The objective of this work plan is to propose actions related to the environment and sanitation but that fall within this context with a wide reach and address improvements in the quality of life of the population, aiming at job creation and sustainability of actions. The activities will be preceded by awareness and training and permanent monitoring, respecting the local culture and jointly celebrating each new step achieved, in the direction of the objectives proposed here. The proposed action plan has a holistic view of reality, intending to remedy the environment using several fronts, in such a way that one complements the other. This project allows the community to have a clean place, where all the organic material will be digested or composted and later duly destined; adequate place for residents to carry out their needs safely (environmental and personal); adequate treatment of excreta and sanitary effluents a great option of a new energy source, biogas, preserving atmospheric quality by reducing the burning of plastics; offering nutritious compounds, both allowing the use on green roofs and in the production of seedlings; and an increase in the population’s self-esteem due to the offer of work and improvement of living conditions; incentive for income generation and greater working capital within the communities themselves.
Introduction
The targeted neighborhood, with approximately 90 thousand inhabitants, is considered densely populated and presents itself as a challenge to the various actors present in the region: it is considered one of the poorest and most degraded areas of the metropolitan area, precisely because of the massive presence of garbage and sewage on the streets and the fact that it is a low-lying region, close to the sea, and is subject to flooding from rains and the accumulation of garbage from other surrounding regions.
Garbage, in turn, immediately raises issues related to basic sanitation and the environment. In large human concentrations, so commonly characterized by the disharmony between the impact caused by the standards and demands of modern life – although these vary widely – and the capacity to absorb the environment, organic waste mixes with the industrial waste and effluents produced, causing several problems related to sanitation and the environment.
The lack of a regular collection or treatment system for garbage and sewage in the region means that all organic and inorganic wastes end up being disposed of in the streets, in the open and mixed with the daily life of the population. The water used in houses or commercial establishments is discarded along the side of the streets, and often used by residents to help drive garbage and sewage to a point below the region. When it reaches the flatter streets, it emerges, because the existing rain galleries are obstructed by the excess of particulate material.
The objective of this work plan, therefore, is to propose actions related to the environment and sanitation but that fall within this context with a wide reach and address improvements in the quality of life of the population, aiming at job creation and sustainability of actions. To this end, three are the general lines of the project: sanitation, training and composting.
To meet these three points, it is necessary; expand toilet services and couple them to treatment biosystems; improve cleaning services for both streets and canals in relation to collection and transportation of excreta; improve the working conditions of the latrine cleaners and make the treatment of these wastes feasible.
The activities will be preceded by awareness and training and permanent monitoring, respecting the local culture and jointly celebrating each new step achieved, in the direction of the objectives proposed here. In addition to training and support for the creation of micro enterprises aimed at the management of each work front.
The work plan follows:
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- Detailed description of the problems to be addressed;
- The proposed actions, their budgets and work forecast;
- Formation of micro companies;
- Summary table;
- Conclusion.
Critical Issues
Lack of sanitation
In most parts of the region, the lack of sanitation is almost complete. Few latrines are distributed, mainly in the higher and slightly more organized regions and count on regular withdrawal of dejections by latrine cleaners and pit cleaners, which dump everything in the channels below, with the sea as the final destination. Another part of the dejections takes place directly on the streets and sidewalks, which are loaded with organic and inorganic waste, driven by rain and effluents to the lower parts of the neighborhood, reaching the market region, where they join the channels that drain everything into the sea.
The situation is aggravated in the market, since contaminated water from water resources is mixed with a large volume of organic matter produced daily. The market has partial collection of vegetable remains, fruits and vegetables, but it is insufficient to keep this space sanitized, where it is also normal to raise animals such as goats, pigs, ducks and chickens in its surroundings, further aggravating the health issue.
The situation is even worse in the communities located below, where the channels overflow during the heavy rains, which occur mainly between the months of August and November, and the accumulation of inorganic waste that blocks the flow of water. As there are no latrines in these areas, people make their needs on the streets, sidewalks and canals. The destination of effluents is oceanic, not preceded by treatment but only carried by water resources.
Inadequate waste disposal
As previously mentioned, organic and inorganic waste is thrown directly onto streets, sidewalks and canals. This occurs both in the upper and lower parts of the city. This inadequate arrangement also occurs in other higher locations in the capital. During intense rains, all these residues are carried to the water bodies, going downstream and accumulating in the flatter stretches, mainly in the lower parts of the city. The same occurs with wastewater, which is discharged from the sides of the streets and descends leading to garbage and waste. Residents take advantage of the moments with the greatest volume of water, such as after the rains, to push more garbage into the lower parts of the region. This habit, associated with the large volume of waste disposed, leads to the obstruction of the rain galleries, mixing all types of waste and effluents in the open in most of the region. Even though cleaning and waste collection has been carried out in recent months by different institutions, the transportation of the collected garbage is deficient, providing a large accumulation of garbage concentrated mainly in the vicinity of the collection buckets.
