Francis de los Reyes: Sanitation is a basic human right

Summary

This talk by an engineering professor delves into the critical issue of global sanitation, highlighting the 2.5 billion people lacking adequate facilities and the 1.1 billion practicing open defecation. The speaker discusses the cultural aspects of waste disposal, the risks of inadequate sanitation, and the challenges of scaling traditional toilet infrastructure. They advocate for a systems approach, emphasizing the need for innovative, context-sensitive sanitation solutions that consider the entire waste management chain, from collection to reuse. The talk concludes with a call for governments to prioritize sanitation infrastructure, similar to roads and schools, and presents a student-designed solution for safer pit latrine emptying.

Takeaways

• 👨‍🏫 The speaker is an engineering professor with a focus on wastewater treatment and sanitation, emphasizing the importance of protecting surface water.
• 🚽 They've developed an obsession with toilets and the cultural aspects of sanitation, including the differences between 'washers' and 'wipers'.
• 🌍 There's a significant global sanitation crisis, with 2.5 billion people lacking adequate sanitation and 1.1 billion practicing open defecation.
• 🏥 Poor sanitation leads to severe health issues, contributing to 1.5 million child deaths annually due to diseases spread through contaminated environments.
• 🏭 Traditional sanitation infrastructure like pit latrines has limitations, especially when it comes to emptying and maintaining them.
• 💡 The speaker advocates for a systems-thinking approach to sanitation, considering the entire chain from waste collection to reuse.
• 🌱 Innovative solutions like urine-diverting toilets can separate waste for treatment and resource recovery, turning it into valuable products like fertilizers.
• 💧 Reusing treated water in on-site sanitation systems, such as planter boxes or constructed wetlands, is a sustainable approach to managing waste.
• 💼 Governments should invest in sanitation infrastructure as they do with roads and schools, as it yields significant economic and health benefits.
• 🔧 Engineering students have developed a simple screw auger system to safely empty pit latrines, improving working conditions and creating business opportunities.

Q & A

What has the engineering professor been teaching about for the past 14 years?

The engineering professor has been teaching about human waste, its conveyance through wastewater treatment plants, and the engineering and design of these treatment plants to protect surface water like rivers.

What is the professor's scientific career focused on?

The professor's scientific career is based on using leading-edge molecular techniques, such as DNA- and RNA-based methods, to study microbial populations in biological reactors and optimize these systems.

Why has the professor developed an obsession with toilets?

The professor has developed an obsession with toilets as part of their research into sanitation and the culture of crap, which includes understanding different toilet practices around the world.

What is the significance of the terms 'washers' and 'wipers' in the context of the script?

In the script, 'washers' refer to people who use water for anal cleansing, while 'wipers' use toilet paper or other materials like newspaper, rags, or corncobs depending on regional availability.

How many people worldwide lack access to adequate sanitation according to the script?

According to the script, 2.5 billion people in the world do not have access to adequate sanitation.

What is the term used to describe the practice of defecating in public spaces?

The term used to describe the practice of defecating in public spaces is 'open defecation'.

What is the estimated number of child deaths per year due to inadequate sanitation as mentioned in the script?

The United Nations estimates that there are 1.5 million child deaths per year due to inadequate sanitation.

What is the issue with scaling up pit latrines as a sanitation solution?

The issue with scaling up pit latrines is what happens when the pits are full, leading to defecation around the toilet and the need for manual emptying, which is dangerous and often done without proper protective equipment.

Why is it not feasible to build Western-style flush toilets for the 2.5 billion people lacking adequate sanitation?

It is not feasible due to lack of water and energy, the high cost of laying sewer lines and building facilities, and the risk of improper construction leading to direct discharge into rivers.

What is the professor's argument for rethinking sanitation infrastructure?

The professor argues for systems thinking, looking at the whole sanitation chain from human interface to reuse, and employing locally adoptable and context-sensitive solutions.

What is an example of an alternative sanitation technology mentioned in the script?

An example of an alternative sanitation technology is the urine-diverting toilet, which separates urine and fecal material for different treatments and potential reuse.

How does the professor suggest governments should approach funding for sanitation infrastructure?

The professor suggests that governments should fund sanitation infrastructure in the same way they fund roads, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure, as it is a basic human right and an investment that yields significant returns.

What is the innovative solution developed by students at North Carolina State University for pit emptying?

The students developed a modified screw auger that can move waste from the pit into a collecting drum, eliminating the need for workers to descend into the pits.