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Ecological sanitation: a sustainable dream or reality? : exploring complexity of transitions to more sustainable sanitation practices : a case-study of Burmi Tola, India

Myers, Jamie LU (2013) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM01 20131
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
In the world today 2.5 billion have no access to improved sanitation. This causes social, economic and environmental consequences and therefore weakens all three pillars of sustainability. The sanitation deficit although decreasing in relative terms has increased in absolute numbers since 1990. Conventional water-based systems are costly, pollute the environment and require heavy resource use. This study looks at ways to implement and design more sustainable sanitation technologies. Using a qualitative case study design semi-structured interviews were taken in the field on site of an ecological sanitation pilot project where human excreta is collected, rendered safe and then used a fertiliser. From the data collected it showed that... (More)
In the world today 2.5 billion have no access to improved sanitation. This causes social, economic and environmental consequences and therefore weakens all three pillars of sustainability. The sanitation deficit although decreasing in relative terms has increased in absolute numbers since 1990. Conventional water-based systems are costly, pollute the environment and require heavy resource use. This study looks at ways to implement and design more sustainable sanitation technologies. Using a qualitative case study design semi-structured interviews were taken in the field on site of an ecological sanitation pilot project where human excreta is collected, rendered safe and then used a fertiliser. From the data collected it showed that although people may use the technology there exists important social barriers that contradict with community values. The results and subsequent discussion show the need to include communities in the designing of new sanitation technologies therefore lessening this conflict. A new model is proposed based on the Transition Management literature to search for new sustainability visions and come up with innovative designs that are valued by people who will use them. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Myers, Jamie LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM01 20131
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
transition theory, sustainability science, sanitation, international development, toilets
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2013:019
language
English
id
3812817
date added to LUP
2013-06-14 10:54:22
date last changed
2013-06-14 10:54:22
@misc{3812817,
  abstract     = {{In the world today 2.5 billion have no access to improved sanitation. This causes social, economic and environmental consequences and therefore weakens all three pillars of sustainability. The sanitation deficit although decreasing in relative terms has increased in absolute numbers since 1990. Conventional water-based systems are costly, pollute the environment and require heavy resource use. This study looks at ways to implement and design more sustainable sanitation technologies. Using a qualitative case study design semi-structured interviews were taken in the field on site of an ecological sanitation pilot project where human excreta is collected, rendered safe and then used a fertiliser. From the data collected it showed that although people may use the technology there exists important social barriers that contradict with community values. The results and subsequent discussion show the need to include communities in the designing of new sanitation technologies therefore lessening this conflict. A new model is proposed based on the Transition Management literature to search for new sustainability visions and come up with innovative designs that are valued by people who will use them.}},
  author       = {{Myers, Jamie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Ecological sanitation: a sustainable dream or reality? : exploring complexity of transitions to more sustainable sanitation practices : a case-study of Burmi Tola, India}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}