Action Proposal
Basic sanitation
Seen from the natural side, any excrement, human or animal, is biomass. This biomass can be made available to nature in the form of organic matter and nutrients, in addition to being able to be converted into energy. This return to nature serves to feed the soil, accelerate the growth of plants, fertilize tanks for the production of safe biomass (animal or vegetable), suitability of soil unsuitable for agriculture, among others. Through the proper treatment of effluents and organic compounds, it is possible to produce energy and promote agriculture and aquaculture.There are countless sewage treatment plants on the market, from those to serve over 1 million people, to household units to serve a single family, all with the same waste management capabilities. With the choice of the appropriate wastewater treatment technique, the problems related to sanitation (cost of electricity, specialized labor, consumption of chemical compounds, acquisition of industrialized goods) and the lack of it (growth of vectors, reduction of environmental health, increased risks to human health) become part of the solution, providing energy supply, the recovery of degraded soils, plant growth, air and water clean-up.
Following are the actions planned for basic sanitation:
Collective toilets
The upper part of city already has a greater number of toilets, as well as individual toilets per household. The biggest problem with the lack of toilets is found in the lower regions. For this reason, these areas will be prioritized for the construction of collective toilets. And even if, apparently, there are few unoccupied spaces, the idea will be to work with families willing to give up part of their area for the implantation of these new toilets, in exchange some type of space utilization agreement will be signed that remunerates the family according to the footage of the area used according to market laws. Another possibility is to locate areas that are public and that are negotiated with the competent bodies for the use of them for the implantation of toilet systems.
The management of these toilets must be done after discussion with community leaders, government agencies, forming a management group that will start the rules of operation and operation of the system. The idea is that in the future each system will be managed by a micro enterprise. In other words, this management group has the function of helping and contributing to the formation of microenterprises for the administration of toilets.
It is estimated that there will be 10 units to be implemented in 3 years, with each unit having the capacity to receive up to 1000 users per day. Each of these toilet units consists of 10 toilets, with an implantation cost of around U $ xxxx per set of toilets. Each of these toilets must be connected to a treatment system. This measure will serve about 5% of the lower part of the city, where it has the greatest need. To replicate the implementation of systems that serve the entire population, it will be necessary to seek new resources. The ten systems planned to be implemented during the term of this project, will cost U $ xxxx
Coupled treatment system
The proposed system for treatment coupled with toilets, are fixed-cup biodigesters and filters buried in the soil. Other systems can be adopted, but this is what provides a treatment with inactivation of pathogens, decomposition of biodegradable organic matter without the consumption of electricity. The difference between this system and the others that do not use electricity in the process is the high production of biogas, a source of energy for heating, lighting, cooking and electricity. The upper part of the biodigester receives the effluent from the toilets (set of 10 toilets) which in turn lead the waste to the bottom of the biodigester without using large amounts of water, reinforcing a local cultural habit of low water consumption.
Each unit can produce up to 50 m³ of biogas per day. Biogas can be used in a community kitchen or distributed to families closest to the installed system. It is important that the management of the small business becomes autonomous, covering all costs and generating a profit for the management group. Each treatment system is budgeted at U $ xxxxxx
Community biosystem budget
A demonstration unit of biosystem is located at the eco point and can be visited by future entrepreneurs of community toilets interested in knowing the various possibilities of use.
Awareness campaign
Whenever there are systems in place that allow proper use by people living in the vicinity, use is estimated by up to 1000 people per system daily. Since it is possible to fulfill needs in a safe way (to the user and the environment), it can intensify awareness campaigns with residents, encouraging the use of new spaces, keeping the roads, sidewalks and canals clean, now used for the dejections. This group will be formed by 04 (four) people chosen in the community, through local leaders, preferably people already engaged in other community activities, committed to local sanitation.
Working group for cleaning waste in the streets, canals and surroundings of the houses
After the awareness campaigns, the working group mobilizes for cleaning with the support of the jet wash truck and with the use of enzymes. The group will clean the streets and old places used as latrines once every three months during the three years, until the streets are kept clean, especially those close to the market.
