CE 333: Environmental Engineering II

January 2023
Level-3, Term II
CN-1: Introduction to Sanitation

Professor Dr. M. Ashraf Ali

Department of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET)
20-Jun-23
 Introduction to Environmental Sanitation
To be covered:
• Classification of Wastes
• Definition of Sanitation
• Relationship between Sanitation and Health/ Disease
• Classification of Sanitation Systems

Reference Book:
Water Supply and Sanitation: Rural and Low Income Communities: M. Feroze Ahmed
and Md. Mujibur Rahman

20-Jun-23
 Classification of Wastes
Human Waste or Human Excreta: refers to only human
feces and urine. Also known as “night soil” when
collected without dilution in large volumes of water.
Domestic/ sanitary sewage: Liquid waste with
originates in sanitary conveniences, e.g., water closets,
urinals, baths, sinks, etc. of dwellings, commercial
facilities and institutions in a community. Sometimes it
is also referred to as sanitary sewage.
Municipal sewage/ wastewater: Liquid waste conveyed
by sewer and may include domestic and industrial
discharge as well as storm water, groundwater
infiltration and inflow.
20-Jun-23
 Domestic Municipal
Wastewater Wastewater

House Disposal
Connection
Sewage
Public
Treatment
Sewer
Plant (STP)
Network

Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Ali, January 2020

20-Jun-23
Semester
 Classification of Wastes (contd.)
Black water: Wastewater containing human waste (fecal
matter, urine), i.e., toilet wastewater. It contains pathogens and
must be treated before releasing into environment.

Sullage or Greywater: Water coming from domestic

equipment other than toilets (e.g., bathtubs, showers, sinks,
washing machines). It is often separated from “black water” to
reduce the amount of water that gets heavily polluted.

Separation of black water and greywater nowadays happens

with all ecological/ smart buildings. Greywater could be reused
for different purposes (other than potable use) after primary
treatment.
20-Jun-23
 Classification of Wastes
Industrial Wastes: Liquid discharges from spent water
in different industrial processes such as manufacturing
and food processing.
Storm water: Surface runoff immediately and after
rainfall, which enters sewers through inlets. Strom
water is usually not very polluted, and could be carried
though open drains/ channels and disposed of in
rivers/ streams/ khals.

Solid waste: Includes all materials which are normally

solid and are discarded as useless or unwanted.

20-Jun-23
 Some Important Terms/Acronyms
• Fecal sludge (FS): Sludge removed from all kinds of on-
site sanitation systems (containments) such as septic
tanks, pit latrines, community multiple pit system, etc.
•
• Septage: Fecal sludge (settled solids, scum and liquid)
that accumulates in septic tanks.
•
• Sewage Sludge: Sludge generated at the sewage
treatment plants as a result of sewage digestion
process is termed as sewage sludge. Sewage sludge is
often more problematic than fecal sludge from
household toilet facilities because it contains
contaminants from industrial wastewaters.

20-Jun-23
 Septic Tank System (On-site System)
(Septic Tank  Soakage Pit)
Major Option in All Urban Areas (including some Slums)
Fecal Sludge/
Septage

Scum

Sludge
Sludge
 Pour Flush Sanitation
(Rural areas; Urban slum/low-income communities)

Fecal Sludge
Pit

Liquid
Infiltration

20-Jun-23
 Some Important Terms/Acronyms
• OSS: Onsite Sanitation System
• FSM: Fecal Sludge Management
• WASH: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
• CWIS: City Wide Inclusive Sanitation
• DEWATS: Decentralized Wastewater Treatment
System
• FSTP: Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant

20-Jun-23
 SANITATION
“Sanitation” may be defined as the science and practice of
effecting healthful and hygienic conditions, and involves the
study and use of hygienic measures, such as:
• Safe and reliable water supply
• Proper disposal of all “human waste”
• Proper drainage of wastewater
• Prompt removal of all refuse (solid waste)

WHO includes food sanitation, rainwater drainage, solid waste

disposal and atmospheric pollution under sanitation.

However, the term “sanitation” commonly refers to

disposal of “human waste / wastewater”.
20-Jun-23
 SANITATION
The most significant concerns of improper
sewage/wastewater management are:
(1) Public health (spread of diseases), and
(2) Environmental pollution

20-Jun-23
 SANITATION AND DISEASE
• Proper sanitation can control many “human waste/ excreta”
related diseases.
• Important to have clear understanding of such diseases and
their “transmission routes”.
• Excreta-related diseases are caused by disease producing
microorganisms, called “pathogens” that are excreted by
people already infected with disease.

