The filter bar at the top of the ‘sanitation technologies’ section allows reducing complexity and pre-selecting only those technologies that are suitable for a specific scenario or context. Based on concrete site settings the number of potentially suitable technologies can be considerably reduced to a more digestible size and makes technology selection easier. By clicking on the respective boxes under each of the filters only those technologies will be shown that correspond to the respective boxes. The currently active filters are always shown directly under the filter bar. The active filters can be cleared/deactivated by clicking on the ‘clear filter’ button or by deactivating individual boxes of currently active filters. The categorisation of technologies used in each of the filters should not be seen as fixed and incontrovertible and may vary under certain local site conditions. The categorisation is rather meant to support rapid informed decision making and is a complement to, not a substitute for, sound professional judgement. The available filter options include the following:
Emergency Phase
Indication on appropriateness of sanitation technologies according to the three different emergency phases:
Acute Response: immediately following an emergency,
Stabilisation: transition phase starting after the first weeks of an emergency lasting several months or longer,
Recovery: longer-term approach usually starting after immediate relief interventions aiming to recreate or improve on pre-emergency situation.
The allocation of technologies to different emergency phases is mainly based on applicability, speed of implementation and material requirements. It allows giving a first general orientation but may differ in a specific local situation.
Challenging Ground Conditions
Indication on suitability of technologies for areas with challenging ground conditions (e.g. rocky soils, areas with high groundwater table, soils with low infiltration capacity, flood prone areas) where underground digging may be difficult. These are just indications and not absolute requirements (e.g. underground treatment facilities in rocky undergrounds may still be realised with heavy blasting).
Water-Based & Dry Technologies
Indication which technologies are dependent on water for either flushing or transport and which technologies do not require water as a transport medium. There are some technologies that can be used both for water-based and dry sanitation solutions.
Application Level
Indication on appropriateness of sanitation technologies according to the three different spatial levels:
Household: one unit serving one up to several individual households
Neighbourhood: one unit serving a few to several hundred households
City: one unit serving an entire settlement, camp or district
It allows giving a first general orientation but may differ in a specific local situation.
Management Level
Indication where the main responsibility for operation and maintenance (O&M) for a specific technology lies:
Household: O&M tasks can be managed by the individual household
Shared: group of users are responsible for O&M by ensuring that a person or a committee is in charge on behalf of all users
Public: government, institutional or privately-run facilities: all O&M tasks are assumed by the entity operating the facility
Space Required
Qualitative estimate of the space (area or spatial footprint) required for each technology. The categorisation is based on a comparative approach between the different technologies and not in absolute terms (e.g., a Single Pit Latrine needs little space compared to a Constructed Wetland). The space required is indicated for one typical unit and not per user. It allows giving a first general orientation but may differ in a specific local situation depending on the number of users connected to a technology and/or other design criteria.
Technical Complexity
Indication on the level of technical expertise needed to implement, operate and maintain a given technology. This can help planning where skills and capacities are limited or temporarily unavailable.
Low technical complexity: can be done by non-professionals and artisans
Medium technical complexity: skilled artisans or engineers are required
High technical complexity: experienced professionals required
The categorisation is based on a comparative approach between the different technologies and not in absolute terms (e.g., Manual Emptying and Transport is less technically complex than a Conventional Gravity Sewer). It allows giving a first general orientation but may differ in a specific local situation.
Input Products
Refers to the products that typically flow into the given technology. By selecting specific input products only those technologies will be shown that deal with the respective input products. Sanitation input products can be materials that are generated directly by humans (e.g. urine, faeces and greywater from bathing, cooking and cleaning), that are required for the technologies to function (e.g. flushwater to flush excreta through sewers) or are generated as a function of storage or treatment (e.g. sludge). For the design of a robust sanitation system, it is important to develop a good understanding of the products that are flowing into (inputs) and out of (outputs) each of the sanitation technology components of the system.
Output Products
Refers to the products that flow out of the given technology. By selecting specific output products only those technologies will be shown that generate the respective output products. Sanitation output products are generated as a function of storage or treatment (e.g. sludge). For the design of a robust sanitation system, it is important to develop a good understanding of the products that are flowing into (inputs) and out of (outputs) each of the sanitation technology components of the system.
