The global population is increasing, and approximately 70% of them will live in cities by the year 2050. Thus, cities are becoming major hotspots for human waste rich with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Nutrient recycling from human waste reduces the pressure to produce mineral fertilizer, saves natural resources, and reduces environmental pollution. However, nutrient recycling as compost, pellet, raw/treated sludge or incinerated ash is done only on a small scale mainly due to business limitations. Therefore, this review paper aims to identify new sustainable methods for recycling of human waste, with a particular focus on urban areas. The study was conducted by searching for sanitation-related keywords across various databases. Secondary data was collected from the literature and analyzed to produce the result. We found that urban sanitation should be re-designed considering new nutrient recycling technologies, end product markets, and new business models. This approach will facilitate recycling human waste locally and the production of minerals from human waste, thereby assisting in food security and environmental protection, reducing water contamination, and improving public health. Local governments must have a good policy to attract entrepreneurs to develop nutrient recycling into a sustainable business. This article reviews the limitations and constraints of nutrient recycling processes and suggests sustainable solutions.

View full abstract

Open defecation (hereafter OD) is a public health and sanitation challenge common in many developing countries. The prevalence of OD in these countries undermines the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 6. Open defecation is widespread in Ghana and Tamale, to be quite specific. Drawing on 48 semi-structured interviews, six Focus Group Discussions, and the SaniFOAM framework as the analytical tool, this study found that several intersecting behavioural, structural and institutional factors are responsible for the OD situation in Tamale. Specifically, the study found that there is an opportunity (lack of toilet facilities as well as the deplorable nature of the few existing toilets) to engage in OD in Tamale. Further, there is a lack of motivation to end OD practices. Many residents were unwilling to pay for the construction of toilet facilities in households. Additionally, some of the participants reported that they simply do not have the ability to pay for toilet facilities, given the several competing needs that they have to address. The article concludes by noting that OD is prevalent in the TAMA area because of the mutually reinforcing factors above. Accordingly, addressing OD practices in Tamale requires ensuring that public toilet facilities are in sanitary conditions, enforcing local legislation against OD, and supporting landlords to construct toilet facilities in residential buildings. Also, there is a need for intensive and sustained public education on OD and behavioural change, since providing toilet facilities in sanitary conditions does not guarantee usage.

View full abstract

Poor environmental sanitation has been linked to communal water sources contamination. Indeed, lack of clean and safe water has been found to cause diseases, especially among children leading to high morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The aim of this was to ascertaining microbiological quality of drinking water and demographic correlates of household water treatment among the beach population living along Lake Victoria basin in Kenya. This study was a cross sectional involving water sample collection for bacteriological analysis and household survey. The study involved administering semi-structured questionnaires and laboratory testing of water sample collected from source and in the households. A total of 422 semi-structured household questionnaires were administered while a total of 127 household water and source samples were analyzed. The bacteriological analysis involved water sample collection and testing in the laboratory using membrane filtration Hi Crome M-Tec Agar while household survey involved use of semi-structured questionnaires. The semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, diarrhea occurrence and household water treatment practice. Contamination of communal water sources as well as the stored water in the household was found to be rampant among the residents living along Lake Victoria beaches, especially in Mawembe Beach (OR: 4.98 [Cl: 1.31-6.87] p=0.001). Point-of-use water treatment technology was practices by majority of the population to control diarrhea, in fact residents of Kolunga and Ogal beaches were 7.49 and 2.65 times more likely to treat their drinking water (OR=7.49[Cl: 2.98-18.8], p<0.001; OR=2.65, [Cl: 1.2-5.85], p =0.016) respectively compared to the other beaches. Gender, age, education, source of drinking water and occupation were found not to be a risk factor. Household water quality improvement is important for the reduction of diarrhoeal infections especially among the population using unprotected sources such as the lake. Understanding factors determining adoption of point of use water treatment technology are very important in ensuring good health through reduction of diarrhoeal episodes in the community. The study identifies key factors that can be considered while designing water quality improvement at the household or community level.

View full abstract