Analysis of FSM in a refugee camp (Bangladesh)

Different FSM systems have been developed in Rohingya camps on emergency basis to support the sanitation needs. Constructed wetland, lime stabilization and drying bed were the most common FS treatment plants in the Rohingya camp.
The study was focused on selecting a suitable Faecal Sludge treatment system among the existing ones in this densely populated area (40,000 people/km2) with a limited space and resources through multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA).
Based on the filed data, four main criteria – Environment, Technology, Socio- culture, and Finance criteria with 18 sub-criteria were selected for MCDA. Experts’ opinions were taken to determine the indicators and the weights for each criterion. MCDA was performed using a linear equation developed by Edwards and Newman. From the analysis, constructed wetland with alum stabilization plant was found achieving the overall highest score of 0.630 compared with lime stabilization pond and unplanted drying bed. The score of unplanted drying bed and lime stabilization pond was the same as 0.490. In the Environment, Socio-culture and Finance criteria, CWL with Alum stabilization plant was scored the highest value in the MCDA where in the Technology criterion, Lime stabilization pond was found in the highest score. Finally, it can be concluded that the CWL with alum stabilization plant has been found the most suitable FS treatment system among the three treatment plants. Through this study, it has also been trying to assist sanitary engineers faced with a choice between different technologies to ensure that they can consider all the various dimensions of suitability when making their decision using MCDA.