Development and Performance Evaluation of a Low-Cost Household-Scale Fecal Sludge Treatment Unit for Sustainable Sanitation in Low-Income Urban Settings

Efficacious fecal sludge management (FSM) is pivotal for sustainable civic sanitation, particularly in tremendously growing cities where conventional wastewater infrastructure is inadequate. The obligation to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2 by 2030 necessitates an urgent focus on fecal sludge management in low- and middle-income nations. This study focuses on small-scale household fecal sludge treatment (FST) as a critical component of sustainable sanitation and environmental protection. It explores the design and implementation of a household FST unit by using available materials, emphasizing the need for efficient fecal waste management at the household level. Laboratory experiments assessed the unit's performance and the reduction of various parameters like Total Solids, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, COD, BOD, Total Coliforms (TC), and Fecal Coliforms (FC). The results revealed that pH increased by 45.71%, BOD decreased by 80%, and FC decreased by 95.67%, indicating the unit's effectiveness for fecal sludge treatment by gradually adjusting pH levels. The concentration of heavy metals is decreasing, which also shows better performance of the treatment components. Moreover, the treatment unit may replace the sewage system in low-income countries and uphold better sanitation and hygiene.