Definitely agree about 'toilets' alone not being the answer- that is one of the most frustrating things I find working in the Pacific- a lot of people have pour flush toilets, so they are quite happy with this 'improved' system, but the wastewater is generally going into a 44 gallon drum 'septic tank', which not only pollutes groundwater, but also overflows in times of flooding (particularly in inter-tidal informal settlements, where it produces what I lovingly refer to as 'typhoid soup').

This is good, Dani, I like it - even though I dislike the language of 'toilets', the problems can only be solved with sustainable systems, not just the toilet.

Interesting comments below the video too, I've been thinking for a while that it would be interesting to talk to the military (of various countries) about systems that they use in temporary camps and how that knowledge could be applied particularly in emergency sanitation.

I'm guessing that the system that western armies use are pretty expensive, although they must be pretty effective and mobile. I wonder if there might be models whereby similar systems could be deployed rapidly in disaster zones.

Video jointly published by The Conversation and SBS:

theconversation.com/video-solving-the-wo...oilet-shortage-25738

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In this episode of TCTV, water sanitation and hygiene engineer Dani Barrington explains the importance of toilets and community-led approaches to sanitation for one-third of the world’s population who lack access to adequate sanitation.