scholarly journals Characterization and Prediction of Fecal Sludge Parameters and Settling Behavior in Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9040
Author(s):  
Katherine Junglen ◽  
Leandra Rhodes-Dicker ◽  
Barbara J. Ward ◽  
Emily Gitau ◽  
Wali Mwalugongo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Ph Monitoring ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Resource Constrained ◽  
Sampling Campaign ◽  
Fecal Sludge ◽  
Transfer Station ◽  
Waste Transfer ◽  
Settling Behavior

The safe management of fecal sludge (FS) relies on different treatments, processes, and disposal options in different contexts. Waste transfer stations can improve FS management particularly in resource-constrained areas, including low-income urban informal settlements, by providing a safe discharge and treatment location. Low-footprint options for FS treatment are sensitive to the characteristics of incoming FS, which are typically highly variable, difficult to predict, and differ significantly from the characteristics of traditional wastewater. The success of low-footprint technologies relies on the monitoring of incoming FS characteristics, such as total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH. Monitoring the characteristics of incoming FS typically relies on the use of a laboratory, which can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly in resource-constrained areas. Useful correlations between easy to measure parameters and difficult to measure parameters may provide useful information related to the monitoring of FS, while reducing the need for laboratory analysis. In this paper, we describe a sampling campaign at a waste transfer station in Nairobi, Kenya managed by Sanergy Inc., to characterize and observe settling behavior of FS collected from manually emptied pit latrines. The investigation found that easy to measure parameters (e.g., TS, turbidity) could be used to approximate difficult to measure parameters (COD, TSS). Additionally, rapid measurements (turbidity) could be used to approximate time-intensive parameters (TS, COD, TSS) to aid in the design, operation and monitoring of FS treatment facilities in resource and space-constrained areas.

scholarly journals Impact of Effluent from the Leachate Treatment Plant of Taman Beringin Solid Waste Transfer Station on the Quality of Jinjang River

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1553
Author(s):  
Pui Mun Chin ◽  
Aine Nazira Naim ◽  
Fatihah Suja ◽  
Muhammad Fadly Ahmad Usul
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
River Water ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Leachate Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge System ◽  
Transfer Station ◽  
Waste Transfer

Rapid population growth has contributed to increased solid waste generated in Malaysia. Most landfills that have reached the design capacity are now facing closure. Taman Beringin Landfill was officially closed, so the Taman Beringin Solid Waste Transfer Station was built to manage the relocation, consolidation, and transportation of solid waste to Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill. Leachates are generated as a consequence of rainwater percolation through waste and biochemical processes in waste cells. Leachate treatment is needed, as leachates cause environmental pollution and harm human health. This study investigates the impact of treated leachate discharge from a Leachate Treatment Plant (LTP) on the Jinjang River water quality. The performance of the LTP in Taman Beringin Solid Waste Transfer Station was also assessed. Leachate samples were taken at the LTP’s anoxic tank, aeration tank, secondary clarifier tank, and final discharge point, whereas river water samples were taken upstream and downstream of Jinjang River. The untreated leachate returned the following readings: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (697.50 ± 127.94 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (2419.75 ± 1155.22 mg/L), total suspended solid (TSS) (2710.00 ± 334.79 mg/L), and ammonia (317.08 ± 35.45 mg/L). The LTP’s overall performance was satisfactory, as the final treated leachates were able to meet the standard requirements of the Environmental Quality (Control of Pollution from Solid Waste Transfer Station and Landfill) Regulation 2009. However, the LTP’s activated sludge system performance was not satisfactory, and the parameters did not meet the standard limits. The result shows a low functioning biological treatment method that could not efficiently treat the leachate. However, a subsequent step of combining the biological and chemical process (coagulation, flocculation, activated sludge system, and activated carbon adsorption) helped the treated leachate to meet the standard B requirement stipulated by the Department of Environment (DOE), i.e., to flow safely into the river. This study categorized Jinjang River as polluted, with the discharge of the LTP’s treated leachates, possibly contributing to the river pollution. However, other factors, such as the upstream sewage treatment plant and the ex-landfill downstream, may have also affected the river water quality. The LTP’s activated sludge system performance at the transfer station still requires improvement to reduce the cost of the chemical treatment.

scholarly journals Understanding the role of informal pit emptiers in sanitation in Nairobi through case studies in Mukuru and Kibera settlements

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Mallory ◽  
Lilian Omoga ◽  
Domenic Kiogora ◽  
Joy Riungu ◽  
Dorothy Kagendi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sewer Systems ◽  
Transfer Station ◽  
Vested Interests ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Current Paradigm ◽  
Qualitative Data Collection ◽  
New Infrastructure

Abstract Achieving universal sanitation in informal settlements will depend on improved onsite sanitation, as sewer systems are unlikely to be viable solutions due to technical and political constraints. In Nairobi, Kenya, 60% of the population live among its 150 informal settlements, occupying only 5% of its total residential land. This research assessed the role of informal pit emptiers in providing sanitation in Mukuru and Kibera, two of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi, and the barriers to achieving improved services. Through qualitative data collection, the research found that pit emptiers are institutionally and physically outside of the current paradigm of sanitation service delivery. There is no infrastructure available to remove waste from informal settlements, except for a transfer station that is being piloted by Sanergy, and instead waste ends up disposed in the community. The pit emptiers also face violence and intimidation from competitors or locals claiming ownership of territory. Providing improved sanitation in such areas will depend on the provision of new infrastructure, but this can only succeed with a detailed understanding of the competing and vested interests that can enable or undermine a project.

scholarly journals Mobile Loans as Financing Options in Kenya and the Financial Performance of SMEs in Low Income Areas in Nairobi County

