Portable Sanitation Association International

Association Insight, September 2, 2020

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ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 Page 2 Continued on page 16 ISO Publishes New Standard for Fecal Sludge Treatment Units…continued from page 1 Why is ISO 31800 Significant to Achieve Better Global Sanitation? ISO 31800:2020, Faecal sludge treatment units—Energy independent, prefabricated, community-scale, resource recovery units—Safety and performance requirements, contains specific requirements and test methods to ensure safety, performance, and sustainability of prefabricated fecal sludge treatment units that can serve approximately 1,000 to 100,000 people. The standard is significant as it helps to provide a solution to the global sanitation problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, worldwide, 780 million people do not have access to an improved water source. Moreover, an estimated 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, accounting for more than 35 percent of the world's population. Despite the dire stats, breakthroughs are possible: The CDC also reports that water, sanitation, and hygiene has the potential to prevent at least 9.1 percent of the global disease burden and 6.3 percent of all deaths. To that end, ISO 31800 meets one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which, as a whole, serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. In particular, ISO 31800 contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), as it helps ensure safety, performance, and sustainability for safer sanitation. Ultimately, prefabricated fecal sludge treatment units will help to improve human living conditions, reduce air and water pollution, and reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases for a more sustainable future. Mr. Sun Kim of the U.S., chair and convener of the ISO PC 318 Working Group, noted: "In a number of developing countries, a main sewer system that safely treats and removes human waste just doesn't exist and may not be economically viable." "These stand-alone units can be a more practical alternative. What's more, they not only safely treat the waste but turn it into vital resources such as clean water. Internationally agreed guidelines on safety, quality, and performance will support the further development and use of this technology, providing benchmarks and instilling confidence in governments, operators, and investors." Part of the group that worked on the standard in Dakar, Senegal January 2018. PSAI Executive Director Karleen Kos is center front in blue. The group is posed in front of an omni processor prototype created by Janicki (see how it works above right). Mr. Sun Kim, chair and convener of the ISO PC 318 Working Group

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