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.
The practical guidelines for test pumping presented in this publication reflect years of hands-on experience in borehole exploitation in both rural and urban settings, from Africa to the Middle East and Asia.
ICRC (2011): Technical Review. Practical Guidelines for Test Pumping in Water Wells. Geneva: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) URL [Accessed: 21.03.2012] PDF
The manual ‘Understanding Groundwater & Wells in manual drilling’ complements the 4 technical training handbooks and highlights those essential subjects which are relevant to manual drilling, geo-hydrology, hygiene, well installation and well development in practice, in simple and understandable language.
WAL, A. van der (2010): Understanding Groundwater & Wells in Manual Drilling. Instruction Handbook for Manual Drilling Teams on Hydro-geology for Well Drilling, Well Installation and Well Development. Papendrecht: PRACTICA Foundation URL [Accessed: 21.03.2012] PDF
The Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN), in collaboration with UNICEF, recently published a Code of Practice for Cost Effective Boreholes. This document outlines principles that provide a basis for the realisation of economical and sustainable access to safe water through the construction of boreholes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Evaluation of these principles in specific countries underlined the importance of improved contractual procedures and technical specifications for significant reductions in drilling costs.
UNICEF (2011): Improving Cost Effectiveness of Drilling Programmes in Mozambique and Zambia. New York: UNICEF PDF
This field note describes the history of hand drilling and water-lifting techniques introduced in Niger over 30 years ago and now firmly in the hands of local enterprises, farmers and household water users. Recommendations for the way forward are included.
DANERT, K. (2006): A Brief History of Hand Drilled Wells in Niger. Only the Beginning. St. Gallen: Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN) URL [Accessed: 21.03.2012] PDF
WSSCC is pleased to announce the launch of the Global Sanitation Fund! Plus updates on AfricaSan and Sanitation and Hygiene in South Asia workshop. News from the Secretariat: The Global Sanitation Fund is launched! World Water Day 2008 Central Celebrations in Geneva AfricaSan - Sanitation moving up the Priority Ladder WSSCC Members & Partners: Sanitation & Hygiene in South Asia a Practitioners’ View Zura Mendikulova, WSSCC National Coordinator for Kyrgyzstan, speaks about the International Year of Sanitation
WSSCC (2008): Newsletter April 2008 . Genf : Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC). [Accessed: 20.03.2012]The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) is a global multi-stakeholder partnership and membership organisation that works to save lives and improve livelihoods. It does so by enhancing collaboration among sector agencies and professionals who are working to improve access for the 2.5 billion people without safe sanitation and the 884 million people without clean drinking water. Through its work, WSSCC contributes to the broader goals of poverty eradication, health and environmental improvement, gender equality and long-term social and economic development. WSSCC has coalitions in 35 countries, members in more than 160 countries, and a Geneva-based Secretariat hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
WSSCC (2008): Hurry Up!. Postcard. Genf: WSSCC URL [Accessed: 20.03.2012]
This new book deals not only with emergency response, but also with measures designed to reduce the impact of disasters on environmental health infrastructure, such as water supply and sanitation facilities. It also aims to strengthen the ability of people to withstand the disruption of their accustomed infrastructure and systems for environmental health (e.g. shelter, water supply, sanitation, vector control etc.) and to recover rapidly.
WISNER, B. ADAMS, J. (2002): Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters. A Practical Guide. Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO) URL [Accessed: 20.03.2012]
Nearly half of India’s 1.2 billion people have no toilet at home, but more people own a mobile phone, according to the latest census data.
DIETVORST, C. (2012): India Census: More People Have a Mobile Phone than a Household Toilet. Sanitation Update URL [Accessed: 20.03.2012]
Traditional practices related to wastewater sludge management include dedicated land disposal, waste piling, landfill disposal and, to a lesser degree, use in agricultural practices. However, due to varying reasons, on-site land disposal and waste piling have become the standard management options for many wastewater treatment plants in South Africa today. With sludge production increasing on a daily basis, it has however become apparent that current practices are unsustainable with sludge management becoming a problem for many municipalities in South Africa. Innovative solutions need to be sought to create opportunities that provide a wide spectrum of options to the management of wastewater sludge. This guideline aims to provide options and opportunities for this innovation and to encourage the beneficial use of wastewater sludge. Where wastewater sludge cannot be used as a resource, the guidelines also provide for its disposal in a responsible manner.
