WEEKLY EDITION NOVEMBER 20, 2019
World Toilet Day and World Portable Sanitation Day (19 November) draw attention to the importance of
sanitation in creating a strong economy, improving health and protecting people's safety and dignity. Ensuring
access to toilets to everyone everywhere by 2030 is a global development priority included in the UN Sustainable
Development Goals.
Many people around the world, especially in rural areas, rely on basic on-site sanitation systems like outhouses
and latrines. This is true even in developed countries. For example, the New York Times reported in 2016 that US
Census data shows nearly half a million homes in the US lack "the basic dignity of hot and cold running water, a
bathtub or shower, or a working flush toilet." On-site systems, where the wastewater treatment is done locally
rather than off-site through use of a sewage system, can be a hygienic low-cost solution when implemented
correctly and the waste is disposed of safely. However, many local communities lack the necessary knowledge
and resources, so the services are either set up poorly or don't exist.
Current technologies are failing to address underlying
challenges behind lack of sanitation including poverty,
infrastructure and resources. To help address this issue
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
created a project committee to develop a standard
focusing on product features and criteria for new
technologies, and the PSAI was at the table. We
participated in the US Technical Advisory Group (US
TAG) which had a voice in the development of the
standard published late last year. ISO 30500 guides
product developers looking for solutions so that they
can save time and resources. When governments and
NGOs adopt the new standard, they can have
confidence that these new units meet their
requirements and are suitable for local conditions.
The 30500 standard reflects the innovation that results
from the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge introduced by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2011. It
addresses recycling and resource recovery within the unit, safe treatment, positive user experience and
affordability.
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1 See http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202012.pdf
2 See https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/27/health/plumbing-united-states-poverty.html
PS AI i s a t t he Ta b l e on W o r ld T o il e t D a y a nd
W or l d Po r tab l e Sa ni t ati o n D ay
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