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Alison Parker
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK

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Perspective
Published: 01 February 2021 in One Earth
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Summary Much previous research shows that safe disposal of human waste has a positive impact on human wellbeing, while preventing the degradation of ecosystems. However, to date, the role that ecosystems themselves play in treating human waste has been largely neglected. We conceptualize the role nature plays in treating human waste—acting as a pipeline and/or treatment plant. We estimate that nature is treating ~41.7 million tons of human waste per year worldwide, a service worth at least 4.4 ± 3.0 billion USD year−1. We demonstrate the opportunities and challenges of quantifying these "sanitation ecosystem services," using 48 cities across the globe as a worked example. In highlighting this, we are not marginalizing the vital role of engineered infrastructure, but instead are promoting better understanding of how engineered and natural infrastructure interact within a circular economy. This is a promising route for further research and may allow adaptive design and management, reducing costs, and improving effectiveness and sustainability.

ACS Style

Simon Willcock; Alison Parker; Charlotte Wilson; Tim Brewer; Dilshaad Bundhoo; Sarah Cooper; Kenneth Lynch; Sneha Mekala; Prajna Paramita Mishra; Dolores Rey; Indunee Welivita; Kongala Venkatesh; Paul Hutchings. Nature provides valuable sanitation services. One Earth 2021, 4, 192 -201.

AMA Style

Simon Willcock, Alison Parker, Charlotte Wilson, Tim Brewer, Dilshaad Bundhoo, Sarah Cooper, Kenneth Lynch, Sneha Mekala, Prajna Paramita Mishra, Dolores Rey, Indunee Welivita, Kongala Venkatesh, Paul Hutchings. Nature provides valuable sanitation services. One Earth. 2021; 4 (2):192-201.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Simon Willcock; Alison Parker; Charlotte Wilson; Tim Brewer; Dilshaad Bundhoo; Sarah Cooper; Kenneth Lynch; Sneha Mekala; Prajna Paramita Mishra; Dolores Rey; Indunee Welivita; Kongala Venkatesh; Paul Hutchings. 2021. "Nature provides valuable sanitation services." One Earth 4, no. 2: 192-201.

Journal article
Published: 01 February 2021 in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
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Growing evidence suggests current water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions do not improve domestic hygiene sufficiently to improve infant health, nor consider the age-specific behaviors which increase infection risk. A household playspace (HPS) is described as one critical intervention to reduce direct fecal–oral transmission within formative growth periods. This article details both the design and development (materials and methods), and testing (results) of a HPS for rural Ethiopian households. Design and testing followed a multi-sectoral, multistep participatory process. This included a focus group discussion (FGD), two user-centered and participatory design workshops in the United Kingdom and Ethiopia, discussions with local manufacturers, and a Trials by Improved Practices (TIPs) leading to a final prototype design. Testing included the FGD and TIPs study and a subsequent randomized controlled feasibility trial in Ethiopian households. This multi-sectoral, multistage development process demonstrated a HPS is an acceptable and feasible intervention in these low-income, rural subsistence Ethiopian households. A HPS may help reduce fecal–oral transmission and infection—particularly in settings where free-range domestic livestock present an increased risk. With the need to better tailor interventions to improve infant health, this article also provides a framework for future groups developing similar material inputs and highlights the value of participatory design in this field.

ACS Style

Sophie Budge; Alison Parker; Paul Hutchings; Camila Garbutt; Julia Rosenbaum; Tizita Tulu; Fitsume Woldemedhin; Mohammedyasin Jemal; Bhavin Engineer; Leon Williams. Multi-Sectoral Participatory Design of a BabyWASH Playspace for Rural Ethiopian Households. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2021, 104, 884 -897.

AMA Style

Sophie Budge, Alison Parker, Paul Hutchings, Camila Garbutt, Julia Rosenbaum, Tizita Tulu, Fitsume Woldemedhin, Mohammedyasin Jemal, Bhavin Engineer, Leon Williams. Multi-Sectoral Participatory Design of a BabyWASH Playspace for Rural Ethiopian Households. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2021; 104 (3):884-897.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sophie Budge; Alison Parker; Paul Hutchings; Camila Garbutt; Julia Rosenbaum; Tizita Tulu; Fitsume Woldemedhin; Mohammedyasin Jemal; Bhavin Engineer; Leon Williams. 2021. "Multi-Sectoral Participatory Design of a BabyWASH Playspace for Rural Ethiopian Households." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 104, no. 3: 884-897.

Journal article
Published: 09 December 2020 in Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
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Achieving universal sanitation in informal settlements will depend on improved onsite sanitation, as sewer systems are unlikely to be viable solutions due to technical and political constraints. In Nairobi, Kenya, 60% of the population live among its 150 informal settlements, occupying only 5% of its total residential land. This research assessed the role of informal pit emptiers in providing sanitation in Mukuru and Kibera, two of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi, and the barriers to achieving improved services. Through qualitative data collection, the research found that pit emptiers are institutionally and physically outside of the current paradigm of sanitation service delivery. There is no infrastructure available to remove waste from informal settlements, except for a transfer station that is being piloted by Sanergy, and instead waste ends up disposed in the community. The pit emptiers also face violence and intimidation from competitors or locals claiming ownership of territory. Providing improved sanitation in such areas will depend on the provision of new infrastructure, but this can only succeed with a detailed understanding of the competing and vested interests that can enable or undermine a project.

