21 Proposed Research, Science, Technology and Innovation …
509
were observed in Medieval cities in Asia, some of which were more hygienic than
most European cities of that time that experienced higher recurrent water pollution due to the urban fecal matter (Sedlak 2014). Today, research challenges are in
devising cost-effective methods for treatment and reuse of sewage in organic agriculture in a more environmentally friendly, socially acceptable, and technically and
economically sustainable at a large commercial scale, especially in developing countries of Africa that have limited technology for collection, treatment, and handling of
the sewage (in conventional waterborne systems) and pit latrine sludge. Innovators
must develop reuse processes that are simultaneously economically viable, and user
and environmentally friendly to compete with and/or complement synthetic fertilizers that dominate the market and are the main source of nutrient pollution of water
resources. The costs and benefits of implementing new waste management systems
versus substitution of old systems is another challenge (Refsgaard et al. 2005), and
hence the new methods may have to compliment or improve existing systems in order
to avoid huge capital outlays and enhance uptake by urban authorities. Commercial
production and marketing of new ecological sanitation technologies due to low social
acceptability is another area for examination. New policies and regulations, as well
as new processing methods, may be required to reduce nutrient and water waste in
current wastewater treatment.
Quality control of ecological sanitation systems could be based on contract
farming or long-term agreements to use and manage urban fertilizers. This would
be a vital element especially for poor countries where urban agriculture plays an
important role in sustaining food security (Refsgaard et al. 2005). Formulation of
appropriate new quality control and certification processes is required, starting with
the commercial scale manufacture of organic fertilizers from urban waste, particularly fecal matter, to be used in agriculture. The industry would start with production
of low-risk crops such as non-food plants and fodder crops as pilot projects to innovate and test for socially acceptable and economically optimized systems. Hence,
researchers must formulate methods that would partially or fully replace government
subsidies on urban waste collection, treatment, and reuse so that urban waste management systems are absolutely sustainable. Government subsidies are not always available especially during periods of macroeconomic hardships, which adversely affect
performance of water utilities that rely on government subsidies. It would be perfect
if the novel systems are transparently monitored and evaluated, as well as ensure
that the farmers and/or food consumers are well educated and informed, and actively
participate in monitoring and evaluation. This may enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of water services by ensuring total wastewater recycling in
freshwater and wastewater services, improve effluent quality standards, and increase
water supply security. Some such programs have already been partially tested in the
southern African cities of Harare and Windhoek that have improved urban water
supply security by recycling wastewater indirectly and directly, respectively. Therefore, pilot research on cost-effective urban wastewater treatment systems that surpass
minimum effluent quality standards, combined with wastewater recycling, may lead
to practical solutions that help to close the freshwater and human nutrient cycles,
reduce pollution, mitigate water stresses, and improve resilience to drought.
509
were observed in Medieval cities in Asia, some of which were more hygienic than
most European cities of that time that experienced higher recurrent water pollution due to the urban fecal matter (Sedlak 2014). Today, research challenges are in
devising cost-effective methods for treatment and reuse of sewage in organic agriculture in a more environmentally friendly, socially acceptable, and technically and
economically sustainable at a large commercial scale, especially in developing countries of Africa that have limited technology for collection, treatment, and handling of
the sewage (in conventional waterborne systems) and pit latrine sludge. Innovators
must develop reuse processes that are simultaneously economically viable, and user
and environmentally friendly to compete with and/or complement synthetic fertilizers that dominate the market and are the main source of nutrient pollution of water
resources. The costs and benefits of implementing new waste management systems
versus substitution of old systems is another challenge (Refsgaard et al. 2005), and
hence the new methods may have to compliment or improve existing systems in order
to avoid huge capital outlays and enhance uptake by urban authorities. Commercial
production and marketing of new ecological sanitation technologies due to low social
acceptability is another area for examination. New policies and regulations, as well
as new processing methods, may be required to reduce nutrient and water waste in
current wastewater treatment.
Quality control of ecological sanitation systems could be based on contract
farming or long-term agreements to use and manage urban fertilizers. This would
be a vital element especially for poor countries where urban agriculture plays an
important role in sustaining food security (Refsgaard et al. 2005). Formulation of
appropriate new quality control and certification processes is required, starting with
the commercial scale manufacture of organic fertilizers from urban waste, particularly fecal matter, to be used in agriculture. The industry would start with production
of low-risk crops such as non-food plants and fodder crops as pilot projects to innovate and test for socially acceptable and economically optimized systems. Hence,
researchers must formulate methods that would partially or fully replace government
subsidies on urban waste collection, treatment, and reuse so that urban waste management systems are absolutely sustainable. Government subsidies are not always available especially during periods of macroeconomic hardships, which adversely affect
performance of water utilities that rely on government subsidies. It would be perfect
if the novel systems are transparently monitored and evaluated, as well as ensure
that the farmers and/or food consumers are well educated and informed, and actively
participate in monitoring and evaluation. This may enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of water services by ensuring total wastewater recycling in
freshwater and wastewater services, improve effluent quality standards, and increase
water supply security. Some such programs have already been partially tested in the
southern African cities of Harare and Windhoek that have improved urban water
supply security by recycling wastewater indirectly and directly, respectively. Therefore, pilot research on cost-effective urban wastewater treatment systems that surpass
minimum effluent quality standards, combined with wastewater recycling, may lead
to practical solutions that help to close the freshwater and human nutrient cycles,
reduce pollution, mitigate water stresses, and improve resilience to drought.