Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
(2) Potential Application in Case Study Area
By constructing EcoSan toilets initially at households that currently do
not have sanitation facilities or make use of pit latrines access to proper
sanitation facilities is improved. The combination with a biofiltro, which
is the local name for a small constructed wetland designed to treat grey
wastewater at household level, will ensure that all wastewater originat-
ing in a household is adequately treated. As it is generally the poor who
do not have proper access, their livelihoods and the overall public health
is impacted directly and improved. In addition, the recovery and reuse of
nutrients can not only lead to less demand for artificial fertilizer (or if no
fertilizer was used, higher yields), but it can also improve the soil condi-
tions and thereby the sustainability of the land.
An EcoSan toilet can be constructed in the yard of a household, or as
an extension of a house, where in general the dimensions of a toilet or pit
latrine (1-1.5 m
2
) can be maintained. Care should be taken to design the
EcoSan toilet in such a way that it uses energy from the sun to dry the col-
lected feces. Feces and urine will be stored in two separate containers prior
to their use or the co-composting. The feces and urine can be used in local
gardens, greenhouses or chinampas in the form of compost. A biofi ltro,
with a surface area of 2 m
2
to treat 100 L of grey water (total dissolved
oxygen demand of 555 mg/L) per day [11], can also be constructed in the
yard of a house. In certain areas this is already common, and here they are
constructed in the form of fl owerbeds. Cases where ornamental fl owers
(
Zantedeschia aethiopica
and
Cannafl accida
) are used, with good treat-
ment results, are also known [33].
2.4.3.3 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND AGRICULTURE
Organic waste management and agriculture are treated in one sec-
tion as the outputs of the organic waste treatment often can be used in
agriculture.
Waste separation practices are considered a key practice for solid waste
management. By separating the different wastes, some can be reused or
recycled, while others can be used as an input for composting in order
