Dear Andy,
A key lesson I have learned while creating the draft SFD from the data I got from institutions, is that less than 0.5% of the population using a given technology is rounded off to zero for example on OD or unlined pits. If translated to numbers, less than 0.5% can be a significant figure for enhancing policymakers to improve san in institutions.
Nonetheless, it is quite representative of the actual. One has to be clearly familiar with the design of the OSS in the institutions in order to have precision in the values. 
Thank you,
Esther

Dear Chaiwe,
I have not yet finalized the abstract but I will share it once published.
SFDs were not taught in school but material flow analysis was. I have used software like STAN for solid waste flow diagrams.
I learned the SFD by myself through the SFD manual and a colleague also played a role - he has been in WASH practice for a long time.
Hopefully, my curiosity to attempt SFD for a sub-group will bear fruit. Taking a case-by-case for each institution in the study area may not be feasible as almost 90% stop at emptying and a bare minimum who have mechanized emptying employed reach that stage of transportation, with no intended treatment on-site for all the institutions sampled.
Thank you,
Esther

Hello Esther,

A really interesting research subject you have got going. Are you able to share an Abstract or your initial research proposal in your next reply? That way, we can all keep up with you and your work and support where we can.  

I am also curious to know, are SFDs taught within your Masters programme? or is this something you came across separately? Does your university run any specific programmes focused on WASH, and do they have SFDs within the course content? 

Hi Andy,

This conversation has me thinking, considering Esther's research is based on different institutions assuming probably located in different areas with different service options and different populations (probably under 10,000) and characteristics. Does it make sense to generate a single SFD? what will this SFD really tell us considering the different characteristics per institution (and service options potentially)? Is there maybe a common denominator i.e the service provider?  lacking a common denominator does it make sense to do something like this? Wouldn't it make more sense instead to have independent information for each institution? 

Based on my question to Esther above, does the SFD promotion initiative have any information on higher learning institutions that have included the SFD within course content? Is this something that is actively being promoted? We have a new Masters in Sanitation Programme in Zambia (3 years now) will check with them too.

Regards to Both,
Chaiwe

Thank you so much Andy.
At first, after getting through the manual, I thought I was being unrealistic when I proposed this possibility to myself.
Let the adventure in SFDs now start! 
I am sure you will see the SFD report once I have it generated and have the report presented to the City Council as well so solutions are developed for short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
From a quick survey, the institutions (roughly 99.9 percent of the sampled institutions) utilize OSS. 
Thank you once again,
Esther

Dear Esther,

That sounds very interesting and yes,  the idea is that you can do an SFD for any city, town, district, village, low-income settlement - or sub-group like academic institutions - regardless of population size or level of sanitation service.  For example, to date the process has been used in small towns with populations of less than 10,000 people and in large cities with populations of over ten million people. It has even be used in settlements for displaced persons.

You can take a look on the SFD web portal to see different examples (try searching with on the web portal using "settlement", or looking on the SFD Data page at sfd.susana.org/about/sfd-data.

The key information you need is the population size, types of sanitation system in use, how these are managed, and proportions of people  using each system. If the institutions' sanitation systems are all managed 'in-house', then this should be sufficient and the information will be relatively available. However, if they are connected to the city's infrastructure (eg to sewers, or there are tanks which are periodically desludged by a private or public organisation), then you will need information on how these services are managed (or not). And if the wastewater and/or faecal sludge is delivered to treatment where it is treated, you will need information on the effectiveness of treatment.

Again the SFD web portal has sections that you will find helpful, see: sfd.susana.org/knowledge/how-to-make-a-sfd , and lots of videos, templates and a whole manual for you to read :-)

Look forward to hearing how you get on, and do feel free to ask more questions.

Many thanks and best regards,
Andy
On behalf of SFD PI

Thank you Paresh,
I am building on my thesis focused on faecal sludge and septage management in academic institutions within a city.
I needed to graphically show what the flow looks like in the institutions using the SFD graphics.
Any ideas or help on how to go about it considering that the SFD data is usually covering entire city not components of the city?
Regards,
Esther

Dear Esther,
Interesting that you are looking at the status of sanitation service chain within institutions in a city. Could you please tell us a little more about  your work or the project.

Regards
paresh

Dear SuSanA members,

I'm finalizing my MSc Environmental Engineering research with a focus on FSSM in academic institutions within a city. In preparation for my presentation this month and thesis defense in March/April thereabout, I'd like to use the SFD graphics to show the excreta flows across the sanitation service chain (scope is for institutions in a city). Has anyone tried to create an SFD graphic and report for institutions or specific sources sampled within a city scale? 
How can I go about it if you have experience in it?
Thank you,
Esther