Faecal Sludge and Septage Treatment

Great strides are being made in the provision of simple toilets for poor urban households around the world. However, most of the new toilets built are not connected to a sewer; and this on-site sanitation must be periodically emptied and its contents treated before discharge to the environment. This book confronts the urgent need to treat increasing volumes of faecal sludge and septage in the rapidly expanding towns and cities of the global south. It discusses the urban contexts that influence treatment requirements and the overall septage treatment processes. It examines the options and design approaches at each stage of treatment, from septage reception and preliminary treatment, through solids¬–liquid separation, anaerobic and aerobic options for treatment of the liquid fraction, options for sludge dewatering, and options for rendering treated products suitable for reuse in either agriculture or as a fuel. It provides clear guidance on the options for faecal sludge treatment and the choices between those options. All concepts and approaches are clearly explained so as to make the book accessible to a non-specialist readership.