Research grants for Sustainable sanitation

IFS/ SIDA invites proposals for sustainable sanitation and grey-water reuse in developing countries. One major component of the global water crisis is the contamination of drinking water supplies with human faeces. The future puts new demands on sanitation solutions as conventional sanitary approaches including the “water based flush sanitation” create serious environmental problems. A promising solution is instead offered through “dry, urine-separating sanitation”. This method is water saving and recycles nutrients back to agriculture, why it is often referred to as ecological sanitation (or “ecosan”).

Sustainable sanitation also includes the reuse of grey-water. Grey-water is identified as the waste water generated in households, excluding the water containing human excreta or urine, but including water from kitchens, bathrooms and washing rooms. Such water can be used as source for additional supplies of water available for irrigation and it often contains the necessary nutrients. In dry regions of the world such waste water is very important, thus treated waste water is already being used for crop production in most peri-urban areas of the developing world.

last date 30th June 2007