This paper argues that modern, end-of-pipe sanitation systems are not the pinnacle of centuries of wastewater technology development, and may actually prove to be a technological dead-end: expensive to build, operate and maintain, and out of step with traditional wastewater management philosophy. A brief examination of a series of excreta and wastewater management systems from around the world and throughout history clearly shows that viewing faeces, urine and grey water as a worthless waste to be disposed of is only a modern concept, which ignores the realities of limited resource availability, and the obvious benefits to be had from closed-loop systems – as was clearly recognised in the past. While currently, expensive, technically complicated end-of-pipe sanitation systems dominate, several modern systems have been developed specifically to ensure an efficient resource recovery and reuse. Reconsidering and researching historical approaches to wastewater management and applying modern technologies to improve their functionality may contribute to the solution of many of today's sanitation and environmental problems.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
March 01 2007
The road not taken: how traditional excreta and greywater management may point the way to a sustainable future
P. Bracken;
P. Bracken
*c/o EIRENE, B.P. 549, Niamey, République du Niger
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Wachtler;
A. Wachtler
**Walter Gropius Str. 22, Freiburg 79100, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
A.R. Panesar;
**Walter Gropius Str. 22, Freiburg 79100, Germany
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
J. Lange
J. Lange
**Walter Gropius Str. 22, Freiburg 79100, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Supply (2007) 7 (1): 219–227.
Citation
P. Bracken, A. Wachtler, A.R. Panesar, J. Lange; The road not taken: how traditional excreta and greywater management may point the way to a sustainable future. Water Supply 1 March 2007; 7 (1): 219–227. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2007.025
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
eBook
Pay-Per-View Access
$38.00