The aim of this study was to pilot a practical methodology to assess the condition of sanitation infrastructure and faecal sludge management (FSM) services in order to understand the relative magnitude of the associated environmental health risks. This risk assessment tool was developed as part of the Participatory Rapid Sanitation System Risk Assessment (PRSSRA) methodology which uses local stakeholder knowledge to assess the risks in sanitation chains in order to prioritize interventions to reduce these risks. The tool described in this paper focuses on municipal level sanitary infrastructure which complements the community level risk assessment. The study’s methodology determines the extent of sewerage infrastructure and FSM services, what condition these systems are in, and how they are managed. Through a system of scoring according to criteria that are attributed to health risks, it identifies key weaknesses in the system and critical points where health risks are concentrated. The approach is then used to prioritize the need for interventions and make recommendations for improvement. The paper compares the methodology being piloted against two other approaches that have been developed to assess faecal contamination in low-income settings: SaniPath and Shit Flow Diagram (SFD). This study discusses the merit of using this methodology as a stand-alone tool and including it into SaniPath and SFD in its current or a modified form.

Ashbolt, N. and Snozzi, G. (2001) Water Quality: Guidelines, Standards and Health. Chapter 13: Indicators of Microbial Water Quality, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Campos, L.C., Parkinson, J., Ross, P., Nasir, Z.A. and Taylor, H. (2015) ‘Development and application of a methodology to assess sanitary risks in Maputo, Mozambique’, Environment and Urbanization 27(2): 1–19 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956247815595784>.

Crichton, D. (1999) Natural Disaster Management, London: Tudor Rose.

Emory University (2014) Sanipath Rapid Assessment Tool Manual, Atlanta, GA: Global Center for Safe Water.

EPA (1980) Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems, Publication Number 625/1–80–012, Washington, DC: Office of Water Program Operations and Office of Research and Development.

Geldreich, E., Best, L., Kenner, B. and Van Donsel, D. (1968) ‘The bacteriological aspects of stormwater pollution’, Water Pollution Control Federation 40 (11): 1861–72.

Godfrey, A. (2012) Faecal Sludge Management Demonstration Project in Maxaquene A and B, London: WSUP.

Horsley and Witten Inc. (1996) Identification and Evaluation of Nutrient and Bacterial Loadings to Maquoit Bay, New Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, Massachusetts: Casco Bay Estuary Project.

IWA (2011) Sustainable and Resilient Sanitation Service Chains in Maputo Province, Mozambique: Action Research and Piloting for the Benefit of the Urban Poor, Project Inception report, London: IWA.

Lahmeyer Group (2004) Strategic Plan for the 7 Municipalities, Volume 2.7, Maputo, Mozambique: Lahmeyer Group.

Muxímpua, O. and Hawkins, P. (2012) ‘Building blocks for effective faecal sludge management in peri-urban areas: the role of small-scale service providers in Maputo’, 2nd International Fecal Sludge Management Conference, Durban, South Africa.

SFD Promotion Initiative (2015) Manual for SFD Production [online], http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/3-2357-17-1446824434.pdf [accessed 30 June 2016].

WSUP (2010) Formulation of an Overall Strategy for the Municipal Planning of Sanitation in the City of Maputo, Final report, Maputo, Mozambique: WSUP.

Ashbolt, N. and Snozzi, G. (2001) Water Quality: Guidelines, Standards and Health. Chapter 13: Indicators of Microbial Water Quality, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Campos, L.C., Parkinson, J., Ross, P., Nasir, Z.A. and Taylor, H. (2015) ‘Development and application of a methodology to assess sanitary risks in Maputo, Mozambique’, Environment and Urbanization 27(2): 1–19 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956247815595784>.

Crichton, D. (1999) Natural Disaster Management, London: Tudor Rose.

Emory University (2014) Sanipath Rapid Assessment Tool Manual, Atlanta, GA: Global Center for Safe Water.

EPA (1980) Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems, Publication Number 625/1–80–012, Washington, DC: Office of Water Program Operations and Office of Research and Development.

Geldreich, E., Best, L., Kenner, B. and Van Donsel, D. (1968) ‘The bacteriological aspects of stormwater pollution’, Water Pollution Control Federation 40 (11): 1861–72.

Godfrey, A. (2012) Faecal Sludge Management Demonstration Project in Maxaquene A and B, London: WSUP.

Horsley and Witten Inc. (1996) Identification and Evaluation of Nutrient and Bacterial Loadings to Maquoit Bay, New Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, Massachusetts: Casco Bay Estuary Project.

IWA (2011) Sustainable and Resilient Sanitation Service Chains in Maputo Province, Mozambique: Action Research and Piloting for the Benefit of the Urban Poor, Project Inception report, London: IWA.

Lahmeyer Group (2004) Strategic Plan for the 7 Municipalities, Volume 2.7, Maputo, Mozambique: Lahmeyer Group.

