Pathogen removal in containment systems (The Netherlands)

Low and high pH treatments have proven to be effective in E. coli inactivation in the study, which means pH could be used to reduce effluent microbial populations before discharge into the environment. Also, adding urine to faeces could improve ammonia/ammonium concentrations, leading to effective pathogen disinfection in containment units. In efforts to achieve sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 and increase toilet coverage, attention should be given to on-site sanitisation of sludge, greenhouse emissions and the technical viability of sludge emptying and transport. Carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and methane are emitted due to anaerobic activity in pit latrines. These gases may account for an insignificant amount of the worldwide pool of greenhouse gases (GHG). However, accelerated interventions in areas such as the Sub-Saharan, where most urban settings lack access to sanitation and reliance on on-site sanitation is being sought as a solution, may escalate global warming. Subsidised gas capture technologies are suggested, which not only solve the problem of GHG but also reduce desludging frequency through in-situ mass reduction, provide renewable energy to households and valuable end-use products such as safe fertiliser. Results attained from this study suggest that alkaline-based additives are likely to complicate the desludging process in containments. In contrast, the acidic ones may improve in both lined and unlined units. Sludge treated with additives could be used to produce energy by making briquettes and pellets to supplement industrial energy demand. Alternatively, the solubilised sludge from pits could also be used to boost methane production in the anaerobic process.