ACS Style

Adrian Mallory; Lilian Omoga; Domenic Kiogora; Joy Riungu; Dorothy Kagendi; Alison Parker. Understanding the role of informal pit emptiers in sanitation in Nairobi through case studies in Mukuru and Kibera settlements. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 2020, 11, 51 -59.

AMA Style

Adrian Mallory, Lilian Omoga, Domenic Kiogora, Joy Riungu, Dorothy Kagendi, Alison Parker. Understanding the role of informal pit emptiers in sanitation in Nairobi through case studies in Mukuru and Kibera settlements. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development. 2020; 11 (1):51-59.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adrian Mallory; Lilian Omoga; Domenic Kiogora; Joy Riungu; Dorothy Kagendi; Alison Parker. 2020. "Understanding the role of informal pit emptiers in sanitation in Nairobi through case studies in Mukuru and Kibera settlements." Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development 11, no. 1: 51-59.

Review
Published: 10 October 2020 in Sustainability
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Faecal sludge reuse could promote responsible waste management and alleviate resource shortages. However, for this reuse to be carried out at scale, it needs to be financially viable. This paper reviews the financial values of resource recovery from 112 data points from 43 publications from academic and grey literature. The results found 65% of the existing literature is projected rather than being based on observed data from products in practice, with limited studies providing actual experiences of revenue in practice. Some of the estimates of the potential value were ten times those observed in data from operating businesses. Reasons for this include pricing of products against unrealistic competitors, for example, pricing briquettes against diesel fuel, or difficulties in marketing or regulation of products in practice. The most common form of reuse in practice is agricultural composting, which is also the lowest value product. Few cases were able to achieve more than $5/person/year from sludge reuse, therefore other drivers are needed to promote proper human waste disposal, including the health and dignity of citizens, but which are not easily monetised. Certification and recognition of product safety can improve the perception of value and products. Resource recovery has a limited role in the financial viability of providing Circular Economy sanitation in low-income countries. Instead, there is a need to focus on supportive policies and subsidies enabling the transition towards a Circular Economy supporting environmental quality, ecological health and human health.

ACS Style

Adrian Mallory; Rochelle Holm; Alison Parker. A Review of the Financial Value of Faecal Sludge Reuse in Low-Income Countries. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8334 .

AMA Style

Adrian Mallory, Rochelle Holm, Alison Parker. A Review of the Financial Value of Faecal Sludge Reuse in Low-Income Countries. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (20):8334.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adrian Mallory; Rochelle Holm; Alison Parker. 2020. "A Review of the Financial Value of Faecal Sludge Reuse in Low-Income Countries." Sustainability 12, no. 20: 8334.

Journal article
Published: 09 September 2020 in Desalination
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Whilst the efficiency of reverse electrodialysis (RED) for thermal-to-electrical conversion has been theoretically demonstrated for low-grade waste heat, the specific configuration and salinity required to manage power generation has been less well described. This study demonstrates that operating RED by recycling feed solutions provides the most suitable configuration for energy recovery from a fixed solution volume, providing a minimum unitary cost for energy production. For a fixed membrane area, recycling feeds achieves energy efficiency seven times higher than single pass (conventional operation), and with an improved power density. However, ionic transport, water flux and concentration polarisation introduce complex temporal effects when concentrated brines are recirculated, that are not ordinarily encountered in single pass systems. Regeneration of the concentration gradient at around 80% energy dissipation was deemed most economically pragmatic, due to the increased resistance to mass transport beyond this threshold. However, this leads to significant exergy destruction that could be improved by interventions to better control ionic build up in the dilute feed. Further improvements to energy efficiency were fostered through optimising current density for each brine concentration independently. Whilst energy efficiency was greatest at lower brine concentrations, the work produced from a fixed volume of feed solution was greatest at higher saline concentrations. Since the thermal-to-electrical conversion proposed is governed by volumetric heat utilisation (distillation to reset the concentration gradient), higher brine concentrations are therefore recommended to improve total system efficiency. Importantly, this study provides new evidence for the configuration and boundary conditions required to realise RED as a practical solution for application to sources of low-grade waste heat in industry.

ACS Style

A.M. Hulme; Christopher Davey; Alison Parker; L. Williams; S. Tyrrel; Ying Jiang; Marc Pidou; E.J. McAdam. Managing power dissipation in closed-loop reverse electrodialysis to maximise energy recovery during thermal-to-electric conversion. Desalination 2020, 496, 114711 .

AMA Style

A.M. Hulme, Christopher Davey, Alison Parker, L. Williams, S. Tyrrel, Ying Jiang, Marc Pidou, E.J. McAdam. Managing power dissipation in closed-loop reverse electrodialysis to maximise energy recovery during thermal-to-electric conversion. Desalination. 2020; 496 ():114711.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A.M. Hulme; Christopher Davey; Alison Parker; L. Williams; S. Tyrrel; Ying Jiang; Marc Pidou; E.J. McAdam. 2020. "Managing power dissipation in closed-loop reverse electrodialysis to maximise energy recovery during thermal-to-electric conversion." Desalination 496, no. : 114711.