Muxímpua, O. and Hawkins, P. (2012) ‘Building blocks for effective faecal sludge management in peri-urban areas: the role of small-scale service providers in Maputo’, 2nd International Fecal Sludge Management Conference, Durban, South Africa.

SFD Promotion Initiative (2015) Manual for SFD Production [online], http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/3-2357-17-1446824434.pdf [accessed 30 June 2016].

WSUP (2010) Formulation of an Overall Strategy for the Municipal Planning of Sanitation in the City of Maputo, Final report, Maputo, Mozambique: WSUP.

Ashbolt, N. and Snozzi, G. (2001) Water Quality: Guidelines, Standards and Health. Chapter 13: Indicators of Microbial Water Quality, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Campos, L.C., Parkinson, J., Ross, P., Nasir, Z.A. and Taylor, H. (2015) ‘Development and application of a methodology to assess sanitary risks in Maputo, Mozambique’, Environment and Urbanization 27(2): 1–19 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956247815595784>.

Crichton, D. (1999) Natural Disaster Management, London: Tudor Rose.

Emory University (2014) Sanipath Rapid Assessment Tool Manual, Atlanta, GA: Global Center for Safe Water.

EPA (1980) Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems, Publication Number 625/1–80–012, Washington, DC: Office of Water Program Operations and Office of Research and Development.

Geldreich, E., Best, L., Kenner, B. and Van Donsel, D. (1968) ‘The bacteriological aspects of stormwater pollution’, Water Pollution Control Federation 40 (11): 1861–72.

Godfrey, A. (2012) Faecal Sludge Management Demonstration Project in Maxaquene A and B, London: WSUP.

Horsley and Witten Inc. (1996) Identification and Evaluation of Nutrient and Bacterial Loadings to Maquoit Bay, New Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, Massachusetts: Casco Bay Estuary Project.

IWA (2011) Sustainable and Resilient Sanitation Service Chains in Maputo Province, Mozambique: Action Research and Piloting for the Benefit of the Urban Poor, Project Inception report, London: IWA.

Lahmeyer Group (2004) Strategic Plan for the 7 Municipalities, Volume 2.7, Maputo, Mozambique: Lahmeyer Group.

Muxímpua, O. and Hawkins, P. (2012) ‘Building blocks for effective faecal sludge management in peri-urban areas: the role of small-scale service providers in Maputo’, 2nd International Fecal Sludge Management Conference, Durban, South Africa.

SFD Promotion Initiative (2015) Manual for SFD Production [online], http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/3-2357-17-1446824434.pdf [accessed 30 June 2016].

WSUP (2010) Formulation of an Overall Strategy for the Municipal Planning of Sanitation in the City of Maputo, Final report, Maputo, Mozambique: WSUP.

Ashbolt, N. and Snozzi, G. (2001) Water Quality: Guidelines, Standards and Health. Chapter 13: Indicators of Microbial Water Quality, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Campos, L.C., Parkinson, J., Ross, P., Nasir, Z.A. and Taylor, H. (2015) ‘Development and application of a methodology to assess sanitary risks in Maputo, Mozambique’, Environment and Urbanization 27(2): 1–19 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956247815595784>.

Crichton, D. (1999) Natural Disaster Management, London: Tudor Rose.

Emory University (2014) Sanipath Rapid Assessment Tool Manual, Atlanta, GA: Global Center for Safe Water.

EPA (1980) Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems, Publication Number 625/1–80–012, Washington, DC: Office of Water Program Operations and Office of Research and Development.

Geldreich, E., Best, L., Kenner, B. and Van Donsel, D. (1968) ‘The bacteriological aspects of stormwater pollution’, Water Pollution Control Federation 40 (11): 1861–72.

Godfrey, A. (2012) Faecal Sludge Management Demonstration Project in Maxaquene A and B, London: WSUP.

Horsley and Witten Inc. (1996) Identification and Evaluation of Nutrient and Bacterial Loadings to Maquoit Bay, New Brunswick and Freeport, Maine, Massachusetts: Casco Bay Estuary Project.

IWA (2011) Sustainable and Resilient Sanitation Service Chains in Maputo Province, Mozambique: Action Research and Piloting for the Benefit of the Urban Poor, Project Inception report, London: IWA.

Lahmeyer Group (2004) Strategic Plan for the 7 Municipalities, Volume 2.7, Maputo, Mozambique: Lahmeyer Group.

Muxímpua, O. and Hawkins, P. (2012) ‘Building blocks for effective faecal sludge management in peri-urban areas: the role of small-scale service providers in Maputo’, 2nd International Fecal Sludge Management Conference, Durban, South Africa.

SFD Promotion Initiative (2015) Manual for SFD Production [online], http://www.susana.org/_resources/documents/default/3-2357-17-1446824434.pdf [accessed 30 June 2016].

WSUP (2010) Formulation of an Overall Strategy for the Municipal Planning of Sanitation in the City of Maputo, Final report, Maputo, Mozambique: WSUP.