Composting and Dry Desiccating Toilets (Latrines)

Naughton, Colleen C.; Orner, Kevin D.; Stenström, Thor-Axel; Mihelcic, James R.

doi:10.14321/waterpathogens.57

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Naughton et al found that the primary disadvantage associated with composting latrines was the lack of provision within the latrine for water-based anal cleansing. This is because the composting latrine (and dry desiccation latrine) needs to maintain appropriate moisture content , to promote biological activity (or pathogen desiccation) within the latrine. As noted previously, the current study found that most respondents use water for anal washing after latrine use, but respondents cite odor and insects as the main disadvantage of composting latrines.…”

Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moving up the Sanitation Ladder while Considering Function: An Assessment of Indigenous Communities, Pit Latrine Users, and Their Perceptions of Resource Recovery Sanitation Technology in Panama

Libby

Wells

Mihelcic

2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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As households move up the sanitation ladder, health risks presumably decline but the corresponding technologies may require increasing operation and maintenance costs. One critique of the ladder is that it prioritizes technology and could be improved if it included a functional approach to monitoring, such as including aspects of environmental sustainability that consider resource recovery. Using analyses of data obtained from semi-structured interviews, surveys, and field observations, this study examines the functional transition toward improved sanitation technology as a household moves up the sanitation ladder with the added function of resource recovery (from pit latrines to composting latrines). The study took place in six indigenous Ngabe communities in Panama. The results reveal that of 103 pit latrines studied, 88% were completed and in use, but only 35% were operated appropriately. Approximately 60% of pit latrine owners reported that they would use composting latrines, with compost as the primary perceived benefit. Barriers to adoption include lack of prior experience, user disgust of working with excrement, and the perceived amount of work required for operation. Overall, these findings indicate the importance of establishing demonstration projects and culturally aligned training for more complex sanitation technologies that enable resource recovery. The results have broad implications for understanding sanitation technology transitions in rural and indigenous settlements in other world regions.

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Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moving up the Sanitation Ladder while Considering Function: An Assessment of Indigenous Communities, Pit Latrine Users, and Their Perceptions of Resource Recovery Sanitation Technology in Panama

Libby

Wells

Mihelcic

2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Section: Sanitation Technologies For Agri-resource Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Composting is primarily an aerobic (and sometimes anaerobic) microbiological decomposition process that stabilizes organic matter to odorless substances. 80 Increasing the temperature to >40 °C in the thermophilic stage effectively inactivated pathogens. Even if a thermophilic temperature is not achieved, a small change in temperature in the mesophilic range facilitates the inactivation of Ascaris eggs.…”

Section: Sanitation Technologies For Agri-resource Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alkaline additives are used to enhance pathogen inactivation; however, an excessively high pH in a composting toilet may limit the overall biological reactions occurring within the pile of excreta to sufficiently raise the temperature. 80…”

Section: Sanitation Technologies For Agri-resource Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Commonly used additives include ash, dry soil or sand, dry leaves, dry grass, rice husks, lime, crushed oyster shells, and shea nut shells, all of which contribute to the essential attributes of generating dehydrated fecal sludge that is bulky and dry. 80 Pathogen inactivation through urea amendment has been evaluated in source-separated feces. 36,[81][82][83] Inactivation of Ascaris eggs is faster in feces amended with a mixture of ash and urea than that with a single addition of ash or urea.…”

Section: †)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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