HERSELMAN, J. E. BURGER, L. W. MOODLEY, P. (2008): Guidelines for the Utilisation and Disposal of Wastewater Sludge. Volume 5: Requirements for thermal sludge management practices and for commercial products containing sludge. Pretoria: Water Research Commission (WRC) URL [Accessed: 19.03.2012]
The overall goal of the project is to develop a methodology for determining emission factors for unintentional POPs generated in open waste burning processes. The second objective is to develop scientifically sound emission factors for open burning of waste with active participation of developing countries and under their national and local conditions. The project will provide validated emission factors for Toolkit and an enhanced methodology for the determination of the national activity. The final users will be Parties to the Stockholm Convention in their national reporting.
UNEP (2009): Hazardous Substances from Open Burning Waste in Developing Countries. Osaka/Shiga: United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). [Accessed: 19.03.2012] PDF
This report is intended as a further step in a global dialogue to engage the international waste community, identify the key issues, and create a strategy that will deliver significant climate benefit in the waste sector.
UNEP (2010): Waste and Climate Change. Osaka/Shiga: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) URL [Accessed: 19.03.2012]
This guideline provides practical information on the siting and construction of small-scale incinerators for biomedical waste treatment in Imidugudu, small towns and cities.
REMA (2010): Practical Tools on Small-scale Incinerators for Biomedical Waste Management. Kigali City: Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) URL [Accessed: 19.03.2012]
This guidebook is intended to be a practical guide for selecting, purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining small-scale incinerators in low-resource settings. Small-scale refers to incinerators with a capacity to destroy approximately 12 to 100 kilograms of waste per hour. For the duration of this document, the term incinerator will refer to small-scale incinerators. This guide was designed to help program planners address the challenges of safe management of health care waste (HCW). Every country and health setting faces different challenges to managing HCW safely. There is no one solution or technology that meets all needs. Programs must spend time to effectively plan and introduce any treatment solutions. The following information has been gathered to assist with this process.
PATH (2010): The Incinerator Guidebook. A Practical Guide for Selecting, Purchasing, Installing, Operating and Maintaining Small-Scale Incinerators in Low-Resource Settings. Seattle: PATH URL [Accessed: 19.03.2012]
This study identifies the needs and experiences of girls regarding menstruation. It draws upon participatory group workshops, a questionnaire and semi structured interviews with school-age girls in Malawi to make various recommendations, including lessons about menstrual hygiene management (MHM), girl-friendly toilet designs, and the provision of suitable and cheap sanitary protection.
PIPER-PILLITTERI, S. (2012): School Menstrual Hygiene Management in Malawi: More than Toilets. London: WaterAid URL [Accessed: 17.03.2012]
The objectives of this study are to model for 10 low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: 1) The distribution of sanitation-related health burden by wealth quintile; 2) The distribution of health benefits for targeting different wealth quintile groups; 3) The spatial distribution of sanitation-related health burden and benefits
RHEINGANS, R. ; CUMMING, O. ; ANDERSON, J. ; SHOWALTER, J. (2012): Estimating Inequities in Sanitation-related Disease Burden and Estimating the Potential Impacts of Propoor Targeting. London: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine URL [Accessed: 16.03.2012]
The paper assesses groundwater suitability for irrigation purposes in Debre Kidane Watershed in northern Ethiopia.
TADESSE, N. BHEEMALINGESWARA, K. BERHANE, A. (2009): Groundwater Suitability for Irrigation. A Case Study from Debre Kidane Watershed, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia. Mekelle: Mekelle University URL [Accessed: 15.03.2012] PDF