Ecological sanitation, also known as ecosan or eco-san, is a sanitation process that uses human excreta and household wastewater as resources to be recovered, treated (where necessary), and reused, instead of as waste. Unlike most conventional sanitation methods, ecological sanitation processes human waste (as well as sometimes animal waste, and organic kitchen waste) to recover nutrients (usually for the purpose of growing crops) that would otherwise be discarded.
Ecological sanitation (ecosan) offers a new philosophy of dealing with what is presently regarded as waste and wastewater. Ecosan is based on the systematic implementation of reuse and recycling of nutrients and water as a hygienically safe, closed-loop and holistic alternative to conventional sanitation solutions. Ecosan systems enable the recovery of nutrients from human faeces and urine for the benefit of agriculture, thus helping to preserve soil fertility, assure food for future generations, minimize water pollution and recover bio energy ensure that water is used economically and is recycled in a safe way to the greatest possible extent for purposes such as irrigation or groundwater recharge.
The main objectives of ecological sanitation are :
- To reduce the health risks related to sanitation, contaminated water and waste
- To prevent the pollution of surface and groundwater
- To prevent the degradation of soil fertility
- To optimize the management of nutrients and water resources.
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