Journal article
Published: 23 August 2020 in Science of The Total Environment
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The development of novel, non-sewered sanitation systems like the Nano Membrane Toilet requires thorough investigation of processes that may seem well-understood. For example, unlike the settling of primary sludge, the separation of solids from liquids in a small-volume container at the scale of a household toilet has not been studied before. In two sets of experiments, the settling of real faeces and toilet paper in settling columns and the settling of synthetic faeces in a conical tank are investigated to understand the factors affecting the liquid quality for downstream treatment processes. Toilet paper is found to be a major inhibitor to settling of solids. While a lower overflow point results in better phase separation through displacement of liquid, a higher overflow point and frequent removal of solids may be more advantageous for the liquid quality.

ACS Style

Jan Hennigs; Kristin T. Ravndal; Alison Parker; Matt Collins; Ying Jiang; Athanasios J. Kolios; Ewan McAdam; Leon Williams; Sean Tyrrel. Faeces – Urine separation via settling and displacement: Prototype tests for a novel non-sewered sanitation system. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 753, 141881 .

AMA Style

Jan Hennigs, Kristin T. Ravndal, Alison Parker, Matt Collins, Ying Jiang, Athanasios J. Kolios, Ewan McAdam, Leon Williams, Sean Tyrrel. Faeces – Urine separation via settling and displacement: Prototype tests for a novel non-sewered sanitation system. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 753 ():141881.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jan Hennigs; Kristin T. Ravndal; Alison Parker; Matt Collins; Ying Jiang; Athanasios J. Kolios; Ewan McAdam; Leon Williams; Sean Tyrrel. 2020. "Faeces – Urine separation via settling and displacement: Prototype tests for a novel non-sewered sanitation system." Science of The Total Environment 753, no. : 141881.

Journal article
Published: 08 August 2020 in Separation and Purification Technology
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In this study, the pretreatment of concentrated blackwater using ultrafiltration (UF) was shown to improve the permeability, selectivity and robustness of membrane distillation (MD) for application to wastewater treatment. Concentrated blackwater comprises urine and faeces, with minimal flushwater added. The faecal contribution increased the soluble organic fraction and introduced coarse and colloidal particles into the urine, which increased resistance to filtration during dead-end UF. Ultrafiltration removed the particulate and colloidal fractions (MW > 500 kDa) from the blackwater, which permitted similar permeability and robustness for MD to that observed with urine (29.9 vs 25.9 kg m–2 h–1), which comprises a lower colloidal organic concentration. Without UF pretreatment, a higher density organic layer formed on the MD surface (197 vs 70 gCOD m-2) which reduced mass transfer, and transformed the contact angle from hydrophobic to hydrophilic (144.9° to 49.8°), leading to pore wetting and a dissipation in product water quality due to breakthrough. In comparison, with UF pretreatment, MD delivered permeate water quality to standards satisfactory for discharge or reuse. This is particularly timely as the ISO standard for non-sewered sanitation has been adopted by several countries at a national level, and to date there are relatively few technologies to achieve the treatment standard. Membrane distillation provides a robust means for concentrated blackwater treatment, and since the energy required for separation is primarily heat, this advanced treatment can be delivered into areas with more fragile power networks.

ACS Style

F. Kamranvand; C.J. Davey; L. Williams; A. Parker; Y. Jiang; S. Tyrrel; E.J. McAdam. Ultrafiltration pretreatment enhances membrane distillation flux, resilience and permeate quality during water recovery from concentrated blackwater (urine/faeces). Separation and Purification Technology 2020, 253, 117547 .

AMA Style

F. Kamranvand, C.J. Davey, L. Williams, A. Parker, Y. Jiang, S. Tyrrel, E.J. McAdam. Ultrafiltration pretreatment enhances membrane distillation flux, resilience and permeate quality during water recovery from concentrated blackwater (urine/faeces). Separation and Purification Technology. 2020; 253 ():117547.

Chicago/Turabian Style

F. Kamranvand; C.J. Davey; L. Williams; A. Parker; Y. Jiang; S. Tyrrel; E.J. McAdam. 2020. "Ultrafiltration pretreatment enhances membrane distillation flux, resilience and permeate quality during water recovery from concentrated blackwater (urine/faeces)." Separation and Purification Technology 253, no. : 117547.

Journal article
Published: 15 July 2020 in Science of The Total Environment
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Addressing the lack of sanitation globally is a major global challenge with 700 million people still practicing open defecation. Circular Economy (CE) in the context of sanitation focuses on the whole sanitation chain which includes the provision of toilets, the collection of waste, treatment and transformation into sanitation-derived products including fertiliser, fuel and clean water. After a qualitative study from five case studies across India, covering different treatment technologies, waste-derived products, markets and contexts; this research identifies the main barriers and enablers for circular sanitation business models to succeed. A framework assessing the technical and social system changes required to enable circular sanitation models was derived from the case studies. Some of these changes can be achieved with increased enforcement, policies and subsidies for fertilisers, and integration of sanitation with other waste streams to increase its viability. Major changes such as the cultural norms around re-use, demographic shifts and soil depletion would be outside the scope of a single project, policy or planning initiative. The move to CE sanitation may still be desirable from a policy perspective but we argue that shifting to CE models should not be seen as a panacea that can solve the global sanitation crisis. Delivering the public good of safe sanitation services for all, whether circular or not, will continue to be a difficult task.

