Ecosan

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Seeking innovative ways to study the response of crops to ecological sanitation product treatments.

Members: 14
Latest Activity: Jun 13, 2011

Brief Summary
This project aims to test the concept of ecological sanitation where human excreta and household wastewater are not recognized as waste but viewed as resources that can be recovered, treated and used safely. Unlike most conventional sanitation methods, ecological sanitation processes human waste to recover nutrients usually for the purpose of growing crops that would otherwise be discarded. This project seeks to study the response of crops (e.g. trees, vegetables, coconuts) to ecosan product (e.g. urine and feces) treatments.

Geographical Area
This project will be implemented in the Philippines by the Water, Agroforestry, Nutrition and Development Foundation (WAND).

Nature of the Opportunity
A solution to this challenge will protect human health and the environment whilst reduce the use of water in sanitation systems. Ecosan systems enable the recovery of nutrients from human feces and urine for the benefit of agriculture. In this way, they help to preserve soil fertility, assure food security for future generations, minimize water pollution and the spread of infectious diseases, and recover bio-energy. They ensure that water is used economically and is recycled in a safe way to the greatest possible extent for purposes such as irrigation and groundwater recharge.

Relevant Scientific Participation
Science for Humanity currently requires volunteers with expertise in water and sanitation and other relevant areas to join this challenge. Join the Ecosan project if you would like to tackle this challenge and/or contact Dr. Devi for further information at ad@scienceforhumanity.net.

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Comment by Anu Devi on February 24, 2010 at 13:29: Science for Humanity would like to thank Professor Hakan Jonnson, an expert in Ecological Sanitation, Composting Technology and Environmental Systems Analysis, for his comments on the EcoSan research proposal. We would thank Professor Jonnson for his detailed comments on the research methods, and we hope that he will continue to be involved in this project.

With best wishes,
Anu

Comment by Anu Devi on February 22, 2010 at 16:08: Science for Humanity would like to thank Professor Sandy Cairncross from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine for connecting us with researchers in the area of ecological sanitation. Thanks to Professor Cairncross we were able to connect with Dr. Morgan and learn of Dr. Morgan's research experience.

Dr. Peter Morgan, an expert in the water and sanitation area for 25 years who is also working in Zimbabwe on ecological sanitation projects, has provided his comments on our EcoSan project proposal. We would like to thank him for his contribution and look forward to working with him in the future.

Science for Humanity would like to hear your comments on EcoSan. If you would like to get involved in this project, please do contact me at: ad@scienceforhumanity.net.

Best wishes,
Anu Devi
Projects

Comment by Anu Devi on November 18, 2009 at 10:17: The WAND Foundation is starting the ecosan product (mainly urine) re-use study next month. If you would like to get involved, share your results on ecosan treatment response to crops, and contribute your knowledge and skills, please do get in touch. We would like to hear your expert opinion.

Best wishes,
Anu

Comment by Anu Devi on October 13, 2009 at 14:13: Comments on Ecosan Project by Dr. Marcus Simmons

'Ecological Sanitation' is an area with some controversy at present. Many (seemingly authoritative) organisations appear to make favourable claims for such approaches as composting toilets etc. These may be OK in affluent temperate countries are some significant cautions for use in low-income tropical situations, such as the Philippines. See these papers for a review:
In development situations it is hard to ensure safe management practices that keep pathogen risk low. see these docs, for example:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/Publications/Briefing%20Notes/BN27%20Ecological%20sanitation.htm
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/Publications/Briefing%20Notes/WELL%20BN%2027%20A3.pdf

Public health/safety points aside, WELL/WEDC have a wealth of expertise and useful publications in the WatSan area, and i'd highly recommend you try to involve them for advice etc:
WELL/WEDC - part of Loughborough University: www.lboro.ac.uk/well/
– various factsheets: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/fact-sheets/fact-sheets.htm
for example, this one on Ecological Sanitation http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/fact-sheets/fact-sheets-htm/Ecological%20sanitation.htm

AKVO also have a very accessible and well-presented web-site, with lots of useful, highly visual, clearly presented materials:
UK/NL NGO specialising in water and sanitation, well-designed website and information materials: www.akvo.org

Overall I'd recommend making use of AKVO's presentation materials, but carefully heeding WEDC's safety/health advice.

I put some extra handy links etc, into this very rough informal online document:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AcwKYaVvLjSOZGh0cG04Z2tfNzBkZjk1d2djcQ&hl=en_GB

Of course, you may be aware/doing all this already, but i hope you won't mind the extra reminder, in case it's useful. I'd be interested to hear any feedback on how you get on.

Very best wishes with your project!

Information

Discussion Forum

Ecosan Wins Bill & Melinda Gates Grant.

Ecological Sanitation - urine re-use study update

Please provide your comments on the Ecosan project proposal.

Research proposal for Ecosan: testing crop response to ecological sanitation treatment product urine

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