Hi Dorothee,
Sorry, Sujaya's reply got deleted when I merged her two accounts into one yesterday. Here it is again (this is the response before Dorothee's latest post):

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Dear Dorothee,
I am no more with CSTEP and not sure if they are maintaining the tool in the backend. However the FSM Toolbox (www.fsmtoolbox.com/) has a module on Technology choice that is more or less based derived and updated version.
We can have a call to discuss the Toolbox. Outputs /options report are derived based on inputs by the user .

You need to Sign in and then go to Execute> Planning>Infrastructure Planning > FSM Rapid Planner OR Pro Planner

Hope this helps.
Thanks
Sujaya

Dear Sujaya
Thank you for your message (even though I cannot see it online anymore ?)!
I checked out the FSM Toolbox (fsm.toolbox.com) has a module on Technology choice that is more or less based derived and updated version of the CSTEP tool (> Planning>Infrastructure Planning > FSM Rapid Planner OR Pro Planner).
It is an interesting application but it was not easy for me to use it.
I think their are three areas for improvement:
- transparency on how to select appropriate technologies
- guidance on what data is needed and consideration of uncertainties in these data
- automatic generation of possible system options form the technologies
For these three elements I have developped methods in my PhD and I will try bringing them online as well to complement what is already out there..
I am also in discussion with Manfred (forum.susana.org/wastewater-characterisa...lable-sampsons#27548) to integrate some of these models in their new software.
Will keep you updated!
Thanks, Dorothee

Dear Sujaya

I wonder now after a few more years and many different activities in the sector there is a new version of the Sanitech tool available?
Cheers, Dorothee

Dear Mr Sujaya
Since you posted a Tool for septage management, a clear concept on the topic was expected. Hence I posted some fundamental queries.
2nd query could not be replied. It is not replied how septaic tank produces less sludge than aerobic system – refer 2nd question of the earlier mail. Recheck it. Answer of the 1St query is still fuzzy.
As was earlier posted on the Forum, as per CPHEEO Manual, for 5 users of a family recommended size of aseptic tank is 1.5 m length x 0.75 m width x 1.05 m depth for 3 years cleaning interval. Total volume comes to 1.18 cum.
As per your calculation, generation of septage for 5 users of a toilet for 3 years cleaning interval comes to 230 L X 5 x 3 = 3.45 cum. It is 3 times more than the size of the tank. Cleaning of 1/3rd of tank after 3 years is vague suggestion.
Problem is that you are considering generation of septage as per US EPA (1984) and trying to adopt it for accumulation of septage in Indian condition. There is big difference between generation and accumulation of septage. You did not consider biodegradation potential of human wastes in 3 years. For a Tool development, this point is very important. Your present Tool will lead to unnecessary much larger size and hence cost of a septage treatment unit.
Regards

Pawan

Dear Mr Jha,

Apologies for the delay in replying.

- Please find below the answers to your queries.

I have gone through a few pages of the Tool and have some fundamental queries.
1. What is the rate of accumulation of septage? The Tool mentions faecal production rate in different groups of countries. For designing a system for treatment of septage, accumulation rate is important design criterion.

CSTEP: “Septage accumulation rate would vary from place to place depending on practices of septic tank use, number of users, water used for flushing, and the frequency of cleaning the septage. The size of a septic tank in individual houses in India ranges from 1 to 4 cum, whereas the size of a septic tank in office or apartment buildings may vary from 10 up to 100 cum. Adopting the US EPA (1984) estimate of septage generation of 230 litres/year and an average household size of 4, the septage generation / household would be 920 litres/year. Alternatively assuming an average septic tank volume of 3 m3 and emptying of septage when one third of the septic tank is filled with settled solids, the volume of septage emptied would be 1 m3 .”
from “Septage Management in Urban India” by WSP for the NUSP www.cseindia.org/userfiles/document_sm.pdf


2. The following are the quotes from page nos. 6 and 7
“ Anaerobic sanitation systems like single-pit latrines, septic tanks, biogas settlers, small and large- scale anaerobic digesters and waste water stabilization pond systems produce less sludge than aerobic sanitation system( eg., trickling filters, activated sludge, etc)

"The sludge generated from an anaerobic sanitation system is stabilized and is much better with respect to odour than aerobic sanitation system".

i. Is there any technical explanation of the above 1st quote? If it is true (I don’t think so) then why one should go for SBR, MBR, MBBR and ASP technologies, mentioned in the Tool kit as technical options. These technologies are much expensive, requiring well trained technical staff than septic tank.
ii.Is it true that sludge from septic tank is stabilized?
CSTEP: Yes, the sludge is better stabilised than raw sewage. For septic tanks, about 30-50% BOD is removed in septic tank. We need further treatment of septic tank sludge for better quality for reuse or disposal purposes. Thus, need for further drying as well as treatment may be necessary for sludge treated by anaerobic processes (depending on the processes/storage/collection methods.
We agree that H2S is produced by anaerobic condition has a pungent odour. However, odour that is produced by the AD process can and must be contained and the ventilated air is filtered to remove any odour, before it is blown out through the ventilation system. The anaerobic digestion process has a bad smell, but as long as it is kept sealed in by good practices in the operation. I visited the Nonthaburi Waste Water Plant in Bangkok, where they had anaerobic digestion tanks/bio tanks, and there was no considerable odour.

Hope this clarifies your questions.
You can call me at 9900087161, if you have further queries and/or suggestions.

Thanks
Sujaya

Dear all,

CSTEP has come up with a compendium of tools for sanitation planning (includes the tools from the FSM Toolbox).

