When we consider global sanitation from within the framework of sustainable development, we are both failing to meet the needs of the present and are jeopardizing the capacity of future generations to do so. The primary function of sanitation and waste treatment is the protection of public health, but it is urgent that we also consider the long-term sustainability of sanitation and waste treatment systems. Our choice of sanitation and waste treatment systems is intimately connected to the greatest equity and sustainability challenges of our time, and we need something better than the Porcelain Dream (i.e. flush toilets, sewerage, and centralized conventional wastewater treatment). This thesis explores the design of sustainable sanitation systems from three different but complementary perspectives: 1. In a material flow analysis (MFA), I evaluate the positive impact of ecological sanitation (or the reuse of nutrients in excreta for agriculture) as an intervention to mitigate nitrogen pollution and improve stewardship of the global nitrogen cycle. I find that ecological sanitation can substitute 51% of nitrogenous fertilizer use, reduce discharge of nitrogen to waterways by 71%, decrease nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by 34%, and improve the circularity of the agricultural-sanitation nitrogen cycle by 22%. 2. Through environmental engineering research, I derive fundamental drying characteristics of fresh faeces to support the development of ecological and sustainable sanitation. Based on this characterization, I propose the use of the Guggenheim, Anderson, and de Boer (GAB) model for predicting the relationship between water activity (aw) and equilibrium moisture content, calculating the heat of sorption, and estimating the corresponding energy requirements for drying of fresh faeces. Given an anticipated range of initial moisture contents of 63 to 86%, I estimate an energy requirement of 0.05 to 0.4 kJ/mol to inactivate pathogens in fresh faeces. 3. Via an evaluation of the composting toilet project at the University of Victoria (UVic), I explore factors critical to promoting a paradigm shift from the conventional to more ecological and sustainable systems. I identify the following as factors that facilitated implementation in the Exploration and Adoption/Preparation phases: supportive and self-reinforcing research and outcomes, favorable adopter characteristics, and the technology’s beneficial features. The overall objective of the research is to communicate that the design of sustainable sanitation systems is urgent, with implications both locally and globally, and to provide information to support a shift towards more sustainable sanitation systems. / Graduate / 2020-12-11

Orientador: Carmenlucia Santos / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Tecnologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T18:31:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sa_MairaCristinade_M.pdf: 8918463 bytes, checksum: 8d93232578304bb1a685f3579452838f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O banheiro seco compostável é um sistema que não emprega água para eliminar os dejetos, que sofrem um processo de compostagem em uma câmara, sendo biodegradados. Este sistema vem sendo difundido em diversos países, como uma forma de saneamento sustentável; no Brasil o seu uso ainda é pouco difundido. Esta técnica representa uma boa alternativa para a solução dos problemas de saneamento básico, principalmente em comunidades que não têm acesso à rede coletora e ao tratamento de esgotos. No entanto, existe a necessidade de um melhor entendimento, aperfeiçoamento, avaliação e divulgação do uso correto dos sistemas de banheiros secos, para que estes possam ser efetivamente utilizados, sem ocasionar danos à saúde pública e ao meio ambiente. Nesta pesquisa foram avaliadas as características e a qualidade do composto final produzido em três banheiros instalados no Estado de São Paulo. Foram realizadas coletas de material, medições de temperatura e ensaios físico-químicos e biológicos, utilizando metodologias de análises e padrões de qualidade indicados para compostos orgânicos; além de comparar, entre os banheiros estudados, os aspectos construtivos e operacionais. Os resultados mostraram que a qualidade do composto está diretamente relacionada aos cuidados operacionais durante o uso do banheiro e o processo de compostagem; seguindo os limites estabelecido pelas Instruções Normativas do MAPA, o parâmetro pH, que deve ter o valor mínimo de 6, foi o que esteve mais discrepante com relação aos limites estabelecidos; para os ensaios de patogenicidade, com determinação de coliformes totais e termotolerantes, ovos viáveis de helmintos e salmonella, os resultados foram satisfatórios, porém observou-se a necessidade de acompanhar o estado de saúde dos usuários e testar outras metodologias para obter a confirmação da segurança sanitária do composto produzido neste tipo de banheiro / Abstract: The dry composting toilet is a sanitary system that not uses water to eliminate the excreta, which are degraded in a chamber by a composting process. Dry toilets have been widespread in many countries, as a sustainable sanitation alternative; in Brazil their use is not spread yet. This technique represents a good alternative to solve the basic sanitation issues, mainly in communities where sewage collection and treatment systems are not available. However, there is a need to better understand the dry toilet technique, as well as to improve, to evaluate and to spread the correct use of dry toilets since they can be effectively used without cause any harm to environment and public health. In this research the quality and characteristics of the compost produced in three toilets installed in the State of São Paulo were evaluated. Compost sampling, temperature measurements, biological, physical and chemical analysis were carried out using analysis methodologies and quality standards for organic compost; besides the operational and constructive aspects of the three toilets were evaluated. The results have shown that the compost quality is directly related to the operational issues during toilet use and to the composting process; following the limits established by Normative Instructions MAPA, the parameter pH, which must have a minimum value of 6, what was most discrepant with respect to established limits, for tests of pathogenicity with determination of total and fecal coliforms, viable eggs helminth and Salmonella, the results were satisfactory, however it was found that is necessary to monitor the health state of the users, and also, to test other methodologies in order to obtain a confirmation of the sanitary security of the compost produced by the dry toilets / Mestrado / Tecnologia e Inovação / Mestre em Tecnologia

Off-grid houses in the United States are often connoted with mostly non-professional, home-made structures and isolated, hippie living in remote rural areas. These off-grid homeowners may also complete their consumer-independent commitment with a minimal-waste, land-dependent lifestyle that includes methodical harnessing and recycling of resources and materials, raising livestock, and productive gardening on the property. This research paper explores the background, methods and kinds of typical off-grid living structures, their ability to harness natural resources for function and performance, and the ability of its occupants to remain resilient in the face of depleting fuel resources, extreme weather patterns, and rising costs of living. The goal of this research is to propose modern and resilient off-grid housing design to exist as normalized, micro-communities within typical suburban communities in the United States. The housing prototype, sited in Dudley, Massachusetts, optimizes passive resources for heating and cooling thermal comfort, prefabricated materials for construction, and modern technology for inhabitation. Its hyper-local design incorporates building science that integrates researched techniques and philosophies from current movements of sustainable design in the United States and Canada, such as Passive House, Net Zero, LEED, and the Living Building Challenge.