Decentralized sanitation in rural areas urgently requires accessible and nature-based solutions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation for all). However, monitoring studies of such ecotechnologies in disperse communities remain limited. This study evaluated the performance of an evapotranspiration tank (TEvap), designed with community participation, for the treatment of domestic sewage in a rural Quilombola household in the Brazilian Cerrado. The system (total area of 8.1 m², with about 1.0 m² per inhabitant) was monitored for 218 days, covering the rainy season and the plants’ establishment phase. After 51 days, the TEvap reached operational equilibrium, maintaining a zero-discharge regime, and after 218 days, 92.3% of the total system inlet volumes (i.e., 37.47 in 40.58 m³) were removed through evapotranspiration and uptake by cultivated plants (Musa spp.). Statistical analyses revealed correlations that were moderate to strong, and weak between the blackwater level and relative humidity (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.75), temperature (r = −0.66), and per capita blackwater contribution (r = 0.28), highlighting the influence of climatic conditions on system efficiency. These results confirm the TEvap as a promising, low-maintenance, and climate-resilient technology for decentralized domestic sewage treatment in vulnerable rural communities, with the potential to support sanitation policy goals and promote public health.

The universalization of basic sanitation remains a challenge. For the development of sanitation infrastructure projects, it is essential to use water consumption data that accurately reflect reality, ensuring greater precision. This study aimed to determine the per capita contribution to fecal sewage (Cp) in six quilombola residences in Goiás (Brazil). The research was conducted in two phases: (a) a literature review on Cp in similar communities (CpL) and (b) the determination of Cp in six residences from different rural communities (CpP), varying in the number of inhabitants (8, 8, 5, 2, 1, and 1 persons in households R1 to R6, respectively). Flow measurements were obtained using a volumetric flowmeter (nominal flow rate of 1.5 m³/h) installed in the water pipeline supplying the toilet(s) of each household. A dearth of Cp data was observed in the literature, particularly for rural areas. Research on this topic remains in its infancy, as evidenced by the small number of publications (nine papers) published between 2006 and 2022, of which 44.4% reported on-site measurements. In the present study, the CpP ranged from 12.10 L/cap.day to 21.79 L/cap.day, with a mean of 16.22 L/cap.day (CV = 0.239). These calculated values lie within the lower (9.9 L/cap.day) and upper (51.5 L/cap.day) ranges reported in the literature. Generally, estimated data are higher than values calculated from flowrate measurements, highlighting the importance of direct measurements—which can also help reduce construction costs. Therefore, it is recommended that flowrate measurements and Cp calculations be expanded to residences with diverse demographic and geographic characteristics, also incorporating meteorological data, to obtain more accurate results.

The unsuitable performance of or deficit in basic sanitation infrastructure, especially in sparsely populated rural communities, remains critical, particularly in many developing regions, and demands sustainable, cost-effective, and easily operated solutions. Thus, the objective of this Review is to analyze design parameters for evapotranspiration tanks (EvapTs), adopted as nature-based solutions for zero-discharge domestic sewage treatment. The literature search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, complemented by backward citation tracking. From 4434 records, 29 studies were selected based on specific criteria, such as the availability of design data and their application in urban or rural contexts. The main findings indicated required areas per inhabitant ranging from 0.5 to 7.7 m², primarily influenced by climate conditions and the type of plant used. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between the area of the evaporation tanks and the mean annual temperature, with a Pearson correlation coefficient (r of −0.74). For mean annual temperatures between 19 and 27 degrees Celsius, linear regression showed a variation between 4.7 and 0.6 m²/inhabitant with a reduction coefficient of −0.51 per degree Celsius, suggesting that warmer climates require smaller system areas per capita. Most studies were conducted at full scale, with Brazil accounting for the highest number of publications. EvapT is identified as a promising ecological technology that is particularly suitable for rural settings. However, it still requires technical standardization, cost–benefit analysis, and research on social acceptance. The adoption of clear design criteria may enhance system replicability, support public policy development, and contribute to SDG 6—Clean Water and Sanitation for All.

Arboviral diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya infect populations in countries with predominantly tropical and subtropical environments, where their vectors are adapted. This research aimed to identify potential favorable sites to Aedes aegypti reproduction at rural communities where dengue, Zika and chikungunya prevalence is high, geographically located in Goiás-Brazil, and to analyze the relationship between breeding sites quantity and these three arboviruses seroprevalence. In 137 families from 13 rural communities, information was obtained between October/2021 and November/2021. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively trough Pearson's correlation and Cluster analysis. 92.7% of the households, possessed, at least one potential mosquito breeding ground. Water containers, despite of being uncovered, retain water and create an ideal environment for mosquito's evolutionary cycle. Potential breeding grounds were observed related, mainly, to the lack or absence of precariousness of basic sanitation services. The community with the highest number of breeding grounds and suspected vectors of Aedes aegypti was also the one that resulted in the highest number of patients with dengue fever. The presence of places for Aedes aegypti development in the studied environment may be responsible for arboviruses spread, affecting a significant part of the population. Therefore, the present study might warn municipal health authorities for implementing public policies such universal sanitation, as a measure that indirectly provides vector control especially Aedes aegypti, when it also proliferates in rural areas, risking the population health.