World Health Organization on Environmental sanitation

Water and sanitation has always been an important part of WHO activities. A
continuity that is admirable in itself, as many other health aspects came and went.
Naturally, the perception of what is clean water and good sanitation evolved over
the years. At the conception of the WHO water and waste disposal (i.e. Sanitation)
were a part of what was called Environmental Sanitation, a term that has
occasionally resurfaced in water and sanitation policy documents. The WHO`s
constitution describes as one of its functions: the improvement of…,sanitation,…and
other aspects of environmental hygiene. This is the basis on which the organization
can execute its activities in the field of water, sanitation and health.

During the first decade of the WHO water and sanitation were a part of
environmental sanitation together with food, housing etc. Environmental sanitation
was defined as: the control of all those factors in man's physical environment which
exercise or may exercise a deleterious effect on his physical, mental or social well-
being. Methods for the safe and adequate disposal of excreta and sewage and clean
and ample water supplies were among the priorities.

The rationale behind environmental sanitation and all subsequent water sanitation
programmes was to mimize the burden of water associated ill-health. The two main
categories of water related diseases are diarrhoeal diseases and vector-borne
diseases. Water related ill-health has been for a very long time the main cause of
morbidity and mortality, especially in the developing world. The diarrhoeal diseases
are caused through direct contact, in any way, with water whereas the vector-borne
diseases are transported to humans by insects. Both types of diseases therefore have
a different association to water. The diarrhoeal diseases can be prevented through
the provision of safe drinking water and the safe, hygienic disposal of human waste,
especially excreta and hygienic behavior. From the water perspective, vector-borne
diseases are fought through the proper management of water resources so as to
prevent vectors a habitat. Throughout the WHO`s existence several approaches have
been used to combat both types of diseases. With it came different programmes, a
changing role for the WHO, a changing perception of the problems and possible
solutions. But the rationale behind water sanitation has remained the same: to
prevent water associated ill-health and through that ill-health's severe social and
economic consequences.

Differential Views on Environmental Sanitation

Environmental sanitation includes human excreta control, managing solid waste and
wastewater, and pest and vector control. Sanitation and environmental hygiene
issues must be analyzed during the initial assessment. In CEs considerations for
sanitation needs are included during the camp planning and layout. As with the
other sectors, refugees/IDPs and community leaders should be consulted and
involved at every level of planning. Advice from sanitation engineers and experts
regarding appropriate sanitation facilities is solicited as necessary. Health education
programs should be in place early to prevent outbreak of diseases especially among
children.

Human excreta should be kept away from sources of water and accommodation.
Immediate action is taken to localize excreta disposal and prevent contamination of
the water supply. Cultural and physical factors observed by the populations in
excreta disposal are taken into consideration. Appropriate anal cleaning and hand
washing materials are provided. The Sphere Project recommends that each person
should be supplied with at least 250 g of soap per month. Adequate numbers of
latrines should be placed at no more than 50 m from dwellings in a manner that
populations (i.e., women and children) can use safely at night. At the beginning of an
emergency before latrines are constructed, trench latrines or defecation fields may
be used. Care is taken to place them far away from the general population to ensure
that contamination does not occur. Once constructed, a maximum of 20 people
should use one latrine.

For solid waste, garbage disposal areas must be designated and access to them is
restricted especially for children. The quantity of garbage can become substantial
especially around market places. If not taken care of, an accumulation of garbage
becomes breeding ground for rodents, vermin, and other pests. Garbage
management should be done by providing individual households with metal bins for
refuse disposal. A 100-l drum is used by 10 families as a refuse bin. Garbage is either
disposed by sanitary landfilling (controlled tipping), incineration, or composting.

Waste Water Treatment

Wastewater treatment requires proper drainage be put in place to prevent water

from stagnating around distribution points. Stagnated wastewater can be a breeding
place for vectors like mosquitoes. Channeling water away from homes into kitchen
gardens is most ideal. Sufficient tools are provided to families for maintaining the
drainage systems as necessary. Good drainage should be in place at water points and
sanitary facilities like showers, toilets, and washing areas.

Wastewater refers to any water that is not clean or is adversely affected in quality by
human-induced activities. Wastewater originates from a combination of domestic,
industrial, commercial, or agricultural activities. Wastewater treatment or
management refers to the processes used to convert wastewater into an effluent
that can be either returned to the water cycle with negligible environmental impact
or can be reused.

The major objective of wastewater treatment is generally to allow human and

industrial effluents to be disposed of without danger to human health or
unacceptable damage to the natural environment.

