Faecal sludge management in low income areas: a case study of three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana

The challenge of faecal sludge management (FSM) in most developing countries is acute, particularly in low income areas. This study examined the management of faecal sludge (FS) from household latrines and public toilets in three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana based on household surveys, k...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of water, sanitation, and hygiene for development sanitation, and hygiene for development, 2014-06, Vol.4 (2), p.189-199
Main Authors: APPIAH-EFFAH, Eugene, KWABENA BIRITWUM NYARKO, FOSU GYASI, Samuel, AWUAH, Esi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquisitions & mergers
Applied sciences
Composting
Defecation
Developing countries
Exact sciences and technology
Households
Income
Latrines
LDCs
Low income areas
Low income groups
Management
Other wastewaters
Pits
Pollution
Rural areas
Sludge
Toilets
Urban and domestic wastes
Urban areas
Wastes
Wastewaters
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:The challenge of faecal sludge management (FSM) in most developing countries is acute, particularly in low income areas. This study examined the management of faecal sludge (FS) from household latrines and public toilets in three districts in the Ashanti region of Ghana based on household surveys, key informant interviews and field observations. Communities did not have designated locations for the disposal and treatment of FS. For household toilets, about 31 and 42% of peri-urban and rural respondents, respectively, with their toilets full reported that they did not consider manual or mechanical desludging as an immediate remedy, although pits were accessible. Households rather preferred to close and abandon their toilets and use public toilets at a fee or practise open defecation. For the public toilets, desludging was manually carried out at a fee of GHC 800–1,800 and the process usually lasted 8–14 days per toilet facility. The study showed that FSM has not been adequately catered for in both peri-urban and rural areas. However, respondents from the peri-urban areas relatively manage their FS better than their rural counterparts. To address the poor FSM in the study communities, a decentralized FS composting is a potential technology that could be used.
ISSN:2043-9083
2408-9362
DOI:10.2166/washdev.2014.126