Kisumu city, like many cities in the developing world, has increased burden of urban informal settlements where access to basic sanitation and water remain a challenge. Despite several studies focussing on sanitation and water situation within Kisumu environment, elaborate research on the influence of shallow water table on the construction of facilities and quality of structures has however not been extensively reported. In order to discuss potential implications of sanitation facility quality on public health in the informal settlements, this study characterised sanitation facilities by depth and quality of superstructure, analysed association between depth of pit latrines and types, and between depth of pit latrines and shallow wells (SWs). The study targeted five urban informal settlements in Kisumu city namely Nyalenda A, Nyalenda B, Manyatta B, Manyatta A and Obunga, and two peri-urban informal settlements of Korando and Kogony. The study involved physical ground surveys on all SWs in the study area and convenience sampling of toilet facilities within 30 m radius to the water points. Analysis was carried descriptively and with the help of GIS spatial analysis tool. A total of 100 SWs and 400 pit latrines were studied. Our findings revealed some evidence of the influence of shallow water table on the construction quality and depth of pit latrines and SWs both in the urban informal settlements and those of the peri-urban. The mean depth of pit latrines and SWs in the urban informal settlements ranged from 0.25 m–3.8 m and 0.0 m–4 m, respectively, while peri-urban areas ranged from 3.5 m–8.1 m and 7.6 m–14.4 m. The study also established that most pit latrines were raised to a mean height of 0.25 m–0.5 m above ground. Analysis of depth revealed that the depth of pit latrines and shallow wells in the urban informal settlements were overlapped while those of the peri-urban were not overlapped. Moreover, majority of pit latrines in the urban informal settlements were raised by an average 0.25 m–0.5 m above mean ground level, a strategy, identified by residents, to overcoming the double challenge of flooding and cross contamination. Overall, the study established that, where construction depth of both pit latrines and shallow wells is limited, the incentive to construct quality pit latrines or SWs lessens, the possible reason for the prevalence of low quality and less durable facilities in the urban informal settlements as opposed to peri-urban areas where deeper and improved pit latrines and wells exist. In conclusion, the high prevalence of poor-quality pit latrines and SWs in the informal settlement predisposes residents in these settlements to public hygiene challenges with potential escalation during floods. Creation of awareness on improved toilet facilities with potential of withstanding the challenges of raised water table and frequent flood risks is recommended in the short term while development of specific toilet construction guidelines concerning depth and superstructure recommended on the long term.

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The effects of human urine and ecosan manure on crop productivity and soil chemical properties were studied using a randomized block experimental design in the households’ farm at three sites (Angare, Bhot Khoriya, and Deurali) of the Palung Village Development Committee, Nepal. Cauliflower was planted in 2017 and 2018 with five treatments: Control (C), Chemical fertilizer (CF), Urine (U), Ecosan manure + Urine (E+U), and Ecosan manure (E) during rainy season. The biomass of the plant after three weeks of transplant and after harvest was calculated to analyze the role of the treatments in cauliflower productivity. Chemical analysis was conducted to understand nutrient uptake and efficiency in the different treatments. It was observed that cauliflower yield was significantly higher in E+U and E treatments in Bhot Khoriya and Deurali and increased by 51% and 58% in Angare. Higher Potassium (K) uptake by plants from the E treatments was might be due to higher concentration of K in ecosan manure. Apparent recovery efficiency (ARE) of Nitrogen (N) increased from 9% to 115% due to the incorporation of urine and ecosan manure indicating that urine was a better source of N whereas human faeces were the better source of Phosphorus (P). Higher amount of urine applied might lead to overflow of urine contributing to volatilization and leaching. To minimize such effect, the application of a moderate amount of urine in combination with ecosan is recommended to have a significant effect on crop growth.

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The study conducted was an investigation of the challenges of sustainable Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. The problem of SWM has become more complicated and requires sustainable long-term programs for its solution as less than 20% of the solid waste collected was disposed of properly. Lusaka lacked proper SWM strategies. For this study, data collection comprised of naturalistic observations at the main dumpsite in Lusaka and questionnaires to nine waste enterprises mandated to collect waste in addition to the Lusaka City Council (N = 10). The study focused on understanding the current situation of sustainable SWM, particularly the waste treatment process after disposal. Results revealed several challenges affecting an efficient sustainable waste management system, which were primarily highlighted as; lack of waste separation at source, insufficient funds and lack of equipment. All the private companies interviewed indicated that their role in SWM was basically in collection and disposal. Most private companies indicated that they were secondary waste collectors, whereas majority of the Community Based Enterprises (CBEs) were primary collectors. From the research findings, treatment of solid waste was conducted at very minimal rates and not sustainable. At the dumpsite, the machinery was out of service facilitating indiscriminate dumping rather than use of the landfill method.

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Although numerous studies have argued that sanitation workers play a significant role in the existing sanitation system while being at the cost of their health and dignity in an inappropriate work environment, they are often socially ostracized, and hence understudied to date. This study aimed to examine the current state of garbage workers, who engage in unloading and sorting garbage along with a particular focus on exploring personal hygiene, dignity, and socioeconomic diversity. This study examined these aspects in a sample of seven garbage workers in an urban slum of Indonesia through participatory and interview surveys. The results showed that there were several particular sanitation-related issues affecting workers: wetness (e.g., menstrual products and animal corps), dirtiness, and hazardous garbage (e.g., medical syringes and broken glasses), which contributed to serious health-risk exposures. Participants reported high levels of feeling of safety and potential health-risk awareness; however, this study also demonstrated low levels of risk-controlling behaviors, representing no proper safety gears caused by two unique factors: physical discomfort and work inefficiency. Results also revealed the diversity in income generation accompanied by that participants work in the exclusive circle comprising family members, which may implicate their economic affluence. While dignity in/at work was entrenched in some workers in the context of social abuse, reframing process (e.g., affirmation) and hierarchical comparisons helped them experience their value in/at work. These findings need to be discussed in relation to past and recent studies in other economically developing countries for a better understanding of this population.

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