The document discusses sanitation issues and solutions in developing countries. It argues that the main problem is lack of investment and priority given to sanitation by developing country governments, rather than lack of technology options. Several sanitation technologies are described as proven and affordable. The document praises countries like Malaysia and Thailand for achieving near-universal sanitation access but says many other countries have high rates of open defecation due to factors like politicians not prioritizing sanitation and corruption in the water sector.

1. Sanitation: What’s the Real Problem? Duncan Mara, University of Leeds

2. It can’t be technology! We have a small range of proven sanitation technologies: Arborloos Single-pit VIP latrines eThekwini latrines Pour-flush latrines Household-level biogas latrines Simplified sewerage Low-cost combined sewerage Community-managed sanitation blocks

3. An urbanizing world

5. It can’t be technology! We have a small range of proven sanitation technologies: Arborloos Single-pit VIP latrines eThekwini latrines Pour-flush latrines Household-level biogas latrines Simplified sewerage Low-cost combined sewerage Community-managed sanitation blocks

9. Best option in poor areas

10. Natal, Northeast Brazil, 1983 Simplified sewerage

11. Simplified sewerage Monthly cost to householder State of Rio Grande do Norte in northeast Brazil, January 2008: Minimum water tariff: BRL 18.10 (USD 10.00) 35% surcharge for simplified sewerage BRL 6.34 (USD 3.50) (1.7% of minimum wage)

12. Simplified sewerage Monthly cost to householder Dublin Statement “The basic right of all human beings to have access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price” State of Rio Grande do Norte in northeast Brazil, January 2008: Minimum water tariff: BRL 18.10 (USD 10.00) 35% surcharge for simplified sewerage BRL 6.34 (USD 3.50) (1.7% of minimum wage)

14. Community-managed sanitation block in Kibera Capital cost: USD 8 per person

15. Community-managed sanitation block in Kibera Capital cost: USD 8 per person

16. Actually it’s a water & sanitation block

17. Payment on a per-use basis GBP 1 = KES 130 USD 1 = KES 80 Use toilet: 2p Shower: 4p 20 litres water: 2p

18. Where does the blame now lie? … the blame for: the 1−2 billion without an adequate water supply the 3−4 billion without adequate sanitation the 1.15 billion open defecators the very low %age of wastewater treated

19. Where does the blame now lie? … the blame for: the 1−2 billion without an adequate water supply the 3−4 billion without adequate sanitation the 1.15 billion open defecators the very low %age of wastewater treated

20. Where does the blame now lie? … the blame for: the 1−2 billion without an adequate water supply the 3−4 billion without adequate sanitation the 1.15 billion open defecators the very low %age of wastewater treated

21. Where does the blame now lie? … the blame for: the 1−2 billion without an adequate water supply the 3−4 billion without adequate sanitation the 1.15 billion open defecators the very low %age of wastewater treated

22. Where does the blame now lie? … the blame for: the 1−2 billion without an adequate water supply the 3−4 billion without adequate sanitation the 1.15 billion open defecators the very low %age of wastewater treated

23. The blame now rests with …

24. The blame now rests with … … developing-country gov’ts

25. The blame now rests with … … developing-country gov’ts that have chosen not to invest in water & sanitation for all their citizens and to passively accept the resulting morbidity and mortality

26. The blame now rests with … … developing-country gov’ts that have chosen not to invest in water & sanitation for all their citizens and to passively accept the resulting morbidity and mortality and chosen not to treat wastewater and not to prevent the use of untreated wastewater for crop irrigation

27. Plenty of very fine words, but not much action

28. However, some countries have done very well

29. Some countries have done very well MALAYSIA in 2008 Urban: 96% improved and 4% shared sanitation Rural: 95% improved and 4% shared sanitation and 1% OD THAILAND in 2008 Urban: 96% improved and 4% shared sanitation Rural: 95% improved and 4% shared sanitation and 1% OD

30. Some countries have done very well MALAYSIA in 2008 Urban: 96% improved and 4% shared sanitation Rural: 95% improved and 4% shared sanitation and 1% OD THAILAND in 2008 Urban: 95% improved and 5% shared sanitation Rural: 96% improved and 4% shared sanitation

32. What’s stopping other countries doing as well as Malaysia and Thailand? Probably several/many reasons − for example: Politicians and senior civil servants don’t think that ‘thinking clean’ is that important −“No solutions without political solutions” Technical ignorance of local engineers and planners Too much corruption in the water sector

33. What’s stopping other countries doing as well as Malaysia and Thailand? Probably several reasons − for example: Politicians and senior civil servants don’t think that ‘thinking clean’ is that important −“No solutions without political solutions” Technical ignorance of local engineers and planners Too much corruption in the water sector

34. What’s stopping other countries doing as well as Malaysia and Thailand? Probably several reasons − for example: Politicians and senior civil servants don’t think that ‘thinking clean’ is that important − “No solutions without political solutions” Technical ignorance of local engineers and planners Too much corruption in the water sector

35. What’s stopping other countries doing as well as Malaysia and Thailand? Probably several reasons − for example: Politicians and senior civil servants don’t think that ‘thinking clean’ is that important − “No solutions without political solutions” Technical ignorance of local engineers and planners Too much corruption in the water sector

36. What’s stopping other countries doing as well as Malaysia and Thailand? Probably several reasons − for example: Politicians and senior civil servants don’t think that ‘thinking clean’ is that important − “No solutions without political solutions” Technical ignorance of local engineers and planners Too much corruption in the water sector

37. Thankyou