Reasons for and principles of ecological sanitation

Christine Werner, Papa Abdoulaye Fall, Jana Schlick, and Heinz-Peter Mang, Reasons for and principles of ecological sanitation, GTZ ecosan project (2003)

In order to achieve the Millenium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, new holistic sanitation concepts are needed, focussing on economically feasible closed-loop ecological systems rather than on expensive end-of-pipe technologies. Ecological sanitation systems are approaches that advance a new philosophy of dealing with what is presently regarded as waste and wastewater. They are based on the systematic implementation of the reuse and recycling of nutrients and water as a hygienically safe, closedloop and holistic alternative to conventional solutions. Ecosan systems enable the recovery of nutrients from human faeces and urine for the benefit of agriculture, thus helping to preserve soil fertility, assure food security for future generations, minimize water pollution and recover bioenergy. They ensure that water is used economically and is recycled in a safe way to the greatest possible extent for purposes such as irrigation or groundwater recharge.

Link: Reasons for and principles of ecological sanitation