On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Different fecal sludge (FS) emptying practices have been documented worldwide, but little is known about how the type of on-site sanitation system (OSS) and other factors associated with emptying and transport influence how OSSs are emptied, nor about how FS is released to the environment during emp...

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Main Authors: Katharine Conaway, Sarah Lebu, Kylie Heilferty, Aaron Salzberg, Musa Manga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-06-01
Series:Hygiene and Environmental Health Advances
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773049223000065
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author Katharine Conaway
Sarah Lebu
Kylie Heilferty
Aaron Salzberg
Musa Manga
author_facet Katharine Conaway
Sarah Lebu
Kylie Heilferty
Aaron Salzberg
Musa Manga
author_sort Katharine Conaway
collection DOAJ
description Different fecal sludge (FS) emptying practices have been documented worldwide, but little is known about how the type of on-site sanitation system (OSS) and other factors associated with emptying and transport influence how OSSs are emptied, nor about how FS is released to the environment during emptying. This systematic literature review assessed our current knowledge on OSS fecal sludge management practices and their impacts on pathogen releases into the environment including (i) the prevalence and frequency of emptying, (ii) the types of OSS emptying practices, (iii) other factors influencing these practices, and (iv) the return pathways into the environment during emptying and transport. The analysis included 58 peer-reviewed studies examining emptying in low- and middle-income countries in Asia published between 2001 and May 2021. Mechanical emptying was the most discussed emptying method (n=39), followed by manual emptying (n=22). The most discussed emptying factor was cost (n=19), followed by OSS accessibility (n=17). Discussion on FS releases was focused on deliberate disposal into the environment, with little on unintentional spills and leaks. Remaining gaps in the literature include the quantity, pathogenicity, and fate of FS spills during emptying, the effect of OSS type on emptying, and the effectiveness of emptying interventions. More research is needed on emptying to fully understand its impact on public health and how best to facilitate safe fecal sludge management.
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spelling doaj.art-ac446901620c41029499a20720c2fe422023-08-05T05:18:25ZengElsevierHygiene and Environmental Health Advances2773-04922023-06-016100050On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic reviewKatharine Conaway0Sarah Lebu1Kylie Heilferty2Aaron Salzberg3Musa Manga4The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USAThe Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USAThe Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USAThe Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USACorresponding author.; The Water Institute at UNC, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4114 McGavran Hall, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USADifferent fecal sludge (FS) emptying practices have been documented worldwide, but little is known about how the type of on-site sanitation system (OSS) and other factors associated with emptying and transport influence how OSSs are emptied, nor about how FS is released to the environment during emptying. This systematic literature review assessed our current knowledge on OSS fecal sludge management practices and their impacts on pathogen releases into the environment including (i) the prevalence and frequency of emptying, (ii) the types of OSS emptying practices, (iii) other factors influencing these practices, and (iv) the return pathways into the environment during emptying and transport. The analysis included 58 peer-reviewed studies examining emptying in low- and middle-income countries in Asia published between 2001 and May 2021. Mechanical emptying was the most discussed emptying method (n=39), followed by manual emptying (n=22). The most discussed emptying factor was cost (n=19), followed by OSS accessibility (n=17). Discussion on FS releases was focused on deliberate disposal into the environment, with little on unintentional spills and leaks. Remaining gaps in the literature include the quantity, pathogenicity, and fate of FS spills during emptying, the effect of OSS type on emptying, and the effectiveness of emptying interventions. More research is needed on emptying to fully understand its impact on public health and how best to facilitate safe fecal sludge management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773049223000065Fecal sludge managementEmptying practicesOnsite sanitationFecal sludge spills
spellingShingle Katharine Conaway
Sarah Lebu
Kylie Heilferty
Aaron Salzberg
Musa Manga
On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
Hygiene and Environmental Health Advances
Fecal sludge management
Emptying practices
Onsite sanitation
Fecal sludge spills
title On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
title_full On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
title_fullStr On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
title_short On-site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in Asian low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
title_sort on site sanitation system emptying practices and influential factors in asian low and middle income countries a systematic review
topic Fecal sludge management
Emptying practices
Onsite sanitation
Fecal sludge spills
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773049223000065
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