This is a growing list and there may be tools that have not yet been added. If you wish to see a particular tool in this list, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We plan to convert this into a searchable web-page soon!

What is this document about?

This document lists various tools that are available (mostly online or as a soft copy) for use in the sanitation sector. The tools can be of different forms (Excel-based, web-based), have different aims (financial assessment, capacity building) and employ different approaches to a similar goal (life-cycle cost, financial planning, etc.). The CSTEP Sanitation Tool Compendium aims to list all accessible and relevant tools in the sanitation sector, with focus on tools that take faecal sludge management (FSM) into consideration.

This document provides a list of sanitation tools; organisation of the same based on their specific features; and factsheets corresponding to every tool, which cover the objectives, descriptions, advantages, limitations and details of the tool.

The Compendium lists the tools according to:
1. Aspect: Based on the different characteristics of FSM, as given by the FSM toolbox (www.fsmtoolbox.com), aspects broadly define the form of sanitation-related information a tool would provide. For example, a tool that allows users to define a type of technology and then conduct a financial assessment would come under the “financial” and “technology” categories. There are seven aspects: Institutional, Financial, Regulatory, Monitoring, Technology, Capacity Building and Advocacy.
2. Part of the Cycle: Based on the five categories of the FSM cycle outlined by the FSM toolbox (www.fsmtoolbox.com), these are the stages that any project would undergo in its lifetime. Beginning with prefeasibility and up to quality assurance and monitoring,every stage of the project would require different forms and depths of knowledge and support.
3. Target Audience: Most tools are aimed at one or more stakeholders. This feature allows users to see which tools will be helpful, based on their profile.
4. Type: This is a broad classification of the tools based on their formats (web-based, mobile-based, and Excel-based) and features (AutoCAD, GPS, etc.).

A fact sheet for each tool is available, organised alphabetically. Users can access these factsheets from the different lists provided (via hyperlinks) or by scrolling through this document. (The factsheets begin here)


Note: Tools that do not have sufficient documented evidence have not been included in this compendium.
Thanks
Sujaya

Dear Sujaya and All

I have gone through a few pages of the Tool and have some fundamental queries.
1. What is the rate of accumulation of septage? The Tool mentions faecal production rate in different groups of countries. For designing a system for treatment of septage, accumulation rate is important design criterion.

2. The following are the quotes from page nos. 6 and 7
“ Anaerobic sanitation systems like single-pit latrines, septic tanks, biogas settlers, small and large- scale anaerobic digesters and waste water stabilization pond systems produce less sludge than aerobic sanitation system( eg., trickling filters, activated sludge, etc)

"The sludge generated from an anaerobic sanitation system is stabilized and is much better with respect to odour than aerobic sanitation system".

i. Is there any technical explanation of the above 1st quote? If it is true (I don’t think so) then why one should go for SBR, MBR, MBBR and ASP technologies, mentioned in the Tool kit as technical options. These technologies are much expensive, requiring well trained technical staff than septic tank.
ii. Is it true that sludge from septic tank is stabilized? Check its BOD from the Tool list. There is no need of further treatment of a stabilized sludge and there should be no problem of septage management from septic tank or single pit latrine, if the above quote is correct.
“Anaerobic sludge is better with respect to odour than an aerobic sanitation system”, is quite difficult to understand. There is always production of hydrogen sulphide under anaerobic condition which has pungent odour. In case of aerobic condition there is no formation of such gas. Then how anaerobic is better than aerobic with respect to odour?

Regards
Pawan

Dear Dorothee,

Another version of SANITECH ready.

darpan.cstep.in/sanitech

Username - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Password - demo@123

Technologies included as of now in the Tool has been put together in a compendium (included in the Help section of the tool) and also available in the following link:
cstep.in/publications/reports/231

Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks
Sujaya

The username should be :

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sorry about the confusion.

Thanks
Sujaya

Dear Sujaya

These are exciting news and I am interested in testing the tool.
However, the login you provided does not work at my end (using Firefox 45.0.1).

Cheers, Dorothee

Dear all,

We are happy to have another version of our tool - now called SANITECH (open to better names:-)
The tool enables user to identify suitable systems for a city/ward/area, allow user to create scenarios through different interventions and compare scenarios.

The final version will allow the user to create their own systems, and will have indicators to assess the different scenarios. Please log in as a demo user and you can see the functionalities. The manual is at the upper right end of the interface.

Please send in your feedback. This will be one of the tools as part of the FSM Toolbox (developed by AIT, Bangkok). The main intent of the tool is to propose relevant technologies (considering the whole SVC), suited to the constraints of the city/ward/area. The tool also has a repository of sanitation systems. Please feel free to send us cost and performance numbers of the systems that you might be familiar with, along with any new tested technologies- so that we can modify our database accordingly.


The link is as follows:
darpan.cstep.in/sanitation/


This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Password: demo@123

Thanks
Sujaya

Dear all,
We now have another version of the tool. The final version will allow the user to create their own systems, and will have indicators to assess the different scenarios. Please log in as a demo user and you can see the functionalities. The manual is at the upper right end of the interface.
Please send in your feedback. This will be one of the tools as part of the FSM Toolbox (developed by AIT, Bangkok). The main intent of the tool is to propose relevant technologies (considering the whole SVC), suited to the constraints of the city/ward/area. The tool also has a repository of sanitation systems. Please feel free to send us cost and performance numbers of the systems that you might be familiar with, along with any new tested technologies- so that we can modify our database accordingly.


The link is as follows:
darpan.cstep.in/sanitation/


This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Password: demo@123

Thanks
Sujaya