Dear Elisabeth

Thanks for such a encouraging word.
Yes, others studies has been my literature, I learnt and understood a lot from these studies. My study confirms the fertilizer qualities of fecal sludge and the main hindrance is the high pathogen content for its utilization for Indian condition. In addition, this study provides different treatment system required to reduce the pathogen content.  Based on local conditions of case study, unplanted drying bed and co-composting were selected as treatment process.

"Methods to reliably estimate faecal sludge quantities and qualities for the design of treatment technologies and management solutions" has been used in my research work but not in this paper. 

Regards
Chandana

 

Dear Chandana,

Thanks for posting about your research results here! The paper itself is behind a paywall. Perhaps you have an alternative file to share, for example a powerpoint presentation or pre-print?

You wrote:
"The design of FS treatment depends on accurate knowledge of its characteristics" and 
"Thus, collected FS requires treatment by unplanted drying bed and co-composting to be used as fertilizer."

I am wondering if your research results were surprising or revealing in any way, or if they basically confirmed what other studies have shown as well?* I know the variability of faecal sludge characteristics can be huge but at the end of the day the results are always the same, aren't they? Namely: Yes, it has fertiliser qualities. And yes, the pathogen content is high. Treatment is required to reduce the pathogen content as well as the water content to make it more manageable and safer.

Also, I am wondering if you were able to use any of the methods that were described in this publication?:
Methods to reliably estimate faecal sludge quantities and qualities for the design of treatment technologies and management solutions
forum.susana.org/214-vault-content-resea...d-qualities-by-eawag

Regards,
Elisabeth

* With "other studies", I mean for example the data collected in these two books:
Strande, L., Ronteltap, M., Brdjanovic, D. (Eds.) (2014). Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) book - Systems Approach for Implementation and Operation (in English, French and Spanish). International Water Association (IWA) Publishing, UK (ISBN: 9781780404738)
www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resource...library/details/3591

Tayler, K. (2018). Faecal Sludge and Septage Treatment - A guide for Low and Middle Income Countries. Practical Action Publishing Ltd, Rugby, Warwickshire, UK, ISBN: 978-1-85339-986-2
www.susana.org/en/knowledge-hub/resource...library/details/3439

Dear all,

Kindly provide your valuable feedback on my recent publication.

Abstract: 
Unscientific application of fecal sludge (FS) on agricultural fields in India has led to fecal coliform and heavy metal accumulation in the food chain. The design of FS treatment depends on accurate knowledge of its characteristics, which is seldom available for nonurban India, where most of the agriculture sector is concentrated. In this study, nonurban FS from India has been systematically characterized for physicochemical properties, nutrient, and pathogenic content to assess its ability to be used as a fertilizer. It was found that the collected FS has nutrients (nitrogen = 3.0% ±0.4%, phosphorus = 29.07 ± 4.48 mg=L, potassium = 43.57 ± 0.74 mg=L), organic carbon (33% ± 3.2%), and physicochemical properties that qualify the Indian specifications of organic fertilizers, whereas its pathogenic content (i.e., 6 log cfu /g, and 6 to 13 viable helminth ova /g) is high as per US regulations. Thus, collected FS requires treatment by unplanted drying bed and co-composting to be used as fertilizer.

Please find the full paper in below link.
"ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29EE.1943-7870.0001854"