This paper presents a review of currently available data from the literature on the undrained shear strength, bulk density, stickiness and debris content of faecal sludge. Those data have been used to develop two different simulants that replicate the full range of shear strengths and densities reported for faecal sludge. Comprehensive specifications are also presented for the debris or solid waste found in latrines to more closely replicate the challenge of pumping faecal sludge. Finally, a design guide has been produced to capture these results and support quantitative performance testing of desludging pumps. The simulants have already been used as part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Faecal Sludge Omni-Ingestor project and by Water for People's SaniHub in developing improved desludging pumps. The wider use of these simulants could accelerate the development of pit emptying technologies and help standardize the quantitative evaluation of their performance.
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Research Article|
June 10 2015
Faecal sludge simulants to aid the development of desludging technologies
J. T. Radford;
1Mott MacDonald, Demeter House, Station Road, Cambridge CB1 2RS, UK
E-mail: james.radford@mottmac.com
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C. Underdown;
C. Underdown
2Mott MacDonald, One Supply Chain West, Lamledge Lane, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8SD, UK
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K. Velkushanova;
K. Velkushanova
3Pollution Research Group, Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
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A. Byrne;
A. Byrne
3Pollution Research Group, Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
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D. P. K. Smith;
D. P. K. Smith
4Water for People, Plot 9, Olumi Close, Kitante, Kampala, Uganda
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R. A. Fenner;
R. A. Fenner
5Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK
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J. Pietrovito;
J. Pietrovito
6Columbia Tech, 27 Otis Street, Westborough, MA, USA
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A. Whitesell
A. Whitesell
7Beaumont, 232 Pouli Road, Kailua HI 96734, USA
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Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development (2015) 5 (3): 456–464.
Article history
Received:
January 25 2015
Accepted:
May 10 2015
Citation
J. T. Radford, C. Underdown, K. Velkushanova, A. Byrne, D. P. K. Smith, R. A. Fenner, J. Pietrovito, A. Whitesell; Faecal sludge simulants to aid the development of desludging technologies. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 1 September 2015; 5 (3): 456–464. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2015.014
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