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: Constructing Bucket Latrines
U.S. Agency for International Development
A bucket latrine consists of a shelter and a platform which supports a slab and encloses a bucket. This technical manual provides step-by-step instructions for constructing a bucket latrine.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Operating and Maintaining Bucket Latrines
U.S. Agency for International Development
Maintaining a bucket latrine is necessary to prevent fly-breeding and to avoid possible health hazards due to contamination from excreta. This manual provides a guide to operating and maintaining bucket latrines.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing, Operating and Maintaining Cesspools
U.S. Agency for International Development
A cesspool is a covered pit with open-joint walls that receives piped sewage. The solids settle to the bottom and the effluent passes through the walls into the surrounding soil. This technical note describes how to construct a cesspool.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing, Operating and Maintaining 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 technical note describes each step in constructing an absorption system.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Constructing Mechanically Aerated Lagoons
U.S. Agency for International Development
A mechanically aerated lagoon is similar to a stabilization pond except that it is equipped with one or more electrically powered aerators that treat effluent by mixing it with air. This technical note describes how to construct a mechanically aerated lagoon.Read more
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United StatesNorth AmericaWater for the World: Designing Cesspools
U.S. Agency for International Development
A cesspool is a covered pit with open-joint walls that receives piped sewage. The solids settle to the bottom and the effluent passes through the walls into the surrounding soil. This technical note describes how to design a cesspool and arrive at the end products.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: 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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