1
|
Mihelcic JR, Barra RO, Brooks BW, Diamond ML, Eckelman MJ, Gibson JM, Guidotti S, Ikeda-Araki A, Kumar M, Maiga Y, McConville J, Miller SL, Pizarro V, Rosario-Ortiz F, Wang S, Zimmerman JB. Environmental Research Addressing Sustainable Development Goals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:3457-3460. [PMID: 36812397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- James R Mihelcic
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa 33620, Florida, United States
| | - Ricardo O Barra
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA Chile Centre, University of Concepcion, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción 4070386, Chile
| | - Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97266, Waco 76798-7266, Texas, United States
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Earth Sciences and School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A1, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew J Eckelman
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston 02115, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Fitts-Woolard Hall, Room 3253, 915 Partners Way, Raleigh 27695-7908, North Carolina, United States
| | - Sunny Guidotti
- UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office, Building 102, Alberto Tejada St., City of Knowledge 0843, Panama, Republic of Panama
| | - Atsuko Ikeda-Araki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12, Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Manish Kumar
- Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun Uttarakhand, 248007, India
- Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterey, Monterrey 64849, Nuevo León, México
| | - Ynoussa Maiga
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, UFR SVT, University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou CFX2+7R6, Burkina Faso
| | - Jennifer McConville
- Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7032, Uppsala SE-750 07, Sweden
| | - Shelly L Miller
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, 112 ECES Engineering Center, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
| | - Valeria Pizarro
- Perry Institute for Marine Science Windsor School (Albany Campus), Frank Watson Boulevard, Adelaide 00000, The Bahamas
| | - Fernando Rosario-Ortiz
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, Colorado, United States
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment, Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing100084, China
| | - Julie B Zimmerman
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven 06511, Connecticut, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rowles LS, Whittaker T, Ward PM, Araiza I, Kirisits MJ, Lawler DF, Saleh NB. A Structural Equation Model to Decipher Relationships among Water, Sanitation, and Health in Colonias-Type Unincorporated Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:16017-16027. [PMID: 33259189 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The colonias along the United States-Mexico border are generally self-built neighborhoods of low-income families that lack basic infrastructure. While some government assistance has provided roads and electricity, water and wastewater services are still lacking in many colonias. This research is the first to collect a comprehensive dataset on water, sanitation, health, and living conditions in these unincorporated neighborhoods through collection of water samples and surveys; 114 households in 23 colonias across three geographically diverse Texas counties are studied. Water quality is assessed via traditional microbial indicators, chlorine, and arsenic. This complex dataset requires an advanced statistical tool to disentangle relationships among diverse factors. Structural equation modeling is utilized to identify relationships among surveyed and measured variables. The model reveals that colonias residents with well/hauled water accurately predict their water quality, while those with treated+piped water tend to think that their water is worse than it actually is. Dwelling quality and connection to sanitary sewers influence perceived health risks and household health, respectively. Furthermore, these communities have an overwhelming need and desire for point-of-use water treatment. This model can inform decision making and may be adapted to probe other questions and social dynamics for water and sanitation in unincorporated communities elsewhere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Stetson Rowles
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Tiffany Whittaker
- Educational Psychology Department, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Peter M Ward
- The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Isabel Araiza
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412, United States
| | - Mary Jo Kirisits
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Desmond F Lawler
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Navid B Saleh
- Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Libby JA, Wells EC, Mihelcic JR. Moving up the Sanitation Ladder while Considering Function: An Assessment of Indigenous Communities, Pit Latrine Users, and Their Perceptions of Resource Recovery Sanitation Technology in Panama. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15405-15413. [PMID: 33185434 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
As households move up the sanitation ladder, health risks presumably decline but the corresponding technologies may require increasing operation and maintenance costs. One critique of the ladder is that it prioritizes technology and could be improved if it included a functional approach to monitoring, such as including aspects of environmental sustainability that consider resource recovery. Using analyses of data obtained from semi-structured interviews, surveys, and field observations, this study examines the functional transition toward improved sanitation technology as a household moves up the sanitation ladder with the added function of resource recovery (from pit latrines to composting latrines). The study took place in six indigenous Ngäbe communities in Panama. The results reveal that of 103 pit latrines studied, 88% were completed and in use, but only 35% were operated appropriately. Approximately 60% of pit latrine owners reported that they would use composting latrines, with compost as the primary perceived benefit. Barriers to adoption include lack of prior experience, user disgust of working with excrement, and the perceived amount of work required for operation. Overall, these findings indicate the importance of establishing demonstration projects and culturally aligned training for more complex sanitation technologies that enable resource recovery. The results have broad implications for understanding sanitation technology transitions in rural and indigenous settlements in other world regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Libby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - E Christian Wells
- Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - James R Mihelcic
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Trimmer JT, Lohman HAC, Byrne DM, Houser SA, Jjuuko F, Katende D, Banadda N, Zerai A, Miller DC, Guest JS. Navigating Multidimensional Social-Ecological System Trade-Offs across Sanitation Alternatives in an Urban Informal Settlement. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:12641-12653. [PMID: 32822180 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Urban growth in low- and middle-income countries has intensified the need to expand sanitation infrastructure, especially in informal settlements. Sanitation approaches for these settings remain understudied, particularly regarding multidimensional social-ecological outcomes. Guided by a conceptual framework (developed in parallel with this study) re-envisioning sanitation as a human-derived resource system, here we characterize existing and alternative sanitation scenarios in an informal settlement in Kampala, Uganda. Combining two core research approaches (household survey analysis, process modeling), we elucidate factors associated with user satisfaction and evaluate each scenario's resource recovery potential, economic implications, and environmental impacts. We find that existing user satisfaction is associated with factors including cleaning frequency, sharing, and type of toilets, and we demonstrate that alternative sanitation systems may offer multidimensional improvements over existing latrines, drying beds, and lagoons. Transitioning to anaerobic treatment could recover energy while reducing overall net costs by 26-65% and greenhouse gas emissions by 38-59%. Alternatively, replacing pit latrines with container-based facilities greatly improves recovery potential in most cases (e.g., a 2- to 4-fold increase for nitrogen) and reduces emissions by 46-79%, although costs increase. Overall, this work illustrates how our conceptual framework can guide empirical research, offering insight into sanitation for informal settlements and more sustainable resource systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John T Trimmer
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hannah A C Lohman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Diana M Byrne
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Stephanie A Houser
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Fulgensio Jjuuko
- Community Integrated Development Initiatives, P.O. Box 692, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Katende
- Community Integrated Development Initiatives, P.O. Box 692, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Noble Banadda
- Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Assata Zerai
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Daniel C Miller
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Jeremy S Guest
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Trimmer JT, Miller DC, Byrne DM, Lohman HAC, Banadda N, Baylis K, Cook SM, Cusick RD, Jjuuko F, Margenot AJ, Zerai A, Guest JS. Re-Envisioning Sanitation As a Human-Derived Resource System. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:10446-10459. [PMID: 32867485 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Sanitation remains a global challenge, both in terms of access to toilet facilities and resource intensity (e.g., energy consumption) of waste treatment. Overcoming barriers to universal sanitation coverage and sustainable resource management requires approaches that manage bodily excreta within coupled human and natural systems. In recent years, numerous analytical methods have been developed to understand cross-disciplinary constraints, opportunities, and trade-offs around sanitation and resource recovery. However, without a shared language or conceptual framework, efforts from individual disciplines or geographic contexts may remain isolated, preventing the accumulation of generalized knowledge. Here, we develop a version of the social-ecological systems framework modified for the specific characteristics of bodily excreta. This framework offers a shared vision for sanitation as a human-derived resource system, where people are part of the resource cycle. Through sanitation technologies and management strategies, resources including water, organics, and nutrients accumulate, transform, and impact human experiences and natural environments. Within the framework, we establish a multitiered lexicon of variables, characterized by breadth and depth, to support harmonized understanding and development of models and analytical approaches. This framework's refinement and use will guide interdisciplinary study around sanitation to identify guiding principles for sanitation that advance sustainable development at the nature-society interface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John T Trimmer
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Daniel C Miller
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Diana M Byrne
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hannah A C Lohman
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Noble Banadda
- Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Katherine Baylis
- Department of Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1301 W. Gregory Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Sherri M Cook
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, UCB 428, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Roland D Cusick
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Fulgensio Jjuuko
- Community Integrated Development Initiatives, P.O. Box 692, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrew J Margenot
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1201 S. Dorner Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Assata Zerai
- Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Jeremy S Guest
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| |
Collapse
|