The document discusses principles of sustainable sanitation. It defines sanitation as protecting and promoting human health and nutrition while protecting the environment. Sustainable sanitation systems are financially viable, socially acceptable, protect health and the environment. The document outlines a sanitation ladder and discusses criteria for sustainability, including health and hygiene, socio-cultural acceptance, financial and economic factors, environmental impacts, and technological appropriateness. Readers are instructed to apply these criteria to assess sanitation systems in their localities.

1. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
seecon international gmbh
Tandiwe Erlmann
Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 4th 2014

2. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
What is sanitation?
Let’s brainstorm

3. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Sanitation Ladder
Sustainable Sanitation
No Toilets
Open Defecation
Basic
Sanitation
Reduces immediate risk
of pathogen exposure,
but inadequate/no
treatment and
environmental pollution
(pit latrine, septic tank)
Environmental
Sanitation
Sanitation system with
exposure control,
treatment and pollution
prevention
(wastewater treatment
plant)
Ecological
Sanitation
Sanitation system with
exposure control,
pollution prevention,
nutrient reuse,
resource conservation
(UDDT, biogas,
constructed wetlands)
MDG Target
Sustainability is a process rather than a stage to reach

4. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
What is Sustainable Sanitation?
• financially & economically viable,
Financial &
Economic
Issues
• are socially acceptable & institutionally
appropriate,
Soc.-Cultural
& Inst. Aspects
Health,
Hygiene &
Nutrition
• protect and promote human health, hygiene & nutrition for all,
• are technically & operationally appropriate in the long term.
Technology &
Operation
Environment &
Natural
Resources
• protect the environment & natural resources, and
Sustainable sanitation systems:

5. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Sustainability Criteria: Health, Hygiene & Nutrition
• risk reduction in exposure to
pathogens and hazardous
substances (at all points of the
sanitation system)
• improvement of hygiene, nutrition
(contribution to food security) and
livelihood
• …
• …
Technology &
Operation
Financial &
Economic
Issues
Environment
& Natural
Resources
Health,
Hygiene &
Nutrition
Soc.-Cultural
& Inst.
Aspects
Sanitation systems should be carefully evaluated with regard to:

6. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Sustainability Criteria: Soc.-Cultural & Institutional Aspects
• socio-cultural acceptance & appro-
priateness
• convenience & system perceptions
• gender issues/ child-friendliness/
impacts on human dignity
• compliance with legal framework &
stable and efficient institutional
settings
• …
Technology &
Operation
Financial &
Economic
Issues
Environment
& Natural
Resources
Soc.-
Cultural
& Inst.
Aspects
Health,
Hygiene &
Nutrition
Sanitation systems should be carefully evaluated with regard to (contd.):

7. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Sustainability Criteria: Financial & Economic Issues
• beneficiaries’ capacity to pay for
construction, O&M and reinvest-
ments
• direct benefits (e.g. reuse of
recycled products)
• external costs (e.g. environmental
pollution and health hazards)
• external benefits (increased
agricultural productivity, employ-
ment creation, improved health)
• …
Technology &
Operation
Financial &
Economic
Issues
Environment
& Natural
Resources
Soc.-Cultural
& Inst.
Aspects
Health,
Hygiene &
Nutrition
Sanitation systems should be carefully evaluated with regard to (contd.):

8. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Sustainability Criteria: Environment & Natural Resources
• consumption of energy, water and
other natural resources (con-
struction, O&M)
• emissions to environment (e.g.
greenhouse gases, groundwater
pollution, etc.)
• degree of recycling/ reuse (e.g.
reuse of wastewater, returning
nutrients/ organic material to
agriculture)
• protection of non-renewable re-
sources (e.g. substitution of LPB
by biogas, etc.)
Technology &
Operation
Financial &
Economic
Issues
Environment
& Natural
Resources
Soc.-Cultural
& Inst.
Aspects
Health,
Hygiene &
Nutrition
Sanitation systems should be carefully evaluated with regard to (contd.):

9. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
Sustainability Criteria: Technology & Operation
• functionality/ ease of construction,
operation and maintenance (col-
lection, transport, treatment and
reuse/ final disposal)
• robustness (vulnerability towards
power cuts, water shortages,
floods, etc.)
• flexibility/ adaptability of technical
elements to existing infrastructure
and to demographic/ socio-
economic development
• …
Technology &
Operation
Financial &
Economic
Issues
Environment
& Natural
Resources
Soc.-Cultural
& Inst.
Aspects
Health,
Hygiene &
Nutrition
Sanitation systems should be carefully evaluated with regard to (contd.):

10. Principles of Sustainable Sanitation
More information at www.sswm.info
In your locality maps identify the
criteria, which are currently not
fulfilled.
Max: 25 minutes
Group Work: Assessing the Sustainability of your System
Apply the sustainability criteria

11. SSWM Implementation Tools: Hardware and Software 11
“Linking up Sustainable Sanitation,
Water Management & Agriculture”
With the support of:
Created by: