case study

IMPROVING SERVICES IN DISADVANTAGED AND RURAL AREAS

CHALLENGE: 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.5 billion people worldwide live without access to basic sanitation services, and 419 million still practice open defecation. Poor sanitation is linked to the transmission of diarrheal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid, intestinal worm infections, and polio. The WHO also cites notable social and economic development impacts of poor sanitation due to anxiety, risk of sexual assault, and lost opportunities for education and work.

In spite of the critical need for functioning toilets, providing sanitation services is challenging in rural and disadvantaged areas, as they often lack networked sewer systems.

SOLUTION: 

In 2018, a new international standard was published to guide sustainable non-sewered sanitation systems (also known as next-generation toilets): ISO 30500, Non-sewered sanitation systems – Prefabricated integrated treatment units – General safety and performance requirements for design and testing.

In these integrated systems, the front-end collects, conveys, and fully treats waste, allowing for safe reuse or disposal of the generated solid, liquid, and gaseous output. The crucial distinction of this standard is that the back-end is not connected to a networked sewer system. This practical solution can be used in urban and rural communities without access to sewer systems.

IMPACT:

The impact of ISO 30500 and other international standards for sanitation is widespread, both for users and for companies whose work intersects with the sanitation industry.

For users:

• A safe, dignified, reliable, hygienic experience
• Reduced transmission of lethal diseases
• Potential by-products that can be sold/reused by the community
• Education and job opportunities

For manufacturers and technology developers:

• Increased opportunity to widely manufacture, market, and deploy technologies
• Easier entry into the global market due to interoperability and trust in international standards
• Ability to test products and generate data on performance
• Identification of areas for improvement and feedback from users
• Blueprint to create a product that meets international guidelines

Non-sewered systems also promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability: they minimize resource consumption (particularly water use), and enable the production of useful by-products, such as liquid and solid nutrients, water for reuse, material for the generation of fuel, and other reusable outputs.

Source(s): 
World Health Organization

 sanitation.ansi.org

Submit a case study for potential inclusion on Standards Boost Business!

Guidelines:

• Case studies should be about 300-400 words, with content organized into three sections: Challenge, Solution, and Impact.
• Case studies should reference a specific standard or standards, and demonstrate how adherence to the standard(s) has boosted business (improved ROI, competitive advantage, cost reduction, increased revenue, etc), sustainability, or safety and well-being.
• Links to online sources and references are welcome.
• Send submissions to [email protected].

Case studies will be added to the Standards Boost Business webpage at ANSI’s discretion.