Waste Management
According to WHO, poor waste disposal practices are responsible for a significant proportion of the world's infectious disease burden. In many areas, municipal sewage is often mixed with industrial waste and in some regions very little wastewater receives treatment before it is discharged into the environment. Resources available in this sub-theme include assessment reports of wastewater treatment plants, national strategies for sewage disposal, among other resources that support sustainable waste management.
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Waste Management Resources
Water for the World: Operating and Maintaining Aqua Privies
U.S. Agency for International Development
An aqua privy is an underground watertight vault filled with water that receives excreta and washwater from a drop-pipe, allows solids to settle to the bottom, and discharges effluent to a soakage pit. This technical note describes how to operate and maintain an aqua privy.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Methods of Solid Waste Management
U.S. Agency for International Development
The methods of solid waste management described in this technical note are landfill, composting and biogas systems. A solid waste collection system must go along with all three management methods. All these methods can be built and operated using locally available materials.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Designing Non-Conventional Absorption Disposal Systems
U.S. Agency for International Development
Non-conventional absorption disposal systems have been developed for soil conditions where absorption is slow and slight, or where ground water is close to the ground surface. This technical note describes the elements involved in designing non-conventional absorption systems.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing, Operating and Maintaining Sumps, Soakage Pits, and Soakage Trenches.
U.S. Agency for International Development
Sumps, soakage pits, and soakage trenches receive washwater or effluent from an aqua privy and allow it to soak safely into the ground. This technical manual provides step-by-step instructions for constructing, operating and maintaining sumps, soakage pits, and soakage trenches.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Designing Subsurface Absorption Systems
U.S. Agency for International Development
A subsurface absorption system is a trench, series of trenches, field or pit that receives effluent from a septic tank and allows it to soak safely into the ground. This manual provides a comprehensive overview and step-by-step instructions for designing surface absorption systems.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing, Operating and Maintaining Non-Conventional Absorption Systems
U.S. Agency for International Development
Non-conventional absorption disposal systems have been developed for soil conditions where absorption is slow and slight, or where ground water is close to the ground surface. This technical note describes the elements involved in constructing and maintaining non-conventional systems.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing Aqua Privies
U.S. Agency for International Development
An aqua privy is an underground watertight vault filled with water that receives excreta and washwater from a drop-pipe, allows solids to settle to the bottom, and discharges effluent to a soakage pit. This technical manual provides step-by-step instructions for constructing an aqua privy.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Operating and Maintaining Compost Toilets
U.S. Agency for International Development
Maintaining a compost toilet involves keeping it clean and periodically changing vaults and removing compost. Maintaining a compost toilet requires monthly inspection and repair damage. This manual provides a guide to correctly using compost toilets and effectively operating and maintaining them.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing Septic Tanks
U.S. Agency for International Development
A septic tank is a self-operating unit for sewage treatment. The tank receives raw sewage from a building, allows solids to settle out, and discharges effluent to an underground (subsurface) absorption system for final disposal. This technical note describes each step in constructing a septic tank.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Operating a Solid Waste Collection System
U.S. Agency for International Development
Operating a solid waste collection system involves removing solid waste from houses, yards, marketplaces, factories or public building and transporting it to a landfill, composting area or biogas plant. This technical note describes how to operate and maintain three types of solid waste management...Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaDon't see what you're looking for? You can search USWP member sites, request a resource, or contact the USWP.