Development of FSM Business Model & Decentralized Treatment of Fecal Sludge

Abstract

Even though the majority of Pakistan is being served by an onsite sanitation system, the fecal sludge management service chain is entirely nonexistent. According to the United Nations, to achieve universal access to safe sanitation by 2030, the rate of current progress needs to be quadrupled. Despite the importance of this pressing issue, there is a lack of extensive research regarding FSM in Pakistan. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding the effectiveness of the emptying service and its integration into the urban sanitation system. So, our Project aimed to reduce the research gap regarding onsite sanitation systems and the fate of FS generated. We developed a first-ever fecal sludge management chain that can be introduced in Pakistan. We aimed to provide an integrated and holistic service chain that covered the collection, emptying, transport, and treatment of fecal sludge. The selected site for the introduction of FSM was Bahria Enclave as it was near and easily accessible. Current FSM practices of the area were studied in detail by conducting household surveys and the crucial information retrieved was used for the development of a fecal sludge management model. The major goal of the project was to prove that FSM can be turned into a profitable business so that apart from the government, even the private sector can invest in it considering it a business opportunity. Also, currently, there is not a single working fecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) in Pakistan for treating FS generated. So, a detailed literature review was also conducted of already existing treatment technologies and working FSTPs to decide which technology would be the most suitable to be introduced in a developing country like Pakistan. DEWATS was proven to be the most fitting technology to treat the liquid fraction of FS in Pakistan. After the finalization of technology, a full-scale design of FSTP was also provided.