Variable climate conditions, resulting in periods of water scarcity and longer dry spells, or intense rainfall events, have serious implications for water and sanitation services. Climate change threatens to exacerbate these hazards, increasing risks to household water security, and associated impacts on health, wellbeing and livelihoods. These risks are not evenly distributed across individuals and communities, and there is a particular need to understand women's vulnerabilities and responses to these risks due to disproportionate impacts of poor water and sanitation conditions. This study used mixed-methods data collection to assess how vulnerabilities to climate-related risks to household water security are produced and vary among women in the Centre-East region, Burkina Faso, as well as capacities to respond. Gendered water-related roles and norms were found to drive vulnerabilities for women in the case study site particularly related to increasingly inadequate water availability during the dry season. Other social differences such as Mossi and Peul ethnicity which influence ways of using water, also contributed to women's differential vulnerability and capacities to respond. These findings show there is a need to consider how the development of 'climate resilient' water and sanitation services take social drivers of vulnerability into account.

Abstract. The sanitary products (i.e toilet compost, urine, and greywater) from resource oriented sanitation are a low-cost alternative to chemical fertilizers and irrigation water for poor communities in dry areas. However, if these products are not managed carefully, increased soil salinity and sodium accumulation could occur. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of these products at different combinations on the properties of cultivated soil and on okra plant productivity. The treatments were: (1) fresh dam water (FDW) as a negative control, (2) FDW plus chemical fertilizer (i.e.NPK) (FDW + NPK) as a positive control, (3) treated greywater (TGW), (4) FDW plus Urine/Toilet Compost (UTC) (FDW + UTC), (5) TGW + UTC, (6) TGW + NPK. Effects on okra productivity were assessed by measuring the fresh fruit yield whereas effects on soil were evaluated through measurements of electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and total organic carbon (TOC) at various depths. Results showed that the yields obtained with TGW (0.71 t ha−1) and TGW + UTC (0.67 t ha−1) were significantly higher than the yields obtained with the positive control FDW + NPK (0.22 t ha−1) meaning that the fertilizer value of the sanitary products was higher than that of chemical fertilizer. Concerning effects on soil, SAR values increased significantly in plots treated by TGW (8.86 ± 1.52) and TGW + UTC (10.55 ± 1.85) compared to plots fertilized with FDW (5.61 ± 1.45) and FDW + NPK (2.71 ± 0.67). The TOC of plots treated with TGW + UTC (6.09 ± 0.99 g kg−1) was significantly higher than those of FDW + NPK (4.46 ± 0.22 g kg−1). Combined sanitary products from resource oriented sanitation can be reused as a nutrient source and water for food production, provided that soil salinity is monitored and the soil has high drainage capacity.

In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the scarcity of freshwater resources is a critical problem and the reuse of low quality water in urban agriculture is increasing. This study compares the parasitological characteristics of wastewater at the inlet and outlet of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and inside an open channel which conveys the treated wastewater to a garden site situated downstream of the WWTP. Non-viable parasite cysts or eggs were found at the inlet and outlet of the WWTP; in contrast, parasite cysts and eggs were found at the open channel sampling point with a high percentage of viability. Additionally, an epidemiological study was performed that demonstrates that open defecation practiced by highly infected people inside the garden site caused recontamination of the treated wastewater. Therefore, to reuse treated wastewater and avoid new contamination, a safety plan is necessary. The safety plan should particularly focus on offering alternatives to open defecation by installing toilets at the garden site.

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