ACS Style

Adrian Mallory; Daniel Akrofi; Jenica Dizon; Sourav Mohanty; Alison Parker; Dolores Rey Vicario; Sharada Prasad; Indunee Welivita; Tim Brewer; Sneha Mekala; Dilshaad Bundhoo; Kenny Lynch; Prajna Mishra; Simon Willcock; Paul Hutchings. Evaluating the circular economy for sanitation: Findings from a multi-case approach. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 744, 140871 .

AMA Style

Adrian Mallory, Daniel Akrofi, Jenica Dizon, Sourav Mohanty, Alison Parker, Dolores Rey Vicario, Sharada Prasad, Indunee Welivita, Tim Brewer, Sneha Mekala, Dilshaad Bundhoo, Kenny Lynch, Prajna Mishra, Simon Willcock, Paul Hutchings. Evaluating the circular economy for sanitation: Findings from a multi-case approach. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 744 ():140871.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Adrian Mallory; Daniel Akrofi; Jenica Dizon; Sourav Mohanty; Alison Parker; Dolores Rey Vicario; Sharada Prasad; Indunee Welivita; Tim Brewer; Sneha Mekala; Dilshaad Bundhoo; Kenny Lynch; Prajna Mishra; Simon Willcock; Paul Hutchings. 2020. "Evaluating the circular economy for sanitation: Findings from a multi-case approach." Science of The Total Environment 744, no. : 140871.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2020 in Journal of Management in Engineering
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Innovators in the water and sanitation sector are focused on closing the sanitation gap in developing countries through innovation in technologies that enable waste treatment onsite. To ensure universal access, these technologies need to meet the practices and preferences of different genders. This paper uses an online survey and follow-up telephone interviews with technology developers and examined the different technology development processes through a gender lens. The paper also explores the influence of the composition of the research and development teams on gender considerations in the project because the water and sanitation technology world is often male-dominated. The majority of the teams incorporated gender considerations, although with limited depth. Teams designing user interfaces and toilet cabin stalls were most likely to integrate gender. Waste-processing technologies are often assumed to be neutral, not requiring gender considerations. Technology development teams were predominately male, although with some female representation; a few have female leaders.

ACS Style

Myles Elledge; Alison Parker; Anju Toolaram; Brian Stoner. A Gender Lens into Sanitation Technology Innovation. Journal of Management in Engineering 2020, 36, 06020002 .

AMA Style

Myles Elledge, Alison Parker, Anju Toolaram, Brian Stoner. A Gender Lens into Sanitation Technology Innovation. Journal of Management in Engineering. 2020; 36 (4):06020002.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Myles Elledge; Alison Parker; Anju Toolaram; Brian Stoner. 2020. "A Gender Lens into Sanitation Technology Innovation." Journal of Management in Engineering 36, no. 4: 06020002.

Research article
Published: 08 May 2020 in PLOS ONE
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Early infection from enteropathogens is recognised as both a cause and effect of infant malnutrition. Specifically, evidence demonstrates associations between growth shortfalls and Campylobacter infection, endemic across low-income settings, with poultry a major source. Whilst improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) should reduce pathogen transmission, interventions show inconsistent effects on infant health. This cross-sectional, formative study aimed to understand relationships between infant Campylobacter prevalence, malnutrition and associated risk factors, including domestic animal husbandry practices, in rural Ethiopia. Thirty-five households were visited in Sidama zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' region. Infant and poultry faeces and domestic floor surfaces (total = 102) were analysed for presumptive Campylobacter spp. using selective culture. Infant anthropometry and diarrhoeal prevalence, WASH facilities and animal husbandry data were collected. Of the infants, 14.3% were wasted, 31.4% stunted and 31.4% had recent diarrhoea. Presumptive Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 48.6% of infant, 68.6% of poultry and 65.6% of floor surface samples. Compared to non-wasted infants, wasted infants had an increased odds ratio (OR) of 1.41 for a Campylobacter-positive stool and 1.81 for diarrhoea. Positive infant stools showed a significant relationship with wasting (p = 0.026) but not stunting. Significant risk factors for a positive stool included keeping animals inside (p = 0.027, OR 3.5), owning cattle (p = 0.018, OR 6.5) and positive poultry faeces (p<0.001, OR 1.34). Positive floor samples showed a significant correlation with positive infant (p = 0.023), and positive poultry (p = 0.013, OR 2.68) stools. Ownership of improved WASH facilities was not correlated with lower odds of positive stools. This formative study shows a high prevalence of infants positive for Campylobacter in households with free-range animals. Findings reaffirm contaminated floors as an important pathway to infant pathogen ingestion and suggest that simply upgrading household WASH facilities will not reduce infection without addressing the burden of contamination from animals, alongside adequate separation in the home.

