Urban sanitation technologies: the challenges of reaching the urban poor

In the densest urban areas of the world, it is impossible to treat and manage excreta and greywater on site. The problem of delivering sustainable sanitation services in these conditions is one of scale, to deal with the excreta and greywater from millions of people. This paper discusses the various technical options and makes recommendations for how to minimise risks as far as possible so as to maximise the health benefits to the residents. Author Richard Holden was invited to write this essay as a contribution to the IRC symposium, Sanitation for the Urban Poor. Richard Holden is a business analyst with the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority in South Africa looking at transformation in the bulk water sector. [Format of the essay is based on WEDC conference paper´s format]

Holden_Essay-Richard_Holden_Sanitation-technolgies-for-the-urban-poor.doc (141.0 kB)