Improvement of latrine cleaners working conditions: collection and proper transport
The way in which both the collection and disposal of excreta by the latrine cleaners is carried out presents a series of drawbacks, from environmental health to the psychological health of operators. Testing suction systems to collect these tailings from the current latrines by the same people who currently do the manual collection, facilitating transportation in an appropriate vehicle and disposal in a location with proper treatment will be actions to be discussed with the most interested, the latrine cleaners, and finding resources during the project, carried out during or after this work phase. The transport can be done in low body vehicles, suitable for loading and unloading objects. It is estimated a cost with the purchase of equipment in the amount of xxxxx
Latrine treatment system implementation
The excreta treatment systems collected from the latrines will serve to prevent them from being thrown into the channel that leads to the sea without treatment. The same systems proposed for toilets can be implemented to receive the waste from existing latrines. It is necessary to locate wider areas that allow the circulation of vehicles and hygienic facilities for workers, such as the bathroom, dressing room, security room, etc. 600 m³ of biodigester would be needed, separated into six units for periodic cleaning and preparation of the biosolid for use as a compound. Biogas can be used to produce electricity.
The estimated cost is US $ xxxx. As these resources do not yet exist, they will be sought from other sources until the end of the project, and the most suitable location for these facilities is also sought throughout the project, always listening to the biggest stakeholders, the latrine cleaners themselves. With our resources, it will be possible to install a pilot unit to serve as a reference and encourage the implementation of other systems. The cost of this unit will be U $ xxxx
Compost
Cleaning by sweepers and collection of organic and inorganic waste has been carried out in most areas on a daily basis. The main streets are swept twice a day, in the morning, from 6 am to 9 am and in the afternoon from 3 pm to 6 pm. All garbage is transported in wheelbarrows to containers strategically positioned in the main convergences of the streets being cleaned.
The composting will be done initially in 4 (four) points favored by the circulation routes, close to the largest collection points and by the availability of area for the installation of the eco points. The community center eco point is now ready to be used, with the rest needing agreements with the nearest residents and the owner of the place.
The composting plant will be the community center, in a location of approximately 1500 m², with a cemented bottom. The organic material must be selected by a worker from each cleaning team, who will transport it in a 200-liter wheelbarrow and / or barrel attached to manual carts for the composting plant. It is estimated that 2,000 kg / day of organic material is transported to the composting area, always in the morning, so that there is enough time to process the material, dispose of in windrows and control the temperature and leachate for vector control.
In the first 10 (ten) days the crushed compost will be stored in an airy environment and protected with an anti-fly screen. Then it will be exposed and revolved periodically. The estimated monthly production of compost will be 12000 kg and 100% used in the cultivation of the seedlings and live roofs of the community center. For the widest composting, it will be necessary to find adequate space, farther away from inhabited areas to avoid environmental risks due to the heavy circulation of trucks, the operation of crushers and mass movements.
A new container should be installed in the market area and selected workers in the area will control the disposal of organic matter. The ideal situation would be to keep the entire market area always free of waste scattered on the floor and this goal should be pursued. All collected organic material must be taken to the final destination area where it will be processed and transformed into organic fertilizer. According to a study carried out to characterize the garbage, half of the garbage collected is formed from organic material that can be transformed into compost.
Part of the materials can be crushed / fragmented to accelerate the production of the compost. The leachate produced must be channeled (which must be washed daily) for proper treatment. Due to the high amount of decomposable organic material, the leachate can contribute to the production of accumulated energy in the form of methane or be used to maintain adequate humidity in the composting strands (with or without treatment). Just like the liquid part, the solid part from the biodigester can be removed and added to the compost, as long as there is a need to promote an extra stabilization of the compost, humidify the windrows or adjust the relationship between carbon and nutrients.
A team of 7 (seven) people, one to coordinate the collection of organic waste, two to transport organic materials to the plant, one to transport compost already produced and three people to operate the composting plant, with the task of receiving the material, store in an appropriate place, inspect the material to make sure that there are no mixed metallic materials, grind / fragment the materials, form the readings, turn the readings according to need, control the temperature, control the volume of water in the compost, store the compost in a dry place, grind and sieve the compost, pack, prepare for distribution.
A compost storage room should be prepared to serve as a sample and sale of the final product. Most of the compost produced in the early years will be destined for city’s internal cultivation areas, in the areas of reforestation and live ceilings. In the following years, production may gain scale and be placed on the market and sold to landowners who wish to improve their crops and the quality of the soil on their properties. Future reforestation areas of other non-governmental organizations, outside the scope of the project, may acquire the compost produced to be used as fertilizer in reforestation and food cultivation projects coordinated by them, with a financial return for future groups of works that will be formed from the implementation of this project. It will also be able to serve owners and multilateral agencies interested in reforestation for environmental compensation and carbon sequestration.