ACS Style

Sophie Budge; Megan Barnett; Paul Hutchings; Alison Parker; Sean Tyrrel; Francis Hassard; Camila Garbutt; Mathewos Moges; Fitsume Woldemedhin; Mohammedyasin Jemal. Risk factors and transmission pathways associated with infant Campylobacter spp. prevalence and malnutrition: A formative study in rural Ethiopia. PLOS ONE 2020, 15, e0232541 .

AMA Style

Sophie Budge, Megan Barnett, Paul Hutchings, Alison Parker, Sean Tyrrel, Francis Hassard, Camila Garbutt, Mathewos Moges, Fitsume Woldemedhin, Mohammedyasin Jemal. Risk factors and transmission pathways associated with infant Campylobacter spp. prevalence and malnutrition: A formative study in rural Ethiopia. PLOS ONE. 2020; 15 (5):e0232541.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sophie Budge; Megan Barnett; Paul Hutchings; Alison Parker; Sean Tyrrel; Francis Hassard; Camila Garbutt; Mathewos Moges; Fitsume Woldemedhin; Mohammedyasin Jemal. 2020. "Risk factors and transmission pathways associated with infant Campylobacter spp. prevalence and malnutrition: A formative study in rural Ethiopia." PLOS ONE 15, no. 5: e0232541.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2019 in Journal of Water and Climate Change
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This study assessed the impact of different hydrological scenarios on existing vulnerabilities of water and sanitation services in Chorkor and Shiabu, two coastal urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. The hydrological scenarios were developed from the literature on climate change projections. This paper recommends adaptations for community members, service providers, and the municipality based on the impact assessment. Chorkor and Shiabu are vulnerable to an increase in rainfall because of the lack of adequate solid waste management and hydrological sound drains. Shiabu's topography and the indiscriminate sand mining along its beach make it vulnerable to an increase in sea level. Looking beyond Chorkor and Shiabu's community boundaries, the urban water utility which supplies water vendors in both communities may be severely impacted by a decrease in rainfall, which would lead to water scarcity and a shortage in hydroelectricity. Regardless of which climate change scenario emerges, many of the recommended adaptations are good water management practice, for example, increasing the number of household connections and reducing non-revenue water. Putting climate change high on the agenda has the potential to generate additional funding to help address Chorkor and Shiabu's water and sanitation problems, and climate-proof services for the future. However, the study method does not address the governance of these adaptations.

ACS Style

Nikolaus Clemenz; Richard Boakye; Alison Parker. Rapid Climate Adaption Assessment (RCAA) of water supply and sanitation services in two coastal urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. Journal of Water and Climate Change 2019, 11, 1645 -1660.

AMA Style

Nikolaus Clemenz, Richard Boakye, Alison Parker. Rapid Climate Adaption Assessment (RCAA) of water supply and sanitation services in two coastal urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. Journal of Water and Climate Change. 2019; 11 (4):1645-1660.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nikolaus Clemenz; Richard Boakye; Alison Parker. 2019. "Rapid Climate Adaption Assessment (RCAA) of water supply and sanitation services in two coastal urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana." Journal of Water and Climate Change 11, no. 4: 1645-1660.

Journal article
Published: 02 November 2019 in Global Environmental Change
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Pastoralists in the Horn of Africa are among the most vulnerable populations to climate change yet little is known about how environmental change shapes their wellbeing and mental health. This paper presents a formative study into the relations between emotion, wellbeing and water security among pastoralist communities in Afar, Ethiopia. It uses focus group and interview data to demonstrate the close relationship between environmental conditions and emotional wellbeing, and shows how current water insecurity leads to extreme worry and fatigue among the studied population, especially in the dry season. In the context of difficulties of translating mental health clinical classifications and diagnostic tools in cross-cultural settings, the paper argues the inductive study of emotion may be a useful approach for studying environmental determined wellbeing outcomes among marginal populations in the light of understanding climate change impacts.

ACS Style

Sarah Cooper; Paul Hutchings; John Butterworth; Solome Joseph; Abinet Kebede; Alison Parker; Bethel Terefe; Barbara Van Koppen. Environmental associated emotional distress and the dangers of climate change for pastoralist mental health. Global Environmental Change 2019, 59, 101994 .

AMA Style

Sarah Cooper, Paul Hutchings, John Butterworth, Solome Joseph, Abinet Kebede, Alison Parker, Bethel Terefe, Barbara Van Koppen. Environmental associated emotional distress and the dangers of climate change for pastoralist mental health. Global Environmental Change. 2019; 59 ():101994.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sarah Cooper; Paul Hutchings; John Butterworth; Solome Joseph; Abinet Kebede; Alison Parker; Bethel Terefe; Barbara Van Koppen. 2019. "Environmental associated emotional distress and the dangers of climate change for pastoralist mental health." Global Environmental Change 59, no. : 101994.

Articles
Published: 01 October 2019 in Drying Technology
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The non-isothermal drying behavior and kinetics of human feces (HF) were investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis to provide data for designing a drying unit operation. The effect of heating rate and blending with woody biomass were also evaluated on drying pattern and kinetics. At low heating rate (1 K/min), there is effective transport of moisture, but a higher heating rate would be necessary at low moisture levels to reduce drying time. Blending with wood biomass improves drying characteristics of HF. The results presented in this study are relevant for designing non-sewered sanitary systems with in-situ thermal treatment.

