Sanitation in Humanitarian Settings
In an emergency the collection, treatment and disposal/reuse of human waste is critical to the health, wellbeing and environment of affected populations. Addressing this is difficult and complex requiring an understanding of the technical, social, institutional, political and environmental issues affecting the situation. In large emergencies where international relief agencies are involved there usually will be specialists available to advise and assist inexperienced field staff deliver essential services. However, most emergencies are not large. They are local in nature and rely on local officials to provide an emergency response, especially in the early stages of the emergency. It is very likely that these officials will have minimal knowledge and experience of emergency response, indeed they have probably never been faced with such an event before.
This book sets out to assist such individuals. Working from a technical perspective, it provides an understanding of the critical elements controlling the delivery of human waste related services, together with strategies for decision making and guidance on how to design, construct and operate key infrastructure. The book concentrates on the acute response and stabilization phases of an emergency – but much of the content is equally relevant to the long term and rehabilitation phases.
Published: 2024
Pages: 392
eBook: 9781788532679
Paperback: 9781788532655
Hardback: 9781788532662
This book sets out to assist such individuals. Working from a technical perspective, it provides an understanding of the critical elements controlling the delivery of human waste related services, together with strategies for decision making and guidance on how to design, construct and operate key infrastructure. The book concentrates on the acute response and stabilization phases of an emergency – but much of the content is equally relevant to the long term and rehabilitation phases.
1 Introduction |
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1.1 Who should read the book |
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1.2 Scope |
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1.3 How to use the book |
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1.4 Terminology |
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2 Priorities and Objectives |
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2.1 An environment free from human excreta |
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2.2 Community engagement |
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2.3 A rapid response – balancing both quality and quantity |
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2.4 Scaling up and monitoring |
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2.5 Protection of water sources and the environment |
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2.6 SPHERE and Other FSM Standards |
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2.7 Assessment |
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2.8 Should we be involved? |
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2.9 Action strategy |
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2.10 Deciding what to do |
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2.11 Ownership |
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3 Non-technical issues affecting service delivery and sustainability |
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3.1 Faecal Sludge Management Standards and assessment |
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3.2 Public health risks to faecal sludge workers |
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3.3 Social and cultural considerations |
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3.4 Institutional and political environment |
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3.5 Environmental impact |
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3.6 Security and safety |
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3.7 Exit strategy |
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4 Core technical design parameters for faecal sludge management |
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4.1 Technical sustainability |
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4.2 Space requirements |
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4.3 Volumes and characteristics of stored human excreta and faecal sludge |
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4.4 Soil infiltration and Groundwater contamination |
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4.5 Materials and skills |
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4.6 Design life |
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4.7 Standardization |
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4.8 Staffing |
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4.9 Cost |
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5 The toilet and environment |
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5.1 Inclusive design |
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5.2 The Cubicle and its surroundings |
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5.3 The toilet interface |
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6 Onsite FS collection, storage and treatment |
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6.1 Immediate actions (first few days/weeks) |
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6.2 Medium term measures |
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6.3 Toilets for institutions |
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6.4 Maintenance of toilets |
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7 Toilet emptying |
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7.1 Manual emptying |
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7.2 Hand-operated machines |
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7.3 Centrifugal pumps |
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7.4 Diaphragm pumps |
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7.5 Modified powered auger |
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7.6 Vacuum suction |
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8 Faecal sludge transport |
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8.1 Manual carriage |
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8.2 Manual and animal powered vehicles |
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8.3 Mechanised vehicles |
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8.4 Sewers |
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8.5 Transfer stations |
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9 Emergency treatment |
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9.1 Treatment plant rehabilitation |
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9.2 Coarse filter screens |
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9.3 Grit removal |
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9.4 Batch sedimentation |
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9.5 Horizontal flow settlement ponds |
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9.6 Unplanted drying beds |
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9.7 Chemical treatment using Calcium Hydroxide |
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9.8 Waste stabilization ponds |
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9.9 Septic tanks |
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9.10 Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) |
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9.11 Biogas chambers |
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9.12 Anaerobic baffle reactor |
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9.13 Planted drying beds |
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9.14 Horizontal flow constructed wetlands |
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9.15 Package treatment units |
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10 Tertiary treatment, disposal, and re-use |
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10.1 Infiltration |
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10.2 Urine as liquid fertilizer |
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10.3 Evaporation |
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10.4 Chlorination |
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10.5 Disposal to surface waters |
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10.6 Disposal of treated faecal sludge |
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10.7 Decommissioning |
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11 FSM in very cold climates |
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11.1 Effects of low temperatures on toilets and FSM |
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12 FSM during health epidemics |
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12.1 Cholera |
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12.2 Ebola |
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12.3 Coronaviruses |
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13 Technology selection |
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14 Emergency Sullage/grey water disposal |
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14.1 introduction |
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14.2 risks from sullage |
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14.3 Sources and types of sullage |
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14.4 Selection criteria |
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14.5 Sullage treatment |
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15 Emergency solid waste management |
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15.1 What is solid waste? |
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15.2 Hazards of poor solid waste management |
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15.3 Responsibility for service delivery |
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15.4 Importance of expert advice |
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15.5 Objectives of emergency solid waste management |
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15.6 Action planning |
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15.7 Waste hierarchy and recycling |
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15.8 Measuring solid waste characteristics |
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15.9 Point of generation, storage and emptying |
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15.10 Solid waste transport |
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15.11 Solid waste disposal |
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15.12 Operations management |
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15.13 Medical waste |
'Sanitation in Humanitarian Settings by Robert Reed makes an important contribution to sector knowledge on the topic. Where other guidance focuses primarily on containment, this guide covers the entire sanitation chain and addresses faecal sludge management in detail from both technical and non-technical perspectives. It also provides practical guidance on the related, but too often neglected, issues of sullage and solid waste management, making this an invaluable addition to the humanitarian worker’s toolkit.'
Dr. Peter Harvey, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
'Sanitation in Humanitarian Settings captures in one place the recent thinking in emergency sanitation. While there is a focus on emergency excreta disposal and treatment, much of the appeal of this book is the attention given to the other aspects of sanitation such as faecal sludge management in disease outbreaks, grey water disposal, solid waste and recycling. It is a must read for any practitioners in emergency sanitation.'
Andy Bastable, Head of Water and Sanitation, Oxfam Global Humanitarian Team
'In humanitarian contexts, the importance and life-saving nature of effective sanitation and faecal sludge management cannot be overstated. This long-awaited book combines decades of practical experiences from various contexts with the latest global sector knowledge and provides structured and detailed guidance on the most crucial technical and non-technical aspects of a sanitation response. I highly recommend it to be used as a constant companion for all those – voluntarily or involuntarily – confronted with planning and implementing humanitarian sanitation interventions.'
Rob Gensch, German Toilet Organization
R.A Reed
Robert (Bob) Reed has been involved in water supply and sanitation for low-income communities and emergencies for 40 years. He has worked in many countries, mainly in Africa and Asia but for over 30 years he was based at Loughborough University working in a group called WEDC where he taught, consulted and undertook research related to low-cost water supply and sanitation.
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