Micro enterprises creation
The areas of sanitation, reforestation and composting in the country context, allow not only the generation of work and income from the formation of micro enterprises, but also solve sanitary and environmental problems that so aggravate the living conditions of this population. The implantation of 10 community restrooms connected to treatment systems with biogas generation, can generate 10 groups of autonomous work that will be trained to manage the restrooms and the production of biogas. Like the toilets installed in the community center, a small fee charged keeps the system working for the community while generating income for the management group.
Concomitantly, distribution / use of biogas for cooking can directly replace the consumption of firewood or charcoal that has higher prices, for example that of LPG, making it a business attraction. Financially, therefore, this action, in addition to being sustainable, generates new productive cycles, for example by producing energy that is fundamental for other businesses and producing nutrients to feed the system.
The production work already underway will serve as a mirror and support for the formation and development of these future micro companies that are foreseen in this work plan. We can list 3 sets of actions already underway and which have shown satisfactory experiences and great potential: the cycle of management of toilets, biodigester and fish farming.
The steps to create micro companies are as follows:
Creation of working teams
The first work teams will be formed by people from the region with some practical experience in each area of activity: sanitation, cultivation, composting. They must be people with the ability to work in groups, willing to participate in community development activities and with production capacity. Men and women must be part of the work teams proportionately.
The size of each work team can vary according to the need for production, and a minimum number must be kept in each team that always corresponds to the cost benefit that keeps future activity free from external subsidies. Older people with experience in the activity that is under development should join the team to contribute their experience and transfer it to the youngest.
The replicability of work teams will always be proportional to the demand for the services offered: access to toilets, cleaning of latrines, street cleaning, construction of treatment systems, construction of toilets, administration of eco points, production of compost, production of compound worm, fish farming, production of brooms, production of pots.
Workers training
Training courses for workers will be given during the implementation of the project with emphasis on the areas of sanitation and the environment. For training in the use of recycled materials in buildings, humanization of spaces, management of eco points, separate professionals will be hired, specialized in each area.
A training course for the implementation and maintenance of biodigesters and integrated biosystems should be applied during the project with the following content:
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- Environmental Sanitation
- Conception – For What and For Whom?
- Finding the need
- Degree of community interest
- Viability study
- Number of people served
- Types of waste treated
- Groundwater level
- Soil composition
- Area type – flat or sloping saw.
- Collecting networks
- Area ownership
- Distance between homes and biodigester
- Use of biogas
- Costs
- Cost-benefit ratio
- Environmental Sanitation
Actions that precede the implantation of the Biosystem
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- Formation of the work team
- Choice of location
- Legal contracts
- Sizing
- Biodigester and filters
- Seaweed tanks
- Fish tanks
- Macrophyte tanks
- Biosolid deposit saw.
- Composting
- Determination of the actors
- Training of the actors
Construction
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- Demarcation of physical space
- Excavations
- Biodigester, inbox, hydraulic press
- Waterproofing
- Biodigester bottleneck
- Tests
Management
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- Biodigester
- Input
- Neck
- Biosolid
- Biodigester
Biogas
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- Water
- Pond maintenance
- Pisciculture
- Aquatic plants
- Composters
- Networks
- Fertigation
- Final destination
- Water
Conclusion
The situation in which the residents of the area covered by the project are subject presents a series of chain complications. The environmental health of the place is compromised at its different levels, with an emphasis on the presence of garbage and excrement throughout the area, houses with sick building syndrome, lack of green spaces, lack of opportunity for residents and impossibility of growing food, as it is an urban area. In a way, these problems are synergistic and do not have a satisfactory result when approached in isolation from one front or the other.
The proposed action plan has a holistic view of reality, intending to remedy the environment using several fronts, in such a way that one complements the other.
All actions proposed here aim to continue after the end of the project’s implementation period. For that, we count on the activities of awareness, formation and creation of work groups that can both manage the ventures independently and replicate the acquired knowledge.
This project allows the community to have a clean place, where all the organic material will be digested or composted and later duly destined; adequate place for residents to carry out their needs safely (environmental and personal); adequate treatment of excreta and sanitary effluents (approximately 11 systems); a great option of a new energy source, biogas, preserving atmospheric quality by reducing the burning of plastics; offering nutritious compounds, both allowing the use on green roofs and in the production of seedlings; and an increase in the population’s self-esteem due to the offer of work and improvement of living conditions; incentive for income generation and greater working capital within the communities themselves.
