Existing Solutions

Sanitation, waste, wastewater, management

technical

Community-level management

The survival and well being of the Indian nation depends largely upon sustainable development where a sustainable water supply and sanitation systems are essential requirements. A paradigm shift that leads from the ‘FLUSH & FORGET’ systems to ‘RECYCLE’ in consonance with a ‘WASTE TO WEALTH’ approach is therefore essential. There is an acute shortage of water and power, in fact a near crisis situation for water, in some parts of India. Innovative, decentralized solutions that are inexpensive and which can save water have to be developed without any further delay. Among the various sanitation concepts, Ecological Sanitation (Ecosan), is a holistic approach to sanitation and water management and is the most significant and viable solution.

Ecological Sanitation is based on the idea that urine, feces and water are resources in an ecological loop. It is an approach that seeks to protect public health, prevent pollution and at the same time return valuable nutrients and humus to the soil. This recycling of nutrients helps to ensure food security.

In Ecological Sanitation urine and feces are separated at source and are not mixed with water. Hence, this solution avoids the contamination of large volumes of water with pathogens. The separation of urine and feces also makes it easier to recover and recycle nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen. After dilution and/or processing, separated urine can be applied to the soil as a hygienic fertilizer. Feces, on the other hand, can be safely composted and allows for the integration of organic waste treatment into food production.

Finally, Ecological Sanitation can provide affordable sanitation options for all. It covers a wide range of toilet designs as well as different techniques for the collection and treatment of urine and feces.

This solution was first implemented in Kerala, India and then gradually expanded to other parts of India.

Who had initiated the project? What were the stakeholders’ drivers?

Ecosan is based on three basic principles of preventing pollution, recycling nutrients and less costly treatment options. A young Englishman named Paul Calvert developed urine-diverting dry compost toilets with evaporative plant beds, key components in Ecosan, in 1994 in Kerala, India. It took sometime for this new and innovative sanitation design to take root in other parts of India.

Which actors proved strategic in the implementation? At what stage were they brought in?

The main strategic actor was Paul Calvert and his organization called Eco-solutions, which developed the dry compost toilets in 1994. Many organizations gradually came in to support this approach to resolve urban sanitation problems in the context of water-scarcity.Different organizations such as German Technical Cooperation (now known as the German Agency for International Cooperation), Seecon Switzerland, Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (Germany), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), UNICEF, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) were brought in at different stages to support this technique, and provide resources and capacity-building in the community.

Who has ensured follow-up of the solution at the local level?

International and national organizations have been working on the implementation of the project hand-in-hand with the community. The journey of Ecosan in India started in Kerala and later expanded to other states. It was initiated by practitioners and innovators in the field of sanitation, while searching for appropriate solutions for areas with difficult hydro-geological conditions, who began experimenting with alternate designs and systems. It got widespread support during tsunami reconstruction in Tamilnadu.

Key question your solution aims to answer (i.e. if your Solution is the answer, then what is the question) and how does that fit with the target?*

The key question is sanitation improvement for both poor and rich people mainly in the populated urban areas, where lack of water supply adds to the problem of basic sanitation and creates health, environmental and socio-economic problems. This solution fits with the target to reduce the number of persons without access to basic sanitation in Asia-Pacific. In a country where water is still used for canal cleaning and is becoming a scarcer resource day-by-day, such techniques seem to work out well.

How does the solution contribute to the target’s effective implementation and attainment?

Ecosan presents an unmatched opportunity for long-term sustainability of created sanitation facilities based on the recycling of nutrients found in human excreta. It constitutes a diversity of options for both rural and urban areas from households, schools to community level. Thus, this solution can contribute to the improvement of access to basic sanitation for communities, rich and poor, rural and urban, in this period of water crisis.

What are the solution’s key outputs and what impacts did the solution have given the investment level (not only financial)?*

The cost of a household Ecosan unit ranges from Rs 3500 (US$70) to Rs 8000 (US$160) depending upon the type of superstructure and location. The Ecosan is a cost-effective solution and is more economical compared to a flush-and-discharge toilet in terms of disease prevention, environmental protection, nutrient cycling, affordability and simplicity. Hence, Ecosan also contributes more to social equity and sustainability.

