Roundup
IWMI opens its U . S . office , a look at the challenges of achieving global water security
“ In a finite world we need a much more circular-engineering approach , where we use and re-use water with different qualities and from different sources for different uses ” said IWMI Director General Claudia Sadoff at a July 12 seminar marking the opening of the International Water Management
Institute ’ s ( IWMI ) new U . S . -based office at IFPRI headquarters in Washington , D . C .
Claudia Sadoff , Director General of the International Water Management Institute ( IWMI ), speaks on the challenges facing global water security . It ’ s time for a water management paradigm shift to build resilience and circumvent crises , she said .
A ‘ paradigm shift ’ in water management is needed so that proactive approaches are taken to head off crises before they strike .
That will require more integration and cooperation across different sectors .
It ’ s a dirty job , but studying fake faeces may be lifesaver
Bath University scientists hope research into fake excrement could tackle waste-related illness in countries that lack efficient sanitation
By Jamie Doward
It ’ s not a project for those of a delicate sensibility . Scientists at the University of Bath are developing fake human excrement to help them understand the drying process of faecal sludge . Made from a concoction of ingredients including yeast , hemp fibre , shredded tissue , peanut oil , calcium phosphate and water , the lab-created sludge is designed to replicate the chemical and physical properties of faeces as closely as possible .
An open sewer in Nairobi , Kenya – germs found in faecal sludge cause diarrhoea which kills 75,000 children under five every year . Photograph : Stephen Morrison / EPA
The scientists hope that by studying the sludge they will be able to help the 2.7 billion people around the world who do not have access to a flushing toilet and rely on static sanitation systems , like pit latrines , to deal with their waste .
“ Developing and testing batches of fake poo isn ’ t something many people can say they do as part of the day job ,” said Naomi Deering , postgraduate researcher in faecal sludge management at the University of Bath . “ This area of research at times may not be the most pleasant but the potential impact of this project makes this work so worthwhile .”
A lack of suitable disposal sites , as well as poor understanding of the risks involved , means sludge is often deposited in fields and rivers . Germs found in it cause illnesses , such as diarrhoea – responsible for the deaths of more than 750,000 children under five every year .
The scientists are examining what happens to the sludge when it is exposed to natural sunlight and heat . As it loses water , the temperature within the sludge rises , killing off parasite eggs and pathogens such as E coli and salmonella .
Once dried to a suitable consistency for removal , the sludge can be composted to allow safe use in agriculture as a soil conditioner .
“ The development of a low-carbon solution for faecal sludge management has the potential to transform the lives of millions of people around the world ,” said the university ’ s Sukumar Natarajan ., director of the University of Bath ’ s Centre for Doctoral Training in Decarbonisation of the Built Environment ( dCarb ).
The researchers hope their project will have a significant impact in reducing illness and death associated with the unregulated disposal of faecal sludge , and provide vital information for governments and NGOs about how best to dry it out using low-cost , low-energy solutions .
34 Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • August 2018