Search continues for answers on health impact of ecosan

Abstract

While the mass rollout of urine diversion (UD) toilets continues on the outskirts of Durban in the municipality’s quest to provide all its constituents with decent sanitation by 2010, questions remain regarding the environmental impact of these systems and the possible reuse of the accumulating waste. A joint research effort between the Pollution Research Group of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Water and Sanitation Department of eThekwini Municipality is hoping to come up with some answers. Lani Holtzhausen reports. The eThekwini UD toilet is of a double vault design, with the toilet pedestal being relocated over the second, empty vault when the first vault has been filled. The contents of the first vault are allowed to stand for the period required for the second vault to fill (usually a year). Thereafter, it is recommended that the now dry waste Search Continues For Answers On Health Impact Of Ecosan The urine is disposed of in shallow soakaways. Sand or ash is added after each defecation to promote desiccation and limit odour and fly problems.

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