Ecosan also provides holistic approaches that are tailored to the needs of the users and their respective local conditions. Instead of favoring one specific sanitation technology, Ecosan promotes any technology that enables a closed loop material flow. It is also flexible and can be incorporated in a new construction project or integrated in an existing structure. However, other solutions are available if issues such as recycling of the feces are not acceptable to the user and water is not a scarce resource.

Can the solution continue to deliver tangible impacts on the long term?*

The approach is financially and economically feasible and sustainable. Issues of concern were mainly psychological factors, since the technology would affect social and cultural norms of the community.  However, over the last 10 years there has been a growing acceptance of this concept in society and it can be concluded that this approach deliver tangible long-term impacts. There are now about 20 national and international organizations working on Ecosan in India.

In the process of effectively implementing this solution, what are some of the key qualitative and quantitative indicators of success over time (i.e. what would you expect to see change, where and when)?*

Ecosan toilets have been piloted/demonstrated in 31 districts and more than 4,000 households, eight communities and 25 schools. More than 1000 Ecosan toilets have been constructed in Tamil Nadu state alone.  Based on the initial success of the ecotoilet in this area, UNICEF-Stockholm Environment Institute (UNICEF-SEI) piloted/demonstrated the Ecosan toilet and provided trainings in Nagaland (40), Jharkhand (35), Orissa (100), West Bengal (12), Delhi (35) , UP (30), Bihar (30), Rajasthan (2), and Madhya Pradesh (1).

Given your experience, who would / should be most interested in this Solution and why? How will it help them?*

Ecosan was said to be especially suitable in areas where open defecation sites were not easily available. This was the case on the banks of river Cauvery, Tamil Nadu, where Ecosan toilets were reportedly doing well. Also, it was more popular in rural areas because there were more opportunities to recycle compost and urine. Besides NGOs, the Government of India had started promoting Ecosan under the Total Sanitation Campaign, as had UNICEF in its programmes. Ecosan community urinals have been tried in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, which involved the reuse of urine for agriculture.

In what context do you think this solution could / would work best and why?*

This solution would work best in areas where there is no sewerage coverage; the water tables are very high and inundation is frequent; there is perennial flooding; there is water scarcity; and there is rocky terrain.

Given your experience, what would be needed to upscale this solution, for example to a political or/and a regional level?*

Upscaling this solution would require an intensive education and awareness campaign to generate the desire for better sanitation and a healthy environment.

What tips and guidance (dos and don’ts) would you give to others interested in applying this solution in their own context?*

A particular technology or hardware should not be forced upon a community. It is also important to teach people about health, water, hygiene, soil, nutrients, groundwater and the water cycle in relation to sanitation and better health, and in support of a proposed solution.  It is also important to help them understand ‘how we get sick’ (See Ecological Solutions to Flush Toilet Failures).  Let communities make logical conclusions, and allow them time to accept new approaches. 

What is the minimum investment necessary (in terms of human resources, time, energy, infrastructure, financial resources, political will, etc.) in order to effectively implement this

Solution?*

The minimum investment required is hard to quantify since it may vary according to the context of a particular community. However, the need to increase public awareness and follow-up the progress of the project should not be under-valued. Given the right approach, communities can become motivated to drive the process themselves. 

What are the main factors of success that you wish to emphasize?*

The Dry Compost Toilet (DCT) is an effective and sustainable sanitation system. DCTs built in 1995 are still in use today because the families understand and value the suitability of the approach in their environment (in this case high water table and inundation). 

The project has been successfully implemented in water-scarce, rocky, mountainous, impermeable and precipitous terrain, and in both urban and rural areas. 

It is also important to emphasize that many organizations and the government have endorsed this approach and are implementing it in other areas.

Dr. Paul Calvert, ‘Pulari’, 49 Asan Nagar, Vallakadavu , Trivandrum 695008 Kerala, India Tel : + 91 471 2502622, + 91 94477 62473 E-mail: paulc@vsnl.com or paul@eco-solutions.org