Assessment of four faecal sludge treatment plants (Bangladesh)

Urbanization and population growth have motivated initiatives to update properly the sanitation system by effective support of faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTP). This study aims at analysis of FSTPs at the regional level in Bangladesh from a technical, economic and environmental point of view and to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to analyse the current faecal sludge (FS) treatment situation. Technical assessment was performed by monitoring the selected four FSTPs in Khulna, Kushtia, Faridpur and Tangail, and compared against a set of indicators to summarize performance, including: operation and maintenance issues, technical maturity, programme status. A cost-benefit analysis has been performed to evaluate the capability for running the project. In environmental assessment, some correlations between sludge volume index (SVI) and other parameters were used to describe the characteristics of FS and effluent of the FSTPs. This study concludes that the cost- benefit ratio of the four FSTPs varies from 0.8 to 1.3. All the laboratory test parameters of FSTPs were within the acceptable limit but, Kushtia and Tangail FSTPs exceed the acceptable BOD level. An approach was developed from SWOT analysis which could be helpful for further improvement of both external and internal conditions of the FSTPs.