Compendium of sanitation systems and technologies

Abundant information exists about sanitation solutions but it is scattered throughout hundreds of books and journals; this Compendium aims to pull it all together in one volume. By ordering and structuring a huge range of information on tried and tested technologies into one concise document, the reader is provided with a useful planning tool for making more informed decisions. Part 1 describes different system configurations for a variety of contexts. Part 2 consists of 52 different Technology Information Sheets, which describe the main advantages, disadvantages , applications and the appropriateness of the technologies required to build a comprehensive sanitation system. Each Technology Information Sheet is complemented by a descriptive illustration. Investing in sanitation and hygiene is not only about saving human lives and dignity; it is the foundation for investing in human development, especially in poor urban and peri-urban areas. However, one of the main bottlenecks encountered the world over, is the limited knowledge and awareness about more appropriate and sustainable systems and technologies that keep project costs affordable and acceptable. Abundant information exists about sanitation technologies but it is scattered throughout dozens of books, reports , proceedings and journals; this Compendium aims to pull the main information together in one volume. Another aim of the Compendium is to promote a systems approach; sanitation devices and technologies should always be considered as parts of an entire system. In 2005, Sandec and the WSSCC published Provisional Guidelines for Household-centred Environmental Sanitation (HCES), a new planning approach for implementing the Bellagio Principles on Sustainable Sanitation in Urban Environmental Sanitation. The HCES approach emphasizes the participation of all stakeholders – beginning at the household/neighbourhood – in planning and implementing sanitation systems. By ordering and structuring a huge range of information on fully and partly tested technologies into one concise document, this Compendium is an important tool for stakehold-ers to make well informed decisions during the planning process. Although this source book is primarily addressed to engineers and planners dealing with infrastructure delivery , the technology sheets also allow non-experts to understand the main advantages and limitations of different technologies and the appropriateness of different system configurations. It is our hope that this Compendium will allow all stakeholders to be involved in selecting improved sanitation technologies and to help promote people-centred solutions to real sanitation problems. This is the first edition of the Compendium and we are looking forward to receiving your feedback – …