Suresh Chandnani, PE, CHMM
President- ASEI Florida Chapter
Vice President, SRC Services International, Inc
Orlando, FL
(This presentation material is copyrighted by SRC Services International, Inc.)
Sanitary conditions & challenges in India
 Less than 20% of India’s rural population has access to safe &
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hygienic sanitation facilities
An estimated 650 million Indians defecate in the open every
day, and as a result an estimated 200,000 tons of fecal matter
are deposited in the open every day
Household waste on streets and in sewers
Unsanitary conditions in public toilets in urban areas
Industrial & Hazardous Waste on open land creating dump
yards, and open invitation for other types of wastes incl.
medical wastes
Drinking Water not safe or hygienic in rural areas
Each year diarrhea kills over 500,000 people in India.
Diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis, and Polio still
occur in India in significant numbers
Definition of Sanitation (WHO)
 Sanitation generally refers to the provision of facilities
and services for the safe disposal of human urine and
feces. Inadequate sanitation is a major cause of disease
world-wide and improving sanitation is known to have
a significant beneficial impact on health both in
households and across communities. The word
'sanitation' also refers to the maintenance of hygienic
conditions, through services such as garbage collection
and wastewater disposal.
Sanitation Problem Analysis
 There is no one-size fits all solution to sanitation &
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hygiene problems in India. The Govt. of India & local
govts. have tried this approach and failed. Rural &
urban slum areas each need different solutions
Awareness of the importance of sanitation and hygiene
is lacking amongst certain segments of populations
Over population and lack of adequate facilities is also a
major issue
Supply driven projects have been a failure in India, they
are under-used and poorly maintained
Lack of funding for sanitation and hygiene projects at
the local government level causes the problem to
increase each year with increases in population
Regulations to control these unsanitary conditions are
lax or don’t exist in some areas, and will need to be
tightened so that enforcement is meaningful
Steps to solve sanitation problems in India
 Identify project area based on agreed upon priorities
 Determine criteria & parameters to improve sanitation
 Determine the population, demographics, needs of
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business and institutional sector
Determine types of sanitation facilities required for each
unique application
Determine feasible technologies for each application
Understand the role of local govt. NGOs, and volunteer
organizations in the local project area
Check applicable local regulations affecting each project
List of technologies currently available for
sanitation and toilet systems, globally
 Twin Pit (ventilated latrine) sanitation technology utilized
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by Sulabh Technology
Pour Flush Latrines
Composting latrines
Aqua privies
AfriSan waterless technology
Vacu-tug technology
Portable plastic (polyethylene) toilets
Septic Tanks with drain fields
Sewerage collection and treatment systems
Criteria to Consider in Selection of Viable
Technologies
 Availability of water for sanitation & toilet systems
 Availability of electricity or need for electrical
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generators
Vicinity to solid waste disposal facilities
Pick up service for liquid or semi-solid sanitary waste
Geological characteristics of local area, depth of
seasonal high groundwater level, soil density & porosity
The magnitude of sanitation facility needs (# of toilets
reqd. , number of customers to be served at normal and
peak hours, services reqd. for large institutions,
schools, govt. buildings, community centers, etc. )
Conditions for Sanitary Latrines
established by World Health Organization (WHO)
 Sanitary latrine should not contaminate surface
soil, groundwater, or surface water
 Excreta should not be accessible to flies or animals
or birds
 There should be no odor or unsightliness
 Should be inexpensive in construction & operation
 Sanitary Waste should not be left in the open, it
should be buried in a pit or transported offsite to a
solid waste disposal facility
Assignment of Responsibilities for
Successful Project Implementation
 Initial Public Awareness and Education (NGO, consultant or local govt.)
 Conducting sanitation facility feasibility & site location studies & surveys
(consultant)
 Developing a conceptual master plan and cost estimates(consultant. Local govt)
 Assisting with public meetings and meetings with regulators (consultant)
 For financing the capital costs required for infrastructure (Local govt. NGO,
investors, private-public partnerships, charity organizations),
 Collecting funds to run and maintain the systems (local govt., NGOs, private
public partnerships)
 Operating and maintaining the systems (local govt, local waste services
contractor)
 Project integration so that the overall project is eco-friendly, sustainable for a long
period of time and adequate for the intended purpose ( project leader,
consultant, private-public partnership.
Success Model For Sanitation Projects
for promotion of greener environment
Five ‘E’s
 Environment - protect it
 Energy - conserve it
 Education & Awareness - promote it
 Excellence in Innovation – practice it
 Engage local govt, regulators, stakeholders,
investors and consultants – make informed &
practically sound decisions for better quality of life
that is sustainable for generations
Development of a Sustainable &
Eco-Friendly Sanitation system
 Develop environmentally acceptable sanitation facilities (incl. toilet systems,
etc.) and install them so that they do not degrade living conditions or cause
unhygienic conditions
 Provide wastewater treatment plants (incl . package plants) for larger
communities, institutions, schools, etc. with provision for water recycling
 Develop adequate solid waste disposal facilities for wastewater sludges,
domestic waste vacuumed from dry toilets or other waste that has no other
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uses.
Ensure that water for drinking is kept separate from water used for toilets, to
avoid cross contamination.
Develop a system to regularly maintain the toilets and the wastewater systems
to prevent bad odors, flies, and other similar nuisances
Develop systems to encourage waste composting so that it can be converted to
fertilizers that can be used for agricultural applications.
Establish public awareness programs on sanitation & hygiene in all
communities that have existing or new sanitation facilities
Strategies for ‘sanitation project success’ in
developing countries
 Secure full understanding of local laws, regulations, policies
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procedures & politics
Form alliances with local partners and stakeholders that can
promote the message of sanitation and hygiene in rural areas.
Provide technical solutions that are practical & sustainable in a
local economy, be a pioneer or innovator, not a follower
Try to utilize indigenous materials & products as much as
possible, this will create tangible benefits to local economy
Work closely with regulators so that they fully understand the
benefits of your services and products
Make solutions more cost effective & efficient to implement,
think “months instead of years”.
Avoid middlemen and business brokers who might impede
progress and inject politics & corruption into decision making
Utilize motivational approaches to change sanitation behaviors
in communities, utilize ‘demand based’ approaches, with
meaningful contributions by local community members and end
users of sanitation services
Questions?