IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v19y2017i3d10.1007_s10668-016-9780-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable sanitation, improved use of composting latrines through mixing and moisturizing: case study in Paraguay

Author

Listed:
  • Paul T. Pebler

    (Michigan Technological University)

  • Brian D. Barkdoll

    (Michigan Technological University)

Abstract

Providing sanitation for water-starved areas is crucial to environmental sustainability. Composting latrines are a sustainable sanitation method since they do not require water. However, little analysis has been done on the decomposition process occurring inside the latrine, including what temperatures are reached and what variables most affect the composting process. Having better knowledge of how outside variables affect composting latrines can aid designers and users on the choice, design, and use. Detailed field measurements of pit temperature in a latrine for several months were taken with the compost being frequently mixed and moistened. Ambient temperatures and the mixing of liquid to the compost resulted in temperature increases 100 % of the time, with seasonal ambient temperatures determining the rate and duration of the temperature increases. However, compost only reached total pathogen destruction levels in 10 % of the measurements. Storage time recommendation outlined by the World Health Organization should be complied with. If these storage durations are obtainable, the use of composting latrines is an economical and sustainable solution to sanitation while conserving water resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul T. Pebler & Brian D. Barkdoll, 2017. "Sustainable sanitation, improved use of composting latrines through mixing and moisturizing: case study in Paraguay," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1055-1066, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:19:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s10668-016-9780-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-016-9780-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-016-9780-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-016-9780-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:19:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s10668-016-9780-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.