ACS Style

T. Somorin; B. Fidalgo; S. Hassan; A. Sowale; A. Kolios; A. Parker; L. Williams; M. Collins; E. J. McAdam; S. Tyrrel. Non-isothermal drying kinetics of human feces. Drying Technology 2019, 38, 1819 -1827.

AMA Style

T. Somorin, B. Fidalgo, S. Hassan, A. Sowale, A. Kolios, A. Parker, L. Williams, M. Collins, E. J. McAdam, S. Tyrrel. Non-isothermal drying kinetics of human feces. Drying Technology. 2019; 38 (14):1819-1827.

Chicago/Turabian Style

T. Somorin; B. Fidalgo; S. Hassan; A. Sowale; A. Kolios; A. Parker; L. Williams; M. Collins; E. J. McAdam; S. Tyrrel. 2019. "Non-isothermal drying kinetics of human feces." Drying Technology 38, no. 14: 1819-1827.

Journal article
Published: 26 August 2019 in Journal of Water and Health
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Child stunting is associated with poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), partly due to the effect of infection on intestinal nutrient absorption. WASH interventions, however, show little effect on growth. A hypothesis is that bacterial contamination of hands and floors from domestic animals and their faeces, and subsequent ingestion via infant hand-to-mouth behaviours, may explain this. This formative study used microbial testing and survey and observational data from 20 households in Ethiopia to characterise principle bacterial transmission pathways to infants, considering WASH facilities and practices, infant behaviours and animal exposure. Microbial swabbing showed the contamination of hands and floor surfaces from thermotolerant coliform bacteria. Animal husbandry practices, such as keeping animals inside, contributed significantly (all p < 0.005). There was no evidence that latrine facilities mitigated contamination across infant (p = 0.76) or maternal (p = 0.86) hands or floor surfaces (p = 0.36). This small study contributes to the evidence that animal faeces are an important source of domestic bacterial contamination. The results imply that interventions aiming to reduce pathogen transmission to infants should think beyond improving WASH and also consider the need to separate infants and animals in the home. Intervention studies will be required to determine whether this reduces infant infection and improves linear growth.

ACS Style

Sophie Budge; Paul Hutchings; Alison Parker; Sean Tyrrel; Tizita Tulu; Mesfin Gizaw; Camila Garbutt. Do domestic animals contribute to bacterial contamination of infant transmission pathways? Formative evidence from Ethiopia. Journal of Water and Health 2019, 17, 655 -669.

AMA Style

Sophie Budge, Paul Hutchings, Alison Parker, Sean Tyrrel, Tizita Tulu, Mesfin Gizaw, Camila Garbutt. Do domestic animals contribute to bacterial contamination of infant transmission pathways? Formative evidence from Ethiopia. Journal of Water and Health. 2019; 17 (5):655-669.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sophie Budge; Paul Hutchings; Alison Parker; Sean Tyrrel; Tizita Tulu; Mesfin Gizaw; Camila Garbutt. 2019. "Do domestic animals contribute to bacterial contamination of infant transmission pathways? Formative evidence from Ethiopia." Journal of Water and Health 17, no. 5: 655-669.

Journal article
Published: 20 August 2019 in International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
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Globally, many populations face structural and environmental barriers to access safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. Among these populations are many of the 200 million pastoralists whose livelihood patterns and extreme environmental settings challenge conventional WASH programming approaches. In this paper, we studied the Afar pastoralists in Ethiopia to identify WASH interventions that can mostly alleviate public health risks, within the population's structural and environmental living constraints. Surveys were carried out with 148 individuals and observational assessments made in 12 households as part of a Pastoralist Community WASH Risk Assessment. The results show that low levels of access to infrastructure are further compounded by risky behaviours related to water containment, storage and transportation. Additional behavioural risk factors were identified related to sanitation, hygiene and animal husbandry. The Pastoralist Community WASH Risk Assessment visually interprets the seriousness of the risks against the difficulty of addressing the problem. The assessment recommends interventions on household behaviours, environmental cleanliness, water storage, treatment and hand hygiene via small-scale educational interventions. The framework provides an approach for assessing risks in other marginal populations that are poorly understood and served through conventional approaches.

ACS Style

Lucy Whitley; Paul Hutchings; Sarah Cooper; Alison Parker; Abinet Kebede; Solome Joseph; John Butterworth; Barbara Van Koppen; Adolph Anga Muleja. A framework for targeting water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in pastoralist populations in the Afar region of Ethiopia. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 2019, 222, 1133 -1144.

AMA Style

Lucy Whitley, Paul Hutchings, Sarah Cooper, Alison Parker, Abinet Kebede, Solome Joseph, John Butterworth, Barbara Van Koppen, Adolph Anga Muleja. A framework for targeting water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in pastoralist populations in the Afar region of Ethiopia. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2019; 222 (8):1133-1144.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lucy Whitley; Paul Hutchings; Sarah Cooper; Alison Parker; Abinet Kebede; Solome Joseph; John Butterworth; Barbara Van Koppen; Adolph Anga Muleja. 2019. "A framework for targeting water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in pastoralist populations in the Afar region of Ethiopia." International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health 222, no. 8: 1133-1144.

