Sustainable Water Resource Management in Sanitation: An Overview

Dengel, Lucas (2004) Sustainable Water Resource Management in Sanitation: An Overview. In: Towards a Sustainable Water Resources Management for Auroville and the Bioregion. Auroville Centre for Scientific Research.

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Abstract

Modern sanitation makes liberal use of water to achieve its goals, i.e. hygiene of living conditions and disposal of liquid and solid wastes including human excreta. It is recognized that conventional approaches to these issues, on the one hand, contribute to environmental stress, and, on the other hand, are wasteful in water use, and hence non-sustainable. This presentation introduces concepts of sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater treatment that aim at conserving water resources and an ecologically responsible water use. This includes technologies which require little or no water, which do not burden the self-cleaning mechanisms of soil, groundwater or natural water bodies, and which recycle water maximally. Ecological hygiene management dispenses with the use of biocides and disinfectants and thus reduces toxic pollutants in water and soil. It aims at creating a beneficial microbial environment which spontaneously controls pathogens and provides full hygienic and aesthetic benefits, while facilitating treatment of wastewater downstream. At the upstream end of human waste disposal the eco-sanitation concept favors flush-free urinals, minimal-flush toilets or water-less composting toilets, separation of urine and feces for the retrieval of nutrients for farming and gardening and for recycling of liquid and solid wastes. Conventional wastewater treatment favors a centralized approach with extensive sewerage lines, highly engineered treatment plants requiring chemical inputs, constant energy supply and high maintenance. Decentralized treatment systems decrease the need for sewers, maximally utilize natural slope for flow, operate without chemical inputs, and are low in energy and maintenance requirements.

Item Type: Book Section
Subjects: Health > Health (General)
Water > Water (General)
Water > Sourcing (rainwater, stormwater, surface water, groundwater, treated water, desalinated water)
Water > Quality/Standards
Depositing User: Aditi Rosegger
Date Deposited: 08 Apr 2021 08:11
Last Modified: 08 Apr 2021 08:11
URI: http://aurorepo.in/id/eprint/164

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