Excreta and Household Wastewaters - Introduction

Margaret Katusiime Semakula

Household Human Wastes and Wastewaters

Excreta and Graywater Definitions & Properties

Excreta: Human feces and urine Managed in different ways:
Direct disposal on land or in water Direct use as fertilizer, soil conditioner and for aquaculture Pre-treatment prior to use Dilution with water to convey (sewage) for disposal or use Direct use of untreated (raw) sewage Treatment and discharge to land or water Treatment and reuse (agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, industrial and civil use

Graywater: Other wastewater from human activity

Not directly from human fecs and urine Wastewater from washing, bathing, etc Contains human wastes and exudates

Managing Human Excreta - Options

Dry Collection: Open defecation Collect in a container
e.g., chamber pot

Discharge to the environment w/ or w/o Rx Latrines several kinds Treat or dispose of or both Separate feces and urine; Then, treat/store, use, dispose to the environment

Managing Human Excreta - Options

Semi-wet (or semi-dry) Use some water Pour-flush toilets and other low water use systems

Managing Human Excreta - Options

Wet Systems
On-site Septic Systems Other On-site systems
Soak pits

Sewerage Sewage treatment systems

Human Excreta Resource or Risk?

Human excreta as a potential resource

Contains nutrients (N, P, K, and organic matter) Nutrients and organic matter are: Detrimental in water, esp. surface water Eutrophication, anoxia, fish kills Beneficial on land Fertilizer, soil conditioner, land stabilizer Widely used as a fertilizer and soil amendment in both developed and developing countries Potential for excreta misuse and environmental pollution is great without proper attention to management plans and human behavior considerations

Nitrogen (N) Phosphorous (P) Potassium Organic matter (as BOD)

4.5 0.6 1.0 35

Annual Amounts/Person, Kg

Nutrient Content of Human Excreta

Rich source of inorganic plant nutrients: N, P K and organic matter Daily human excretion: ~30 g of C (90 g of organic matter), ~ 10-12 g N, ~ 2 g of P and 3 g of K. Most organic matter in feces most N and P (70-80 %) in urine. K equally distributed between urine and feces.

Composition of Household Waste and Wastewater

20

14.1 12.3

5.3 K
P
0

3.6

Organics
kg COD/ (Personyear) 1.0

N 0.8

Nutrient content
0

kg N,P,K / (Personyear) 500 l 50 l

source: Otterpohl

Volume
Liter / (Personyear)

greywater

urine

faeces

Characteristics of Human Wastes

fraction 1. feces characteristic
hygienically critical (high risk) consists of organics, nutrients and trace elements improves soil quality and increase its water retention capacity

2. urine

3. greywater

less hygienically critical (less risk) contains the largest proportion of nutrients available to plants may contain hormones or medical residues of no major (or less) hygienic concern/risk volumetrically the largest portion of wastewater contains almost no (or less) nutrients (simpler treatment) may contain spent washing powders etc.

Fertilizer Potential of Human Excreta

Fertilizer Equivalence of Yearly per Capita Excreted Nutrients and Fertiliser Requirements for Producing 250 kg of Cereals 6
5
Nutrient (kg)

4 3 2 1 0 N N P P K K

cereal requirements faeces

source: Drangert, 1998

urine

Options for Excreta and Greywater Utilization

substances

urine (yellowwater)

faeces (brownwater)

greywater (shower, washing, etc.)

treatment

hygienisation by storage or drying

anaerobic digestion, drying, composting

constructed wetlands, gardening, wastewater ponds, biol. treatment, membranetechnology

utilisation

liquid or dry fertiliser

biogas, soil improvement

irrigation, groundwaterrecharge or direct reuse