I am a sustainable development journalist based in Cape Town and I am working for Grid Arendal, a Norwegian environmental sustainability organisation that works closely with UN Environment and other partners.
I am looking at simple and effective innovations that tackle access to sanitation and improve overall sanitation in the developing world. Think about the algae-based wastewater treatment method by the CSIR or Micromune by Sanitation World. What about waterless sanitation innovations?
Ideally, I am looking for innovations and technology developed in Africa, but it is not a prerequisite, as long as it is used/can be used in Africa.
I would love to hear from you (and interview you, if possible).
Which sanitation innovations applicable in Africa do you consider best?
Dear Miriam, You will receive much advice from enthusiasts and those with something to sell. Over my professional career I have needed to sift through many such glowing promotional presentations etc. I have a couple of thoughts on how to begin to sort them out. Bearing in mind that a sanitation system must be technically and environmentally sustainable, affordable and replicable without excessive external support.
The key item for your immediate information is a set of criteria I used "to sort fact from fiction": "Four measures of acceptance are proposed: 1. Are the toilets still in use? 2. Are they being correctly used? 3. Are they being copied without external support? 4. Are EcoSan products being used in agriculture?"
On other "solutions" offered to solve South Africa's sanitation challenges I produced another set of criteria that included: a. total capital cost, b. running costs, c. moving parts? d. water dependent? f. how is sludge managed? g. institutional arrangements needed? h. familiar technology or understandable by target clients? and i. are they spontaneously copied by neighbours without subsidies?
I hope this helps your search for the best technology. Regards, Barry Jackson, ex DBSA, ex-WSP, ex Global Sanitation Fund.
There is a company called Isidima Design and Development situated in Cape Town that has developed a low-flush toilet for both developed country and developing country use called Arumloo. Envriosan is also South African and has developed a pour-flush and low flush toilet in plastic. There is also the company, Enviroloo that has a composting dry toilet technology, they are also South African. The Earth Auger was developed in Washington, but is definitely applicable to the African context. The Earth Auger is a UDDT (urine-diverting dry toilet) that moves the dry waste away from the toilet site using an auger. There is a the Arborloo that was developed in Zimbabwe, but this is better for rural contexts as it involves using a pit and then moving and planting a tree in the spot where the pit has filled. These are the toilet technologies, although with the enviroloo and the Arborloo, it is a treatment (using composting) and storage solution as well.
I know the Isidima Design and Development has also worked with ecological water treatment using John Todd's Eco-Machine, but this has not been done on domestic wastewater yet.
If you contact any of these companies I am sure they will know more about the innovative treatment options used.
We are sustainable water engineers based in Scotland.
The Sustainable Water Company Ltd
We support Scottish Water to meeting their Carbon obligations.
Using Wetland Technology namely Reed Beds we have brought to the attention of SW the ability to keep costs down while meeting regulatory requirements. We have always dreamed of working to support developing communities. Especially SA where there have been some developments to date
We manufacture the ADsorb-it Fabric / Product line that is made from recycled waste fibers from the textile manufacturing industry and our ADsorb-it Products effectively remove (wick) oils from water down to approximately 2 to 4 Mg/L. Oils retained in the in the ADsorb-it Fabric Fiber Matrix can be physically removed from the fabric and the oils re-processed / reclaimed and the ADsorb-it can be reused indefinitely. www.eco-tec-inc.com
I grew up in Cape Town and founded Agriplas many years ago. I left South Africa with my wife and four children in 1972 as we could not bring up our children under apartheid. Under the desperate drought conditions I know it is needed and would love to bring this technology to the Cape and to South Africa. Working with Agriplas we could do so quite easily but they need motivation. Any ideas?
Go look at www.ecosan.co.za Not sure if the product was developed in Africa, but they have a system where the human waste is dried and converted into compost.
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by Kobus Erasmus, Draughtsperson at Private (Job hunting)
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Yes, I have seen the Enviroloo and it is really incredible. Uses NO water, produces no odour, solid waste only has to be removed very infrequently and the waste is already compost that can be used immediately. I can't understand why we still flush toilets with dining washer in South Africa when we are living in an arid region. Insanity!
Hi Miriam, I am a water practitioner with +20 years experience, focus on small systems and have had the privilege of travelling across Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, coming into contact with various and sometimes similar needs - seen a lot of international and local technologies succeed and fail, I will be more than happy to meet for coffee and a chat, you are welcome to email me on gary@dikubu.co.za
The main idea behind the project is to help those living in the developing world, where sanitation conditions are often not very good and every drop of water is precious. HandyShower is an innovative 3-in-1 personal hygiene system that, thanks to its interchangeable nozzles, can function as a faucet, a bidet and a shower. Moreover, it is equipped with a patented self-closing valve which facilitates water conservation. Moreover, the solar water bag that is included in the HandyShower kit can serve as a water container. The device is compact and really easy to use. You can find out more on our website http://en.handyshower.pl/
I believe that HandyShower can really make a difference for people living in Africa and other water-scarce areas.
If you are interested in interviewing me, I would be happy to answer your questions.
If interested nature already has everything you need to clean the water, metabolize the waste, grow food, and with a little assistance make electricity. This technology is called BIOREMEDIATION. The specific species of microbe required for these biological functions is called Archaea. Sometimes the cutting edge technology you are looking for is already here.
We suggest an in tank or drain treatment system which needs no power and uses only microbes and enzymes. One application takes care of the toilet for an year.
I can provide more insights into this if it is of interest to you. No CapEx less land and high efficiency no operational costs involved.
Assuming that the soil conditions are not all sand and have some type of blend of clay and other materials why not utilize land application for the treatment of regular human waste/wastewater. (if you google Land Application of Wastewater) it will give you the required soil conditions for this treatment method). This method would recharge the nearby aquifer. To treat the ground water in the aquifer for drinking may I suggest an ultrafiltration system. These systems are now modular and provide good consistent water quality. May I also suggest duplicity in design so that backwashing of the unit and other maintenance activities can occur on a regular basis.
RBC is the best system for Africa. Its low tech, low maintenance, low energy requirements, low sludge production, small foot print and consistency of treatment to high standards make it perfect for rural and larger community projects
Hi Miriam, I visited a site in East London area. They have a self fashioned septic bio filter system. It was working very well and is an excellent model for villages and homesteads. The system takes all the effluent from the toilets and uses plant based chambers to metabolize the black water. Similar to John Todd's living machines. I was just in Amsterdam with John last week.
Contact me for site contact information.
Another system is similar to the John Todd strategy based living machines. These are all over the world combining dry compost toilets and water purifying chambers for the grey water. There is no black water in this system. The best system I've seen is in Alaska.
Sanitation in Africa begins at the source and delivery system. The facilities built into the houses needs to change as does the current cultural practices. Models exist and are simple.
Would you please drop me an email at miriam@africajournalist.org? I would love to chat with you, if possible. Your findings are exactly what I am lookomg for.
That would be great. Could you please drop me an email (miriam@africajournalist.org) with some more information on what it is you want to talk about? Thanks! Miriam