Perspectives are different frameworks from which to explore the knowledge around sustainable sanitation and water management. Perspectives are like filters: they compile and structure the information that relate to a given focus theme, region or context. This allows you to quickly navigate to the content of your particular interest while promoting the holistic understanding of sustainable sanitation and water management.
A basic textbook that comprises various aspects of groundwater hydrology. Amongst others, the hydrologic cycle, groundwater flow, well and aquifer tests, well pollution and well protection.
HEATH, R.C. (1987): Basic Ground-Water Hydrology. Reston: United States Geological Survey (USGS) URL [Accessed: 15.03.2012] PDF
Some of the POPs are pesticides; others are industrial chemicals; and some occur as unintentional by-products of chemical and combustion processes. Learn more about the “hot spots” in this paper.
IPEN (2009): Selected POPs Waste “Hot Spots” around the World. Prague: Arnika Association URL [Accessed: 15.03.2012]
This review explores the extent to which urban dwellers in Bangalore and Lusaka directly and indirectly depend on groundwater. It elaborates on the difficulties they face as a result, and emphasises the need for better integration of groundwater in the planning and management of urban water resources.
GROENWALL, J. MULENGA, M. MCGRANAHAN, G. (2010): Groundwater, self-supply and poor urban dwellers. A review with case studies of Bangalore and Lusaka. (= Human Settlements Working Paper , 24 ). London: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) URL [Accessed: 15.03.2012] PDFArticle: “Britain's sitting on a waste time bomb - we must recycle more and bury less... and quickly. But there is a third option, which those models of eco-awareness, the Danes, don't even blink at: burning it. Simon Cox finds out whether the British can ever be won over.”
A factsheet about sewage sludge incineration and its possibilities.
NEIWPCC (2001): Sewage Sludge Incineration. Lowell: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) URL [Accessed: 14.03.2012]A short article about waste incineration technologies.
The disposal of de-watered sewage sludge is an important point nowadays in refuse disposal. A very environmentally-friendly and favourably-priced possible disposal is burning it along with dewatered sewage sludge in household rubbish incinerators. Existing projects show that, when both are burnt together, this does not lead to higher emissions, the investment costs are low and the sludge can be disposed of in an environmentally- compatible manner and economically. Putzmeister offers turn-key complete solutions for storage, transport and the feeding of refuse into the combustion chambers.
PUTZMEISTER (2000): Sewage Sludge Incineration with Household Rubbish. Aichtal: Putzmeister Holding GmbH URL [Accessed: 14.03.2012]
Waste generation, both domestic and industrial, continues to increase worldwide in tandem with growth in consumption. In developed countries, per capita waste generation increased nearly three-fold over the last two decades, reaching a level five to six times higher than that in developing countries. With increases in populations and living standards, waste generation in developing countries is also increasing rapidly, and may double in volume in the current decade. If current trends continue, the world may see a five-fold increase in waste generation by the year 2025. A high proportion of the waste could be recycled by the urban poor generating income for themselves and protecting the environment. There is a need to develop an integrated approach where the public, private and community sectors work together to develop local solutions promoting sustainable solid waste management.
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (2002): Study on Solid Waste Management Options for Africa. Abidjan: African Development Bank (ADB). Accessed: 13.03.2012] PDF
The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the members of the General Assembly a preliminary report on the right to food prepared by Jean Ziegler, Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the right to food, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2001/25 of 20 April 2001, as approved by the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2001.
ZIEGLER, J. (2001): The Right to Food. New York: United Nations (UN) URL [Accessed: 13.03.2012]
The publication provides a list of information sources as well as overviews of practices in the world regions relating to environmentally sound management of municipal solid waste (waste reduction, collection and transfer, composting, incineration, landfills, special wastes, waste characterization, management and planning, training, public education and financing).
UNEP (1996): International Source Book on Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) for Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM). Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) URL [Accessed: 13.03.2012]
This note examines the methodology for estimating virtual water and identifies several important flaws in the virtual water concept. These flaws render the virtual water concept meaningless and casts serious doubts on the wisdom of applying the concept of virtual water to draw conclusions regarding the desirability or otherwise of alternative production activities.
FRONTIER (2008): The Concept of “Virtual Water” – A Critical Review. Melbourne: Frontier Economics Pty Ltd URL [Accessed: 13.03.2012]
The environmentally sound design and operation of municipal waste incinerators requires the use of best environmental practices and best available techniques to prevent or minimise the formation and release of the unintentional POPs. The purpose of this guidance is to identify such practices and techniques, summarise their effectiveness, and estimate their relative cost, for consideration by the Parties in the development of national action plans under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
UNEP (2003): Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the Incineration of Municipal Waste. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). [Accessed: 13.03.2012] PDF
Industrial agriculture is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States today. In the 2000 National Water Quality Inventory conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agricultural activity was identified as a source of pollution for 48% of stream and river water, and for 41% of lake water. Read more about it in this article.
SUSTAINABLE TABLE (n.y): Industrial Agriculture Water Pollution. New York: Sustainable Table URL [Accessed: 12.03.2012] PDF
This presentation includes some pictures of insufficient latrines used after an Asian earthquake in 2008.
GAO, J. (2008): Ecological Sanitation in the Earthquake Area. Clean Water Alliances URL [Accessed: 12.03.2012]
Environmental pollution is a major global concern. When sources of water pollution are enumerated, agriculture is, with increasing frequency, listed as a major contributor. As nations make efforts to correct abuses to their water resources, there is a need to determine the causes of water quality degradation and to quantify pollution contributions from many sources. Until such time as adequate facts are made available through research to delineate causes and sources, conflicting opinions continue to flourish and programmes to control and abate pollution will be less effective and efficient in the use of limited resources.
FAO (1996): Control of Water Pollution from Agriculture. Rome: FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) URL [Accessed: 12.03.2012] PDF