Sanitation is the hygienic means of preventing human contact with the multiple hazards associated with waste in order to promote health. Some of the hazards include physical, microbiological, biological and chemical. The most common hazards that pose health problems originate from human and animal faeces, solid waste, domestic wastewater, and industrial and agricultural waste. To prevent the health threat posed by these wastes, engineering solutions such as sewerage and wastewater treatment and simple technologies like latrines, septic tanks or even hand washing with soap rank high.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO SANITATION
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
AND MANAGMENT
SUBMITTED BY:
P.JOSEPH KUMAR
ENVIRONMENT PLANNING AND
MANAGEMENT

2.  Sanitation is the hygienic means of preventing human contact with the multiple hazards associated
with waste in order to promote health.
 Some of the hazards include physical, microbiological, biological and chemical.
 The most common hazards that pose health problems originate from human and animal faeces,
solid waste, domestic wastewater, and industrial and agricultural waste.
 To prevent the health threat posed by these wastes, engineering solutions such as sewerage and
wastewater treatment and simple technologies like latrines, septic tanks or even hand washing with
soap rank high.
The term ’sanitation’ can be applied to the following:
 Basic sanitation – refers to the management of human faeces at the household level;
 On-site sanitation – the collection and treatment of waste is carried out where it is deposited, for
example, the use of pit latrines and septic tanks;
 Food sanitation – refers to the hygienic measures for ensuring food safety;
 Environmental sanitation – the control of environmental factors that form links in disease
transmission, for example, solid waste management, water and wastewater treatment and industrial
waste treatment.
Sanitation:

3.  Ecological sanitation – a concept and an approach of recycling to nature the nutrients from human
and animal waste.
sanitation system consist of:
 Excreta management (faeces, urine)
 Grey water management
 Solid waste management
 Drainage (for rainwater / storm water)
Environmental Sanitation System

4. Importance of Sanitation:
 Studies conducted globally reveal that 80% of the common diseases can be prevented by
providing water and sanitation facilities.
 Safe disposal of human excreta is an important component of sanitation as excreta contains
organisms like bacteria, viruses and parasites responsible for diarrheal diseases.
 Most of the common diseases which lead to infant mortality such as diarrhea, typhoid, cholera,
worm infestations and respiratory diseases can be prevented by providing safe drinking water
and sanitation facilities.
 Disease causing pathogens in human excreta are passed on by an infected person to another
person via various routes: flies, on fingers, in fluids and via surfaces such as fields .
 Improved sanitation and hygiene practices interrupts these routes of transmission and helps in
preventing faecal-oral disease transmission.
 Therefore, sanitation is termed as the “Primary Barrier” against the faecal-oral disease
transmission.

5. Effects of poor sanitation
 Water and soil are polluted by open defecation.
 Contaminated water and soil prove to be breeding grounds for microorganisms.
 Poor sanitation contaminates the ground water which further causes diseases like cholera,
typhoid, polio, meningitis, hepatitis and dysentery.
 Foul smell from open drains causes inconvenience and respiratory disorders in human beings.
Sewage disposal systems
 On-site sewage disposal systems are the systems which collect human excreta and store it in a hole
or a pipe and later directed into a sewage treatment plant.
 Other methods for sewage disposal are septic tanks, chemical toilets, composting pits and vermi-
composting toilets. These on-site sewage disposal systems are cost-effective.
a) Septic tanks
 Septic tank is a water tight chamber made of brick, concrete or glass. Solid particles settele down
at the bottom and are degraded anaerobically. Effluent escapes through sewers and should be
allowed to soak or evaporate.

6.  Advantages: Septic tanks are suitable for places such as hospitals, isolated buildings and cluster of
houses where there is no sewerage. The septic tank system consists of a small sewage treatment
system.
 Disadvantages: They require lot of space. They are costly to set up. They have to be periodically
cleaned. Water seeps through the ground affecting trees and swimming pools
b) Chemical toilets:
 Aeroplanes and trains usually have chemical toilets. A chemical toilet uses chemicals to disinfect
human waste and remove its bad odour.
 Advantages: These are portable latrines that could be set up any where. They do not require
water. They control emission of foul odour.
 Disadvantages: They use toxic chemicals which are not advisable. These are costly. These are for
temporary situations.

7. c)Composting toilets:
 A composting toilet is a system that converts human waste into organic compost and
usable soil. This happens when micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi, and macro-
organisms such as earthworms oxidise organic waste to break it down into essential
minerals.
Advantages: These are more environmental- friendly. They require less water. They are
well suited for village areas.
Disadvantages: They require proper maintenance. They end up in emitting foul smell,
encourage breeding of insects and increase health hazards. End products should be
removed at periodic intervals. The rate of decomposition is very slow.
d)Vermi-Composting toilets:
 A vermi-composting toilet is a process that involves earthworms which treat human excreta. The
entire human waste is converted into vermi-compost.

8. e) Sulabh toilets:
 Organizations such as Sulabh International have developed a twin-pit pour flush toilet system that is
being used by ten million people every day. The waste from these toilets flows through covered
drains into a biogas plant for the generation of biogas and bio-fertilisers. Biogas plants offer safe and
hygienic disposal of wastes.
Advantages: Sulabh toilets are designed to suit the household conditions. They are affordable at price.
They require less space. They eliminate mosquito breeding. They do not pollute the ground water. They
are free from foul smell. They are easy to clean and maintain.
Disadvantages: Though easy to maintain, they should be maintained properly. It needs attention of
government or private agencies.
f)Litter and waste
 Litter and waste cause sanitation havoc at public places. This becomes common when exhibitions
and fares are conducted.
 Public places such as railway stations, bus depots, airports and hospitals generate lot of waste,
which leads to diseases. To prevent the breaking up of diseases, certain measures are to be taken
and awareness among people should be created.