ECOLOGICALSANITATION what it is all about

current wasteful practices

ecosan cycle

GrOw

DEfECATE

Eat

fErTILIzE

GrOuNDwATEr pOLLuTION

ILLNESS DyING wATErbODIES

SurfACE wATEr pOLLuTION

we apply chemical fertilizer to grow crops. Then we defecate in the

open or a pit toilet leading to pollution and results in

illness and harming the evironmment

Ecosan can be a better option to manage our

excreta in a productive way.

EAT

ChEmICAL fErTILIzErS

Centre of Excellence in Ecosanitation • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore • Supported by Arghyam, SEI, UNICEF

EAT

GrOw DEfECATE

SO wITh ECOLOGICAL SANITATION yOu CAN

- reduce chemical fertilizers use with urine and manure to grow crops

- Save scarce freshwater

- prevent water contamination

- prevent diseases

- prevent water borne diseases like diarrhea and dysentry

The basic design feature of ecological sanitation is diversion of urine and faeces so that they are never mixed.

- The urine can be diluted with water and used after storing for 2-4 weeks.

- The faeces becomes manure after decomposing for 8-12 months

source separation of SOLID and LIQuID waste

NUTRIENTS

ECOLOGICALSANITATION

becomes manure after 8 -12 months

Excreta generation per person per year

urine: 500 litresfaeces: 100-150kg

waterurine

Centre of Excellence in Ecosanitation • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore • Supported by Arghyam, SEI, UNICEF

UREASSPMoP

NuTrIENT CONTENT N 3.5 gm/l p 1.7 gm/l K 1.6 gm/l

URINE

structure and use of an ecosan toilet

ECOLOGICALSANITATION

urine is collected in the middle basin. A pipe leads it to a container outside.

washing is done in the wash area.The water collects outside through a pipe.

In six months a family of four fills up the first chamber. The second chamber can be used giving time for the material in the first chamber to decompose safely into manure.

faecal matter is deposited in the storage compartment.

A handful of ash, dried leaves, sawdust or grain husk is sprayed over the faecal matter and closed with the lid.

urINE is diluted with water and used as fertilizer after storing for 2 - 4 weeks.

ThE fAECAL mATTEr should be allowed to decompose in the storage compartments for 8 -12 months after which it is used as manure.

rEmEmbEr- The water used for cleansing must not fall in the excreta chamber.

- put ash or dry materials after every defecation to prevent bad smell and hasten the decomposition.

- Don’t use both the excreta chambers at the same time.

Centre of Excellence in Ecosanitation • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore • Supported by Arghyam, SEI, UNICEF

urination area

Ashfaeces excretion holes

wash area

Ecosan toilets are very effective for

- wATEr SCArCE ArEAS

- hIGh wATEr TAbLE ArEAS

- hArD rOCK ArEAS

experiments using human urine

ECOLOGICALSANITATION

1. The urine was collected from an ecosan ladies’ toilet and a boys’ urinal in Doddballapur town, Bangalore

3. urine was collected in clean plastic cans, stored in large can and diluted with same quantity of water.

4. urine was applied uniformly on prepared land in Nagasandra village using a rose can

5. Seeds were sown 6. maize plants grown in land fertilized with human urine

7. The experiment compared the results of application of chemical fertilizer, human urine and no fertilizer.

Centre of Excellence in Ecosanitation • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore • Supported by Arghyam, SEI, UNICEF

8. The experiment was repeated for different crops, and excellent results were seen in the crops fertilized with urine.

human urine

No fertilizer

Chemical fertilizer

2. Inside view; Ecosan toilet for ladies and gents’ urinal

The research was conducted by Dr. G. Sridevi under supervision of prof C. A. Srinivasamurthy

compare the crops!

ECOLOGICALSANITATION

bANANAThe banana bunch from plants grown with human urine has more number of bananas.

frENCh bEAN See the growth and health of the french bean plants in the plot fertilized with human urine.

CApSICumThe number of fruits in the capsicum plant treated with human urine is three, whereas the same in case of plant treated with chemical fertilizer is only one.

LEAfy VEGETAbLEThe difference in the growth of leafy

vegetables is quite visible; left pot: chemical fertilizer, right pot: human urine.

mAIzEEarly ripening of crops

fertilized with human urine.

rADIShThe size of the vegetable is bigger in

plants grown with human urine.

ASh GOurD Visible differences between plants grown with farmyard manure and human urine.

Centre of Excellence in Ecosanitation • University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore • Supported by Arghyam, SEI, UNICEF

rECOmmENDED DOSE Of urINE pEr ACrE Of LAND fOr DIffErENT CrOpS maize 23,000 litres

banana61,000 litres

french bean8,400 litres