View source for Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan)

[[Image:Closing.png|thumb|right|200px| Part of the poster [http://www.ecosanres.org/images/foldercover500pixwide.gif Closing the loop on Sanitation], produced by [http://www.ecosanres.org EcoSanRes].]]
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[[Image:closingUrban.png|thumb|right|200px| Part of the poster [http://www.ecosanres.org/images/Poster-ClosingTheLoop-Urban-large.jpg Closing the loop on Sanitation in Urban areas], produced by [http://www.ecosanres.org EcoSanRes].]]

Human faeces and urine contain a large amount of nutrients, which can be used in agriculture for crop irrigation, for fish aquaculture, or aquatic vegetable pond fertilization. In many cultures, for example the Chinese, the idea that 'waste is too valuable to waste' is well known. In many other cultures however, sanitation products are hardly used for productive use, although interest is growing. 

'''Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan)''' has led to more interest in the sanitation field. When sanitation products are reused, great care has to be given to dealing with the potential health and environmental risks of human waste products. Large-scale sewerage-based systems have significant drawbacks. Enormous investments are needed, operating and maintenance costs are very high, the water consumption is very large, and a large volume of waste is produced which can be costly to treat. Especially in arid zones, the water use is a problem. A second problem is that in cities, all kinds of waste are disposed of in the sewer, leading to a very varied mixture which is difficult to process. Ecological sanitation can both be applied in cities (often in public toilet blocks), and in peri-urban and rural areas.

{|style="background-color: #efefef;" 
|<font size="3" color="#454545">Ecosan is not so much a technology as a way of thinking. It views (treated) human excreta and greywater as valuable resources that can be put to productive use. In that sense, it requires a change of thinking about waste issues in terms of recycling and closing material loops, where waste is no longer regarded as waste but as a resource.</font>
|}

In most conventional wastewater and sanitation systems, large amounts of valuable nutrients are wasted. This can lead to reduced soil fertility and/or the need to apply (and buy) chemical fertilizers. Therefore, applying ecological sanitation has a very large potential.


===The Ecosan 5 Flow Streams===

[[Image:gtz chart.png|thumb|none|580px|Chart: [http://susana.org/lang-en/library/library?view=ccbktypeitem&type=2&id=1164 Technology components for sustainable sanitation]. GIZ]]]

===Field experiences===
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|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/rsr/]]
|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/rsr/]]
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|[[Image:project 1349.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1349/ RSR Project 1349]<br>Safe water <br>for Wajir]</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1349/ ]] 
|[[Image:project 644.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/644/ RSR Project 644]<br>Rwenzori Integrated School WASH Project</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/644/ ]] 
|[[Image:project 397.jpg |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/397/ RSR Project 397]<br>Eau Hygiène et Assainissement</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/397/ ]] 
|[[Image:project 195.png |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/195/ RSR Project 195]<br>Basic Sanitation <br>for Loja Province</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/195/ ]] 
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===Videos & links===

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|{{#ev:youtube|KpOShXVw0l0|200|auto|<center><font size="2">Promotion <br>de ECOSAN</font></center>}}
|{{#ev:youtube|bzCuwZPm6RA|200|auto|<center><font size="2">Ecosan Perspectives - <br>Krishi Mela 2010</font></center>}}
|{{#ev:youtube|IklVwJnZyDQ|200|auto|<center><font size="2">Ecological Sanitation - <br>Sri Lanka</font></center>}}
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* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_sanitation Ecological Sanitation on Wikipedia], with many links.
* GTZ: [http://susana.org/lang-en/library/library?view=ccbktypeitem&type=2&id=1164 Possible technology components for sustainable sanitation Technology Matrix] - an overview on the technology components which can be used in an ecosan approach
* [http://www.ecosanres.org/ EcoSanRes - Research on Econological Sanitation]
* SuSanA - [http://www.susana.org/ Sustainable sanitation for a better life.] This website has [http://www.susana.org/index.php/lang-en/cap-dev/visual-aids-drawings interesting visual aids and technical drawings], and many [http://www.susana.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=154&Itemid=147&lang=en links to studies on EcoSan in Africa].
*[http://www.giz.de/expertise/html/3722.html GIZ Sustainable infrastructure - Water]

* Jackson, B. (2005). [http://www.susana.org/images/documents/07-cap-dev/a-material-topic-wg/wg07/jackson-2005-ecosan-experience-in-eastern-southern-africa-wsp.es.pdf Review of EcoSan Experience in Eastern and Southern Africa]. Water and Sanitation Program - The World Bank.
* [http://www.unesco-ihe.org/online-course-ecological-sanitation UNESCO-IHE online course on Ecological Sanitation]
* [http://www.ecosan.nl/ Ecological Sanitation pages at WASTE]
* [http://www.ecosanservices.org/ Ecosan Services Foundation] - non-profit Ecosan consultancy.
* [http://imaginationforpeople.org/fr/project/ecosan-en-afrique-de-louest/ EcoSan information from Centre Régional pour l'Eau Potable etl'Assainissement à faible coût (CREPA)] (in french).