Journal article
Published: 13 June 2019 in Journal of Hydrology X
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To address water scarcity in semi-arid regions, rainfall and runoff need to be captured and stored locally before they are lost to the seaThis can be done using a sand dam which consists of a reinforced wall constructed during the dry season across a seasonal riverbed. However it is unclear whether their main utility is to store water in the sand that is also trapped behind them, or to facilitate aquifer recharge. This paper aims to answer this question by the calculation of a water balance in three sand dams in Kenya to quantify the amount of water transferred between the sand dam and the surrounding aquifer system. The components of the water balance were derived from extensive field monitoring. Water level monitoring in piezometers installed along the length of the sand deposits enabled calculation of the hydraulic gradient and hence the lateral flow between the different reaches of the sand dam. In one sand dam water was gained consistently through the dry season, in one it was lost, and in the third it was lost almost all the time except for the early dry season in the upper part of the trapped sand. In conclusion sand dams should not be treated as isolated water storage structures .

ACS Style

Ruth Quinn; Ken Rushton; Alison Parker. An examination of the hydrological system of a sand dam during the dry season leading to water balances. Journal of Hydrology X 2019, 4, 100035 .

AMA Style

Ruth Quinn, Ken Rushton, Alison Parker. An examination of the hydrological system of a sand dam during the dry season leading to water balances. Journal of Hydrology X. 2019; 4 ():100035.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ruth Quinn; Ken Rushton; Alison Parker. 2019. "An examination of the hydrological system of a sand dam during the dry season leading to water balances." Journal of Hydrology X 4, no. : 100035.

Journal article
Published: 04 June 2019 in Sustainability
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Efficient fecal sludge management solutions are especially challenging in densely populated urban informal settlements, where space is limited and land tenure uncertain. One solution is to collect and treat human excreta to produce soil conditioners for use in agriculture, through container-based sanitation, thus realizing the circular economy for sanitation. This study focused on container-based sanitation ventures that produce and sell fertilizers from human excreta. Stakeholder interviews showed that challenges faced by these ventures were similar: unclear regulations on the use of fertilizers derived from source-separated excreta, undeveloped markets for organic fertilizers, difficulties in securing secondary sources of organic matter for composting as well as complex transport and distribution logistics. The findings of this study emphasized the need for clear policies with respect to human excreta derived fertilizer, as well as institutional involvement in order to incentivize the sale and use of human excreta derived fertilizer locally to ensure that sustainable and safely managed sanitation systems are available in urban areas.

ACS Style

Berta Moya; Ruben Sakrabani; Alison Parker. Realizing the Circular Economy for Sanitation: Assessing Enabling Conditions and Barriers to the Commercialization of Human Excreta Derived Fertilizer in Haiti and Kenya. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3154 .

AMA Style

Berta Moya, Ruben Sakrabani, Alison Parker. Realizing the Circular Economy for Sanitation: Assessing Enabling Conditions and Barriers to the Commercialization of Human Excreta Derived Fertilizer in Haiti and Kenya. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (11):3154.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Berta Moya; Ruben Sakrabani; Alison Parker. 2019. "Realizing the Circular Economy for Sanitation: Assessing Enabling Conditions and Barriers to the Commercialization of Human Excreta Derived Fertilizer in Haiti and Kenya." Sustainability 11, no. 11: 3154.

Journal article
Published: 11 May 2019 in Food Policy
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Land degradation and inadequate faecal sludge management are two major issues in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The transformation of human excreta into soil amendments and their wide-scale adoption could improve soil health and contribute to solving the sanitation crisis in SSA. There are however perception challenges around these fertilisers because of the potentially harmful components they contain such as pathogens and heavy metals, which can be removed with appropriate treatment such as composting. A major barrier to the wide scale commercialisation of human excreta derived fertiliser (HEDF) is the unclear regulations surrounding their use. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to the use of HEDF by farmers participating in the horticultural export market with Kenya as focus area since horticultural exports are a major contributor to the country’s economy. Global GAP is the most widely adopted standard for quality assurance of horticultural crops and the use of human sewage sludge is currently not allowed on certified farms. Interviews with stakeholders along the food export chain highlighted the complex interactions that exist between them and showed that Global GAP certified farmers were not willing to use HEDF on their farms even if local regulations recognise treated sludge as a valid input to agriculture. Several countries (like the UK, Sweden, Australia and the USA) created specific certification or assurance schemes to improve public perception of biosolids. The creation of a similar assurance or certification scheme specific to fertilisers made from source-separated human excreta would be a step into formalising them as a product, establishing production procedures, limits on contaminants content as well as testing protocols. Such a certification scheme could increase the confidence of regulating bodies in HEDF and lead to their acceptance by global farming standards.

ACS Style

Berta Moya; Alison Parker; Ruben Sakrabani. Challenges to the use of fertilisers derived from human excreta: The case of vegetable exports from Kenya to Europe and influence of certification systems. Food Policy 2019, 85, 72 -78.

AMA Style

Berta Moya, Alison Parker, Ruben Sakrabani. Challenges to the use of fertilisers derived from human excreta: The case of vegetable exports from Kenya to Europe and influence of certification systems. Food Policy. 2019; 85 ():72-78.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Berta Moya; Alison Parker; Ruben Sakrabani. 2019. "Challenges to the use of fertilisers derived from human excreta: The case of vegetable exports from Kenya to Europe and influence of certification systems." Food Policy 85, no. : 72-78.

