Ecoflo-Wash Asia has been specifically set up to work with world leading clean water NGO’s and sanitisation organisations to help bring sanitary bathroom solutions to in-need villages and communities.
We do this with a simple solution – installing composting toilets. This may sound like an overly simple approach but it solves the problem of poor sanitation in many communities which can have real and sometimes deadly effects.
How poor sanitation can affect communities
There are millions of people affected by poor sanitation every day. Many countries in Asia, Africa and latin America don’t have access to proper sanitation that can lead to various debilitating and sometimes lethal diseases.
One of the hardest aspects of helping communities move towards proper sanitation practices is providing the right tools – be it education, water filters, toilets or clean water programs to the right people. We work with NGO’s to ensure that a proper water sanitation program is provided along with the tools to help villages and communities to provide their community members with proper – sometimes life saving – sanitation.
Effects on water
Poor sanitation can have devastating effects on water quality for many communities across the globe. Water is typically affected by two types of waste – man made (every day trash or rubbish) and human waste (fecal matter).
If either of these two elements build up and pollute waterways and water sources, this can and does lead to an increase in infectious diseases that harm the most vulnerable (the very old, the very young and people with lower resistance and decreased immunity).
There is a multitude of follow-on effects from poor water sanitation:-
- Low quality of drinking water
- Entry into the food chain – fish, fruits and vegetables, etc
- Contamination of ground-water
- Provides breeding sites for flies, mosquitos and other disease carrying insects
Effects on people
The effects of poor water sanitation are far reaching and sometimes deadly for those living in poor sanitary conditions. One of the most prolific killers in developing countries is also one of the simpler to prevent – diarrhea. Diarrhea is the second biggest killer of children in developing countries (source) and no access to proper toilets is one of the leading contributors to this.Some of the infectious diseases associated with the improper storage of human feces, combined with poor sanitation practices are:-
Even rudimentary steps towards better sanitation practices can have a life changing impact on people’s lives – especially for girls and women.
How big is the problem of poor sanitation?
It’s difficult to get exact numbers on people who are affected by poor sanitation throughout the world, but here are some numbers from the World Health Organisation and UN Water.
It’s estimated that 2.4 billion people still do not have basic sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines. To put that into perspective if you were to count to 2.4 billion it would take you around one hundred and fifty-two years! (source)
Over 940 million people still defecate in the open. This means they go to the toilet in street gutters, behind bushes or in open water-ways. This has dire ramifications to water quality and the spread of infectious diseases.
Whilst there has been an increase in sanitary practices in Asia (47% of the population was using improved sanitation facilities in 2015 compared with 22% in 1990) there’s still more to be done to provide proper sanitation to over 50% of the population.
Diarrhea remains one of the major killers in countries where access to proper sanitation is limited and is also largely preventable. It’s estimated that the lives of over 350,000 children under the age of 5 years old could be saved each year just by providing better water, sanitation and hygiene practices.
Why is open defecation an issue?
Countries where defecating in the open is widespread typically have the highest number of deaths of children aged 5 and under. Open latrines, pit toilets and defecating in water sources, combined with poor sanitation practices perpetuates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.
How Ecoflo can help
We actively work with Non Government Organisations and world health organisations to help install composting toilets (also known as Biotoilets, Sawdust toilets or Dry toilets) into communities that are affected by poor water quality and sanitation practices.
If you are an NGO or organisation that’s looking to partner with a company that provides real world solutions to the ongoing water sanitation crisis around the world, please contact us to see how we can help.
Wastewater Management
We can provide information, solutions and products geared towards the management and disposal of wastewater. This includes urine and greywater from bathrooms, kitchens, communal cooking areas and laundries.
These types of systems can help to remove contaminated water from drinking water and farming irrigation supplies. This promotes a healthier lifestyle whilst managing potential waste products in an environmentally sustainable way.
Composting toilets
When composting toilets are combined with a sanitation education program in developing countries, they can quite literally save lives. Removing human feces from waterways, farmlands and open pit toilets help communities get one step closer to battling the issues surrounding poor sanitation and open defecation.
We can help supply a wide range of composting toilets to suit individuals right up to large villages.
Success Stories
Take a look at some of the success stories where isolated villages have been able to benefit from installing a composting toilet.
We’re willing to work with NGOs and other health organisations to help reduce the water sanitation and lack of toilets people experience around the world every day. Please feel free to contact us today.