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| xxxformerly Center for Ecological Polution Prevention |
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EcoSan
Gallery Links
to Resources Upcoming
CEPP EcoSan Projects
not yet posted
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| Throughout the world, there is growing interest in ecological sanitation systems--systems that safely recycle wastewater for a variety of populations and settings. These low-cost systems have been perfected (based on lessons learned from the past in both industrialized and developing countries) and are increasingly in use to:
CEPP EcoSan Center offers system design, workshops, demonstration projects, information materials, resource referrals, systems evaluation and technology transfer and campaigns
The
Problem, the Solution (From Greenpeace document, "Sewage Pollution") Nearly every island nation has identified critical environmental and public health problems resulting from the disposal of human excrementÑfrom contaminated drinking water wells and outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease, Leptospirosis and cholera, to dying reefs, algae blooms and eutrophication in lagoons. The causes of this pollution include overflowing latrines and privies, water-sealed toilets, septic systems, piggeries and sewage treatment plants, as well as a complete lack of sanitation facilities in some places. Conventional western centralized waste treatment technologies have failed in developing countries, because they rely on continuous money for parts and technical support. They also require changes in lifestyle and parts that can only be imported. Many systems have been constructed by donor countries and development agencies only to fail and require dismantling at great expense to avoid future hazards. What is needed are sustainable, ecological, easy-to-use, simple-to- maintain systemsÑbased on local materials and local ways of life. The Center for Ecological Pollution Prevention (CEPP) has advised on and designed wastewater systems for a wide variety of applications. WeÕve also conducted workshops and demonstration projects on building sustainable, ecological sanitation systems all over the Pacific and in other locations. These are hands-on workshops; participants not only learn about the system, they actually construct one, too. These systems are easily used, understood and duplicated by local populations. WhatÕs more, these systems not only protect environmental and public health, they can save money as well. CEPP has designed and demonstrated systems that transform ÒwastesÓ that have a high treatment and disposal cost into ÒresourcesÓ such as food, soil conditioners, fertilizers, building materials, fuel and animal feed. These systems employ natural processes to treat wastes. That means the capital and operating costs are far lower than conventional, purely mechanical western technologies. Also, they are intuitively understood by the users, so there are fewer maintenance problems. By explaining and demonstrating how to build systems that produce positive results, such as plants and soil conditioner, rather than potential pollutants that need to be treated, they are sustainable, too. They do not cause future problems. Services
Links to Resources (in no particular order): Many programs do not have websites. See The Composting Toilet System Book for profiles of these and other organizations and the systems they use.
Managing
Decentralized Solutions:
On-site Separated Systems: The
Composting Toilet System Book, published by CEPP, describes 50+ source-separated
systems (blackwater and graywater), as well as several programs introducing these
systems worldwide. Two more books about aspects of ecological wastewater management
will be released by CEPP in late 2001. The following resources are mostly geared to developing countries. Winblad
Konsult: Uno Winblad is an architect and author of Sanitation Without
Water and Ecological Sanitation (perhaps the origin of the term, "ecosan.")
See this website for information on drying toilet projects worldwide, as well
as details of an ecosan conference in China in 2001, notice of a SIDA ecosan workshop
in Sweden and links to free downloads of the excellent book, Ecological Sanitation.
The Swedish international aid agency, SIDA, has taken a lead in promoting ecological
sanitation systems in developing countries, focusing mainly on drying toilets
(pathogen kill through high-alkaline additive). CITA & ESAC in Mexico: Centro de Innovaci—n en Tecnolog’a Alternativa, A.C. (CITA) organizes local cooperatives to manufacture urine-diverting toilets. Espacio de Salud (ESAC) conducts programs for introducing these and other systems and practices for better environmental and public health. RILES in Mexico: Resource Institute for Low-Entropy Systems (RILES) helps build site-built Clivus Multrums and graywater systems worldwide, with most installations in Central America. GTASC/SIRDO in Mexico: Grupo de Tecnologia Alternativa S.C. manufactures composting toilets and promotes and designs other wastewater systems.
Cluster/Village/Small Flows: EcoParque to come International
Aerobic Aquaculture Systems to come
Some Articles Integrated Bio-Systems : A Global Perspective, a report by Jacky Foo, an affiliate of UNESCO and director of the Integrated Bio-Systems Network internet forum Fighting
the urine blindness to provide more sanitation options by Jan-OIof Drangert,
Linköping University, Sweden Community-Based
Technologies for Domestic Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: options for urban agriculture
by Gregory Rose Regenerative Solutions for Managing Community-generated Organic Waste: A short article summarizing the above and offering links to other programs. UNDP overview article about ecological sanitation, with links Sanitation
Myths by Mayling Simpson-Hebert Source Weekly and Source Bulletin, published by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, brings you a weekly update of short news and updates on water-san sector news for the international development scene: http://www.wsscc.org/source/
Some Books: Sanitation Promotion features case studies of sanitation promotion initiatives, Mayling Simpson-Hebert and Sara Wood, eds. WHO, 1998 (avail. in the U.S. through Stylus Publishing) Finding Out Fast: Investigative Skills for Policy Development, Alan Thomas (Editor), Joanna Chataway (Editor), Marc Wuyts (Editor) 1998 Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Directory of Third World & U.S. Volunteer Opportunities, Filomena Geise (Editor) 1999 The Road to Hell: The Ravaging Effects of Foreign Aid International Charity, Michael Maren; 1997
Links to more links: www.watermagazine.com
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