International Year of Sanitation

Abstract

Kenyan inmates pioneer sanitation project A t the Shimo la Tewa prison in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, inmates are pioneering a sanitation project that is working with nature to neutralise human waste. The initiative which involves the development of a wetland to purify sewage, is expected to cost a fraction of the price of high-tech treatments in addition to many environ mental, economic and social benefits. The sewage collection and wetland purification system, as well as labour and construction costs and including upgrading of sanitary facilities inside the prison amount to some US$110 000 or US$25 per person served. Apart from wastewater management, the project is also to assess using the wetlandfiltered water for irrigation and fish farming, giving prisoners a new source of protein with excess to be sold to local markets. Part of the wastewater will also be used for the production of biogas. The biogas can be used as a fuel for cooking, heating and lighting, thereby cutting electricity bills and saving the prison service.

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