Evaluating the Economics of Urban Sanitation: A Life Cycle Perspective from Africa and Asia

With regards to Srirangam particularly, because there isn’t adequate sanitation in this region, waste from bathing, cooking, cleaning and human waste are mostly emptied or distributed into the open drainage system that mostly flows right outside the homes. Waste is either directly emptied into the drainage or distributed into the ground next to the drainage, which is the usual practice. Therefore, the water that is discharged may freely soak into the ground or accumulate as pools of stagnant water that is perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. It can be said that these conditions are a considerable risk to the health of populations living in these conditions. Consequently, the lapse in sanitation poses a significant health hazard to humans. In fact, it has been said that the lack of sanitary facilities contributes to almost 10% of the disease burden worldwide. Additionally, inadequate sanitation and hygiene is associated with a variety of health risks in humans, including typhoid, cholera, polio, infectious hepatitis, ascariasis and cryptosporidiosis. Aside from health-related impacts, it also has a rather negative impact on the environment. Because communities depend upon the open drainage system for disposal of waste, such waste is almost always untreated when discharged into a water body and this has contributed to the deterioration of rivers and lakes to which the waste has been dumped. The extensive investigation into the on-site system, such as pour flush toilets, would not, unfortunately, be applicable for Srirangam because of many reasons we have elaborated on in previous chapters. Although there may be a considerable expense of implementation, an underground drainage system is the most appropriate sewerage disposal system, in Srirangam and for other locations throughout the country.