Wastewater Treatment Process

Phase Separation − It transfers impurities into a non-aqueous phase.

Sedimentation − Sedimentation is a physical water treatment process using gravity

to remove suspended solids from water. Solid particles entrained by the turbulence
of moving water may be removed naturally by sedimentation in the still water of
lakes and oceans.
Filtration − Suspension of fine solids may be removed by filtration through physical
barriers such as coarser screens or sieves.

Oxidation − This process diminishes the biochemical oxygen demand of wastewater

and may reduce the toxicity of some impurities. Advanced Oxidation Processes
(AOPs) are a set of chemical treatment of wastewater purported to remove organic
and also inorganic materials in waste water by oxidation through reaction with
hydroxyl radicals.

Chemical oxidation may remove some persistent organic pollutants and

concentrations remaining after biochemical oxidation.

Wastewater treatment plants are set up for effective treatment of wastewater. They
may be distinguished by the type of wastewater to be treated. They are as follows.

 Sewage treatment plants

 Industrial wastewater treatment plants
 Agricultural wastewater treatment plants

Why Treat Wastewater?

It's a matter of caring for our environment and for our own health. There are a lot of
good reasons why keeping our water clean is an important priority:

FISHERIES: Clean water is critical to plants and animals that live in water. This is
important to the fishing industry, sport fishing enthusiasts, and future generations.

WILDLIFE HABITATS: Our rivers and ocean waters teem with life that depends on
shoreline, beaches and marshes. They are critical habitats for hundreds of species of
fish and other aquatic life. Migratory water birds use the areas for resting and
feeding.

RECREATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE: Water is a great playground for us all. The
scenic and recreational values of our waters are reasons many people choose to live
where they do. Visitors are drawn to water activities such as swimming, fishing,
boating and picnicking.

HEALTH CONCERNS: If it is not properly cleaned, water can carry disease. Since we
live, work and play so close to water, harmful bacteria have to be removed to make
water safe.

If wastewater is not properly treated, then the environment and human health can
be negatively impacted. These impacts can include harm to fish and wildlife
populations, oxygen depletion, beach closures and other restrictions on recreational
water use, restrictions on fish and shellfish harvesting and contamination of drinking
water. Environment Canada provides some examples of pollutants that can be found
in wastewater and the potentially harmful effects these substances can have on
ecosystems and human health:

 Decaying organic matter and debris can use up the dissolved oxygen in a lake
so fish and other aquatic biota cannot survive;
 Excessive nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen (including ammonia),
can cause eutrophication, or over-fertilization of receiving waters, which can
be toxic to aquatic organisms, promote excessive plant growth, reduce
available oxygen, harm spawning grounds, alter habitat and lead to a decline
in certain species;
 Chlorine compounds and inorganic chloramines can be toxic to aquatic
invertebrates, algae and fish;
 Bacteria, viruses and disease-causing pathogens can pollute beaches and
contaminate shellfish populations, leading to restrictions on human
recreation, drinking water consumption and shellfish consumption;
 Metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic can have
acute and chronic toxic effects on species.
 Other substances such as some pharmaceutical and personal care products,
primarily entering the environment in wastewater effluents, may also pose
threats to human health, aquatic life and wildlife.
 Generalization on Environmental Sanitation and Wastewater treatment

Interventions that reduce peoples’ exposure to disease by providing a clean

environment in which to live, with measures to break the cycle of disease. This
usually includes hygienic management of human and animal excreta, solid waste,
wastewater, and stormwater; the control of disease vectors; and the provision of
washing facilities for personal and domestic hygiene. Environmental Sanitation
involves both behaviours and facilities that work together to form a hygienic
environment.

The major aim of wastewater treatment is to remove as much of the suspended

solids as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to
the environment. As solid material decays, it uses up oxygen, which is needed by the
plants and animals living in the water.

"Primary treatment" removes about 60 percent of suspended solids from

wastewater. This treatment also involves aerating (stirring up) the wastewater, to
put oxygen back in. Secondary treatment removes more than 90 percent of
suspended solids.

REFERENCES

 Environmental Sanitation. Retrieved from

https://sswm.info/content/environmental-sanitation
 Onyango M. & Uwase, M. (2017). Humanitarian Response to Complex
Emergencies and Natural Disasters. International Encyclopedia of Public
Health (Second Edition). Retrieved from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-
sciences/environmental-sanitation
 Waste Water Management. Retrieved from
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_studies/environmental_stud
ies_water_waste_management.htm
 Water Science School. Wastewater Treatment Water Use. Retrieved from
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-
school/science/wastewater-treatment-water-use?qt-
science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects