sewerage system  and onsite sanitation system are very poor due to improper management, less attention, and lack of political commitment of Gevernments of Nepal. The planned and safe disposal of human excreta is a must for preventing drinking water from pollution and conserving soil fertility. The conventional linear approach to sanitation can cause both environmental and health problems.

From S. Janakarajan, Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) Chennai

Posted 5 June 2007

I work with the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) in Chennai.

In recent years, there is a growing emphasis on promoting Ecological Sanitation (ecosan) due to a number of factors:

1. Wider realisation that modern sewage-based sanitation uses up a tremendous amount of drinking water quality water for flushing, and requires large costly plants for treatment.
2. Mixing of faeces and urine makes treatment difficult, as both these need different treatments.
3. Wastage of urine and faeces, which could be a rich source of fertiliser. Proper management of these will reduce treatment as well as fertilizer costs.
   

“Experiences with Ecosan Systems to Provide Sustainable Sanitation for Schools in Kenya and India” written by Rahul Ingle, Christian Rieck and Elisabeth v. Münch published in 2009 by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Ecosan Services Foundation (ESF), paper describes the experiences and lessons learnt from using ecosan systems in some schools in Kenya and India.