Common diseases caused by pathogens:

• Bacteria: Cholera, Bacillary dysentry, typhoid,
and para-typhoid
• Viruses: Hepatitis, Poliomylitis, Diarrhea
• Protozoa: Amebic dysentry, Giardiasis
• Helminths: Schistosomiasis (bilharzia or snail fever)
20-Jun-23
 SANITATION AND DISEASE
Classification of Excreta-Related Diseases:
(1) Excreted Infections (direct transmission of
pathogens): Cholera, Typhoid (also by insect-vector)
Direct
Infected Excreta New Infections
Transmission
(2) Vector-transmitted Diseases: Schistosomiasis
Vector
Infected Excreta Breeding New Infections
Insects (flies, mosquito); Cockroach;
Rat; Animals (cow, pig); Snail

20-Jun-23
 SANITATION AND DISEASE
“Fecal-Oral” Transmission Route of Diseases

20-Jun-23
 SANITATION AND DISEASE
Effect of “Sanitation” on Disease Transmission

20-Jun-23
 SANITATION AND DISEASE
Important issues for controlling excreta-related
diseases:
• Sanitation is clearly the most important
intervention required for the control of excreta
related diseases.
• Also important is improved personal, domestic
and peri-domestic hygiene, through improved
water supplies and improved housing.
• Animal excreta control and effective sullage and
solid waste disposal must also be addressed to
control all categories of excreta related diseases.
20-Jun-23
 SANITATION AND DISEASE
Interrelationship among water, sanitation, hygiene education
and health:
Important to address all three aspects simultaneously.

WaSH or WASH:
Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene

20-Jun-23
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM

• Onsite sanitation system (non-network

system)
• Off-site sanitation system (network-based or
sewerage system)

20-Jun-23
 Classification of Sanitation System
(1) Onsite Sanitation System/Non-network System

User Interface

Containment
FSM Services

Complete (typical) Onsite Sanitation System (OSS)

Sanitation
Facility Note: Single-use, Twin-pit, Compost latrines handles fecal sludge
20-Jun-23 in-situ (at the location of the containment). To be discussed later.
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
(1) On-site Sanitation: When the wastes are collected at or
close to the point of generation. The collected waste is
either treated in-situ or transported to a Fecal Sludge
Treatment Plant (FSTP) for treatment and disposal.
Example: Pit latrines (rural, urban slum) (with FSM)

Super structure
Vent pipe not
Pit shown
The complete onsite
system must include Open Brick Work
Fecal Sludge 100 mm diameter
or
Management (FSM) pipe
R.C.C Rings (open
services jointed)

Liquid Infiltration
20-Jun-23
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
(1) On-site Sanitation (containment):
Example: Septic Tank System (urban) (with FSM)
Fecal Sludge

Scum

Sludge
Sludge

The complete onsite system must include Fecal

Sludge Management (FSM) services

22
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM (contd.)
(1) On-site Sanitation System (contd):
Basic Principle:
• Liquids infiltrate into soil (infiltration capacity of soil, and
location of groundwater table important issues)
• Solids are retained (confined) and digested in-situ or
transported to a facility (FSTP) for treatment
Features:
• Designed to dispose of human waste only
• Wastewater from other sources (kitchen, washing, bathing) has
to be disposed separately
• Suitable for sparsely settled rural areas with low population
density, and low water consumption
• Not feasible in areas with: (a) high population density, (b) low
infiltration capacity of soil

20-Jun-23
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
(2) Off-site (Network-based) Sanitation System: When
the wastes are collected and transported to somewhere
else (through a sewer network) for treatment and disposal.
Example: Conventional sewerage system; Small-bore
Sewerage System (SBS)

20-Jun-23
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM (contd.)
(2) Off-site Sanitation System/Sewerage System (contd):
Features:
• Collection and transportation of waste through a sewer
system requires that the waste be diluted by water.
• Hence piped water supply and flushing is essential
• Most satisfactory system of waste disposal, provided
sufficient funds are available for its construction and
maintenance.
• Because of high cost, preferable to introduce gradually;
where possible existing sanitation system (e.g., septic tank
system) should be upgraded and improved (e.g., SBS
system utilizing existing septic tank system; will be
discussed later in the course)
20-Jun-23
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM (contd.)
• Small Bore Sewerage (SBS) System:
A mixture of onsite and off-site sanitation
systems.

20-Jun-23 26
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM (contd.)
Other ways of classifying sanitation system:
(a) Dry Sanitation System: No water is used for the dilution
of waste. Applied in areas with no piped water supply.
Example: Pit latrines (rural, on-site), Bucket latrines (urban,
off-site)

(b) Wet Sanitation System: Waste is diluted with flushes of

water (to carry it away from the point of generation).
Example: Septic tank system (on-site), conventional
sewerage system (off-site)

20-Jun-23
 SUITABILITY OF SANITATION SYSTEM: Summary
An important factor affecting suitability of sanitation
system:
• Level of Water Supply:
– Pit latrines would not be appropriate with piped water
supply
– Water borne system (e.g., conventional sewerage
system) is not feasible with bucket-carried or hand
pump water supply
• Population Density:
– On site system are more appropriate for low-density
rural settings, and low density urban areas
– Off-site systems are suitable for high density urban
centers
20-Jun-23
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
Appropriate sanitation system based on level of
water supply and population density

• d

20-Jun-23
 Failure of Soakage Pit as Population
Density/ Water Use Increases

Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Ali, January 2020

20-Jun-23
Semester
Water Supply Scenario in Bangladesh: Recap

Indicator National (%)

Sources of drinking water

These water supply
systems will support Shallow tube well/tara pump 51
“onsite sanitation”
system Deep tube well/tara pump 30

Protected dug well/spring 1.1

Tap water inside dwelling 8.1

Tap water in outside 7.5

Unimproved sources 2.5

National Hygiene Survey

2018, (BBS, 2020)