Journal article
Published: 06 May 2019 in Journal of Membrane Science
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The integration of membrane distillation with reverse electrodialysis has been investigated as a sustainable sanitation solution to provide clean water and electrical power from urine and waste heat. Reverse electrodialysis was integrated to provide the partial remixing of the concentrate (urine) and diluate (permeate) produced from the membrane distillation of urine. Broadly comparable power densities to those of a model salt solution (sodium chloride) were determined during evaluation of the individual and combined contribution of the various monovalent and multivalent inorganic and organic salt constituents in urine. Power densities were improved through raising feed-side temperature and increasing concentration in the concentrate, without observation of limiting behaviour imposed by non-ideal salt and water transport. A further unique contribution of this application is the limited volume of salt concentrate available, which demanded brine recycling to maximise energy recovery analogous to a battery, operating in a ‘state of charge’. During recycle, around 47% of the Gibbs free energy was recoverable with up to 80% of the energy extractable before the concentration difference between the two solutions was halfway towards equilibrium which implies that energy recovery can be optimised with limited effect on permeate quality. This study has provided the first successful demonstration of an integrated MD-RED system for energy recovery from a limited resource, and evidences that the recovered power is sufficient to operate a range of low current fluid pumping technologies that could help deliver off-grid sanitation and clean water recovery at single household scale.

ACS Style

Edwina Mercer; Christopher Davey; D. Azzini; Anna Laura Eusebi; R. Tierney; L. Williams; Ying Jiang; Alison Parker; Athanasios Kolios; S. Tyrrel; E. Cartmell; Marc Pidou; E.J. McAdam. Hybrid membrane distillation reverse electrodialysis configuration for water and energy recovery from human urine: An opportunity for off-grid decentralised sanitation. Journal of Membrane Science 2019, 584, 343 -352.

AMA Style

Edwina Mercer, Christopher Davey, D. Azzini, Anna Laura Eusebi, R. Tierney, L. Williams, Ying Jiang, Alison Parker, Athanasios Kolios, S. Tyrrel, E. Cartmell, Marc Pidou, E.J. McAdam. Hybrid membrane distillation reverse electrodialysis configuration for water and energy recovery from human urine: An opportunity for off-grid decentralised sanitation. Journal of Membrane Science. 2019; 584 ():343-352.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Edwina Mercer; Christopher Davey; D. Azzini; Anna Laura Eusebi; R. Tierney; L. Williams; Ying Jiang; Alison Parker; Athanasios Kolios; S. Tyrrel; E. Cartmell; Marc Pidou; E.J. McAdam. 2019. "Hybrid membrane distillation reverse electrodialysis configuration for water and energy recovery from human urine: An opportunity for off-grid decentralised sanitation." Journal of Membrane Science 584, no. : 343-352.

Journal article
Published: 17 February 2019 in Science of The Total Environment
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A prototype of a non-fluid based mechanical toilet flush was tested in a semi-public, institutional setting and in selected peri-urban households in eThekwini municipality, Republic of South Africa. The mechanism's functionality and users' perception of the flush were assessed. User perception varied depending on background: Users accustomed to porcelain water flush toilets were open to, yet reserved about the idea of using a waterless flush in their homes. Those who commonly use Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets were far more receptive. The user-centred field trials were complemented by a controlled laboratory experiment, using synthetic urine, -faeces, and -menstrual blood, to systematically assess the efficiency of three swipe materials to clean the rotating bowl of the flush. A silicone rubber with oil-bleed-effect was found to be the best performing material for the swipe. Lubrication of the bowl prior to use further reduced fouling. A mechanical waterless flush that does not require consumables, like plastic wrappers, is a novelty and could – implemented in existing dry toilet systems – improve acceptance and thus the success of waterless sanitation.

ACS Style

Jan Hennigs; Kristin T. Ravndal; Thubelihle Blose; Anju Toolaram; Rebecca C. Sindall; Dani Barrington; Matt Collins; Bhavin Engineer; Athanasios J. Kolios; Ewan McAdam; Alison Parker; Leon Williams; Sean Tyrrel. Field testing of a prototype mechanical dry toilet flush. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 668, 419 -431.

AMA Style

Jan Hennigs, Kristin T. Ravndal, Thubelihle Blose, Anju Toolaram, Rebecca C. Sindall, Dani Barrington, Matt Collins, Bhavin Engineer, Athanasios J. Kolios, Ewan McAdam, Alison Parker, Leon Williams, Sean Tyrrel. Field testing of a prototype mechanical dry toilet flush. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 668 ():419-431.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jan Hennigs; Kristin T. Ravndal; Thubelihle Blose; Anju Toolaram; Rebecca C. Sindall; Dani Barrington; Matt Collins; Bhavin Engineer; Athanasios J. Kolios; Ewan McAdam; Alison Parker; Leon Williams; Sean Tyrrel. 2019. "Field testing of a prototype mechanical dry toilet flush." Science of The Total Environment 668, no. : 419-431.