1. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management 1 Robert Gensch, Xavier University

2. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info Copy it, adapt it, use it – but acknowledge the source! Copyright Included in the SSWM Toolbox are materials from various organisations and sources. Those materials are open source. Following the open- source concept for capacity building and non-profit use, copying and adapting is allowed provided proper acknowledgement of the source is made (see below). The publication of these materials in the SSWM Toolbox does not alter any existing copyrights. Material published in the SSWM Toolbox for the first time follows the same open-source concept, with all rights remaining with the original authors or producing organisations. To view an official copy of the the Creative Commons Attribution Works 3.0 Unported License we build upon, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0. This agreement officially states that: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0 You are free to: Share - to copy, distribute and transmit this document Remix - to adapt this document. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any changes that you have made to improve this document. Under the following conditions: Attribution: You must always give the original authors or publishing agencies credit for the document or picture you are using. Disclaimer The contents of the SSWM Toolbox reflect the opinions of the respective authors and not necessarily the official opinion of the funding or supporting partner organisations. Depending on the initial situations and respective local circumstances, there is no guarantee that single measures described in the toolbox will make the local water and sanitation system more sustainable. The main aim of the SSWM Toolbox is to be a reference tool to provide ideas for improving the local water and sanitation situation in a sustainable manner. Results depend largely on the respective situation and the implementation and combination of the measures described. An in-depth analysis of respective advantages and disadvantages and the suitability of the measure is necessary in every single case. We do not assume any responsibility for and make no warranty with respect to the results that may be obtained from the use of the information provided. Copyright & Disclaimer

3. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 3 Contents 1.Background 2.Global/Local Resource Limitations 3.Reuse and Safe Discharge Options 4.Health Considerations 5.Benefits 6.References

4. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 4 Plant requirements 1. Background Light Carbon Dioxide Soil Structure Water Macronutrients Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Sulphur (S) Magnesium (Mg) Calcium (Ca) Nutrients Micronutrients Boron (Bo) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) Chloride (Cl) Manganese (Mn) Molybdenum (Mo) Zinc (Zn) Plant requirements Source: R. Gensch

5. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 5 1. Background Harvest (incl. nutrients & organic matter) Animal manure Compost Human excreta Fallow periods Nutrient Flow Source: R. Gensch Flow of Nutrients

6. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 6 Agricultural Production in Former Times 1. Background Loss of soil fertility inherent to all agricultural systems Nutrients are taken up from the soil through the harvest, transported, eaten and excreted In former centuries common practise to compensate nutrient loss through application of animal manure, human excreta, compost or long fallow periods Human excreta contains all important nutrients and organic matter necessary for crop production Source: rite.blogspot.com

7. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 7 Nutrient Consumption and Excretion 1. Background 2.7 kg/a Nitrogen 0.4 kg/a Phosphorus 1.5 kg/a Potassium 2.7 kg/a Nitrogen 0.4 kg/a Phosphorus 1.5 kg/a Potassium Correlation between consumed nutrients and excreted nutrients About 99-100% of all consumed nutrients are excreted

8. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 8 Closing the Loop 1. Background Source: GTT, Photos: R. Gensch NUTRIENTS FOOD

9. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 9 Modern agricultural practises 1. Background Flow of plant nutrients most often linear Nutrients are taken up from the soil, eaten, excreted and discharged With production of synthetic fertilisers in the 19 th century it seemed feasible to uncouple from ecological requirements The loss of most important macronutrients (N,P,K) partly compensated through application of synthetic fertilisers Despite of fertiliser use a negative nutrient balance in most soils is observed Source: rite.blogspot.com

10. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 10 1. Background Source: R. Gensch Harvest (incl. nutrients & organic matter) Animal manure Compost Human excreta Fallow periods Synthetic fertiliser Availability Affordability Polution Health Risks Flow of Plant Nutrients

11. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 11 Urbanisation 1. Background Problems: water scarcity, food insecurity and pollution based on the assumption that: There are no limits to resources such as water and land The environment can assimilate the wastes that we produce from using these resources Linear flows of resources and wastes that are not reconnected 75% of natural resources harvested and mined from the Earth were brought to 2.5 percent of the earth's surface, metropolitan areas. 80% of the natural resources are converted into waste, which are disposed of (Smit 2002) Metro Manila Source: R. Gensch

12. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 12 Urbanisation 1. Background Massive flow of nutrients o Food from rural areas to cities o Nutrients (excreta): pits, lakes, waterbodies… But: o Nutrients and organic matter in excreta are toxic to different life forms living in water (sewage pollution) o Biodiversity is threatened (Eutrophication) o Soil fertility declines Metro Manila Source: R. Gensch

13. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 13 Soil Degradation 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Map of Global Soil Degradation Source: FAO Very high severity High severity Moderate severity Low severity Stable Land, Ice Caps or non-used wasteland The earth is losing 25 billion t/a of nutrient rich topsoil (WWI 2005) 2 billion ha of vegetated land degraded since 1945 (UNEP)

14. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 14 Water Scarcity 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Potable water being piped to a rice field, USA source: McCabe Within next 50 years more than 50 % of world population will live in countries with water stress or scarcity (WHO 2006) Food production highly water demanding process with around 70% of all used water for agricultural irrigation (Brown 2006) Alarming exploitation of ground- and surface water resources

15. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 15 Limited Minable Fertilizer Resources 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Farmers worldwide require 150 million tons of synthetically produced nutrients (IFA 2004) At the same time conventional sanitation systems dump around 50 million tons of fertiliser equivalents into water bodies Production of most common synthetic fertilizer ingredients (N, P, K) relies on non-renewable resources Source: Dagerskog, 2009

16. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 16 Limited Minable Fertilizer Resources 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Source: J. Christiansen Global Phosphorus reserves almost entirely from geological deposits and expected to last for around 50-100 years Potassium reserves expected to last for about 300 years Nitrogen can be extracted from the surrounding air, but very energy-intensive process

17. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 17 Phosphorus Peak 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Peak phosphorus ‘Hubbert’ curve Source: Cordell, Drangert & WHite

18. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 18 Phosphorus Peak 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Phosphorus resources worldwide Source: A. Rosemarin et al

19. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 9.1 billion by 2050 food crisis 19 Phosphorus Peak 2. Global/Local Resource Limitations Source: Dery et al. 2007

20. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 20 Composition of Household Wastewater 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options 500 50 3.0 – 5.3 0.7-1.2 0.8 3.6 14.1 12.3 Source: GTZ, adapted from R. Gensch

21. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 21 Productive, Reuse-Oriented Sanitation Systems 3. Reuse or Safe Discharge Options Should allow for almost complete recovery of nutrients Should minimise the consumption and pollution of water resource Should support the conservation of soil structure Should support agricultural productivity Favour no specific technology Comprise decentralised and locally adapted as well as large-scale centralised solutions Range from low cost basic sanitation to high-end solutions

22. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 22 Flowstreams 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Excreta (urine and faeces): Nutrient content depends on the diet Contains all essential micronutrients Average amount of plant available macronutrients: o 4.5 kg/p/a Nitrogen o 0.6 kg/p/a Phosphorus o 1.2 kg/p/a Potassium (Jönnson et al. 2004) Most plant nutrients are found in urine combined application of faeces and urine often advantageous Application of urine with watering can in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines Source: R. Gensch

23. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 23 Flowstreams 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Greywater: Contains a low nutrient level compared with excreta High amount of slightly contaminated water After appropriate treatment greywater can be safely used for domestic or irrigation purposes Organic solid waste High share of organic matter Has to be decomposed or at least partly mineralised for effective reuse in agriculture Rainwater Not or only slightly contaminated Can be easily used for agricultural irrigation and for most household purposes

24. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 24 Reuse/Recharge Options 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Use of urine in agriculture Use of dehydrated faeces in agriculture Use of humus (incl. compost, vermicompost, terra preta, ecohumus) Use of biogas for cooking, lighting, heating Aquaculture Safe discharge of pretreated wastewater Fertilizer derived from urine products (struvite) Hydroponics Fertigation and irrigation Greywater towers Vertical gardens Leach fields, soak pits …

25. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 25 Reuse/Recharge Options 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Sweet Corn produced with urine from UDDT, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines Source: R. Gensch Farmer in Burkina Faso with onions that are fertilized with urine (left) and without urine (right) Source: L. Dagerskog

26. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 26 Reuse/Recharge Options 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Women cooking with biogas, Gorkha, Nepal source: Practical Action, Rajesh KC

27. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 27 Reuse/Recharge Options 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Wastewater-fed aquaculture in Lima, Peru, source: P. EDWARDS

28. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 28 Reuse/Recharge Options 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Leach field pipes Source: G Mauk

29. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 29 Reuse/Recharge Options 3. Reuse and Safe Discharge Options Greywater directly poured into the bag Source: W. Shewa Construction of a Greywater Tower in Arba Minch Town, Ethiopia Source: W. Shewa

30. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 30 Multi Barrier Approach 4. Health Considerations WHO recognizes the potential of using excreta in agriculture Promotes a flexible multi-barrier approach for managing the health risks Series of measures/barriers along the entire sanitation system from ‘toilet to table’ Each of the barriers has a certain potential to reduce health risks associated with the excreta use Recommended to put in place several of these barriers (if needed) in order to reduce the health risk to an acceptable minimum Source: WHO, FAO, UNEP

31. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 31 Multi Barrier Approach (for Urine Reuse) 4. Health Considerations Source: R. Gensch

32. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 32 Sweet Corn (cobs and young plants with different urine application levels Source: P. Morgan 5. Benefits Minimises negative impact on surface and groundwater Increase in agricultural yields especially if directly compared with unfertilised crops Comparable results as synthetic fertilisers Reuse of organic matter improve the water retention capacity, reduces vulnerability to droughts, moderates soil temperature and enhances the buffering capacity of the soil help reduce health costs due to a better nutritional status and improved sanitation practices

33. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 33 Sweet Corn (cobs and young plants with different urine application levels Source: P. Morgan 5. Benefits Increase in yield improves availability, affordability, access to food and has an impact on the household income Low cost fertiliser alternative Farmers would require less expensive commercial fertilisers Value of the agricultural utilisable nutrients produced by each human being can be seen as a considerable quantity within the national economy Recent estimations vary between 4 € and 7 € per person and year (KfW 2008) & (Stravato & Dagerskog 2008)

34. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 34 Monetary value of excreta Source: R. Gensch 5. Benefits

35. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management Find this presentation and more on: www.sswm.info.www.sswm.info 35 6. References BROWN, L. (2006): Plan B 2.0 – Rescuing a Planet under Stress & a Civilisation in Trouble. Updated & Expanded. Earth Policy Institute, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 266 p. JOENSSON, H., RICHERT, A., VINNERAS, B>, SALOMON, E. (2004): Guidelines on the use of urine & faeces in crop production. Report 2004–2. EcoSanRes Publications Series. SEI, Sweden, 35 p. KFW (2008): Financial and Economic Assessment of Sanitation – Discussion Paper for the SuSanA working group on cost and economics of sustainable sanitation Smit J. (2000): Urban agriculture and biodiversity, Urban Agriculture Magazine; 1(1): 11-12. In: Esrey, S. A. (2000): Towards a Recycling Society Ecological Sanitation - Closing the Loop to Food Security. ecosan - closing the loop in wastewater management and sanitation. Proceedings of the International Symposium, 30-31 October 2000, Bonn, Germany. STRAVATO, L. & DAGERSKOG, L. (2008): Economic value of urine in Mauretania. Taken from presentation: IFAD’s initiative on best practises optimising nutrient recycling. 5 th SuSanA meeting Durban. February 16 th - 17 th 2008 UNEP (2002): Melbourne principles for sustainable cities. Integrated Management Series No. 1, UN Environmental Programme, Division of Technology, Industry & Economics, Osaka WHO/FAO/UNEP (2006): Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater, excreta and greywater. Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization - WHO-FAO-UNEP, ISBN 9241546832 WWI (2005): World Watch Report - State of the World 2005. Redefining Global Security. World Watch Institute, World Watch Books, ISBN: 0-393-32666-7, 237 p.

36. Agricultural Aspects of Sustainable Sanitation & Water Management 36 “Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture” SSWM is an initiative supported by: Compiled by: