Cost effectiveness of the socio-cultural and health benefits of sewerless alternatives for domestic waste disposal in developing countries; final report

THIS INVOLVES A COMPARISON OF THE CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF TREATING SEWAGE WITH NEWER HIGHER-LEVEL TECHNOLOGICAL METHODS WHICH ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR SEWERS. "SEWERLESS" REFERS TO WATERLESS OR WATER RESTRICTED SYSTEMS, WHILE "CONVENTIONAL" MEANS WATERBORNE. THERE ARE FIVE BASIC CATEGORIES OF ADVANCED METHODS OF SEWERLESS TREATMENT: INCINERATING TOILETS, BIOLOGICAL TOILETS, COMPOSTING TOILETS, VACUUM SYSTEMS, AND AEROBIC TANKS. OIL FLUSH TOILETS MAY ALSO BE APPLICABLE. THE MAJOR ADVANTAGE TO THESE METHODS IS THE LOW WATER CONSUMPTION. TWO ALTERNATE DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES ARE AQUACULTURE (THE USE OF SEWAGE AS A FISH FOOD) AND LAND APPLICATIONS. SINCE PIPED WATER IS NOT AVAILABLE IN MANY AREAS OF LDCS, THE NECESSITY FOR CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO CENTRALIZED SEWAGE TREATMENT PRACTICES IS EVIDENT. TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IS FISCALLY PROHIBITIVE. IN THIS REPORT, COST EFFECTIVENESS TECHNIQUES ARE APPLIED TO IDENTIFY THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE, COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SYSTEMS. UNIT COSTS ARE DEVELOPED USING A DECISION WEIGHTING MODEL WHICH SEEKS A MEASURE OF OBJECTIVITY BY DELINEATION OF THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES. A COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE AND MARKET SURVEY ON CONVENTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD TREATMENT SYSTEMS WAS CONDUCTED TO OBTAIN DATA ON COSTS, TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS, AND OTHER PERTINENT FACTORS. THE REPORT INCLUDES AN HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF WASTEWATER SYSTEMS AND TREATMENT, A DISCUSSION OF CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT SYSTEMS, THE STATE OF THE ART OF SEWERLESS TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND WATER REDUCTION, AND MANY TABLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS SUPPORTING THE TEXT. THIS STUDY IS USEFUL TO ENGINEERS, PLANNERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ON SELECTING DISPOSAL FOR NEW OR EXPANDING AREAS.