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-105
Author(s):  
Margaret Murage
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Urban Informal Settlements ◽  
Descriptive Survey

This study sets out to examine the effect of loan accessibility on the financial performance of SMEs in urban informal settlements in Kenya. Based on the descriptive survey design, data were collected from 120 SMEs in the 6 wards of Mathare Sub-County using semi-structured questionnaires. It was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that all the loan accessibility had a significant and positive relationship with the financial performance of SMEs. In this regard, enhancing loan accessibility contributed to the financial performance of SMEs in urban areas. Financial inclusion among SMEs in urban areas was also enhanced through mobile loans. This could go on to enhance living standards among the inhabitants of urban informal settlements as envisaged by world bank. In this regard, several recommendations were made. Mobile loan providers should market their mobile loan products to make them visible since only 4, Safaricom-Fuliza, M-Shwari, Tala, and KCB-Mpesa were the most used. Civil society organizations in collaboration with mobile loan providers should also carry out capacity building campaigns among SMEs in informal settlements. This would lead to enhanced visibility and accessibility of these mobile loans among the inhabitants of urban informal settlements.

scholarly journals “Action Space” Based Urban Land Governance Pattern: Implication in Managing Informal Settlements from the Perspective of Low-Income Housing

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 2202
Author(s):  
Reshma Shrestha ◽  
Jaap Zevenbergen ◽  
Fahria Masum ◽  
Mahesh Banskota
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Action Space ◽  
Low Income Housing

Informal Settlement Upgrading and the Rise of Rental Housing in São Paulo, Brazil

2022 ◽  
pp. 0739456X2110654
Author(s):  
Kristine Stiphany ◽  
Peter M. Ward ◽  
Leticia Palazzi Perez
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Rental Housing ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Methodological Study ◽  
Urban Informality ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Investments

Rental housing was historically a minimal feature of urban informality. Now it is surging amid municipal attempts to “upgrade” informal settlements in São Paulo, Brazil. Drawing upon a mixed-methodological study of two favelas on São Paulo’s east side, we analyze how cycles of upgrading shape informal rental housing at the urban, community, block, and parcel levels, providing detailed comparative data for 2010–2020. Our findings suggest that rental housing redevelopment can increase precarity in urban living, but is an important source of low-income housing in already built-up and “consolidated” settlements where access is declining. Our study emphasizes the need for scholars, policy makers, and planners to further explore the praxis of informal renting and rental housing, which can be effective conduits for channeling public investments across consolidated informal settlements and into individual dwellings.

Can grassroots festivals serve as catalysts to connect and empower youth in urban informal settlements? A case study of art festivals in Indonesian kampungs

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Poeti Nazura Gulfira Akbar
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Event Management ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Based Art ◽  
Gain Event ◽  
Urban Informal Settlements

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how young residents in two Indonesian kampungs (urban informal settlements) participate in two grassroots art festivals and to what extent their participation affects their capacity and network. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative method. The data collection were done in 2017 and took the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 respondents in two kampungs, Kampung Dago Pojok, Bandung, and Kampung Bustaman, Semarang. Findings The results show that the grassroots festival can empower youth throughout its process while also influencing their networks. The festival could act as the catalyst for youth to gain event management skills and exchange cultural knowledge. This study also found that there are two sides the art festivals can bring to the youth regarding their network: while the festival was able to develop their internal and external network, it also led to social division within the community. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in the context of the research where it contributes to understanding the implications of community-based art festivals in the developing context, particularly in the low-income informal settlements. The paper’s content also provides insights that festivals can also be understood as more than place marketing or branding but as collections of steps and efforts of the community to provide meaningful actions for their place and people.

Social capital and perceived tenure security of informal housing: Evidence from Beijing, China

Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802110330
Author(s):  
Mengzhu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Psychological Explanation ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Tenure Security

Perceived tenure security is recognised to affect the socioeconomic behaviours and wellbeing of informal settlement dwellers. The provision of perceived tenure security is centred on the developmental agenda as a key policy alternative of tenure legalisation. Despite the consensus about its importance, the reason perceived tenure security is different amongst dwellers remains unclear. To fill this gap, we introduce social capital theory to understand the formation of and disparity in perceived tenure security. The hypotheses are that dwellers living in informal settlements with higher collective social capital and having higher individual social capital tend to feel more secure on their tenure because of higher backing power attained to deter the threats of eviction. We examine the hypotheses using a structural equation model approach to a dataset collected from three small property rights housing communities, which are emerging informal settlements in urban China. Modelling results support our hypotheses and suggest that female, low-income and migrant dwellers tend to feel less secure on their tenure because of the lack of social capital to deter the threats to their tenure. This study contributes to a new sociological explanation for the disparity in perceived tenure security other than the established psychological explanation. Empirically, this study contributes to the understanding of the rapid development of small property rights housing developments in China from the perspective of how dwellers develop security on informal tenure.

scholarly journals Characterization of pit latrines to support the design and selection of emptying tools in peri-urban Mzuzu, Malawi

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashid Chiposa ◽  
Rochelle H. Holm ◽  
Chimuleke Munthali ◽  
Russel C. G. Chidya ◽  
Francis L. de los Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Urban Neighborhood ◽  
Fecal Matter ◽  
Pit Latrine ◽  
Tool Diameter

The urban areas of many low-income countries must balance a rising demand for pit latrines for household sanitation provision against limitations in space, resulting in a need for pit latrine emptying services. This study was undertaken in the peri-urban neighborhood of Area 1B in the city of Mzuzu, Malawi, to examine the characteristics of household pit latrines for designing and selecting pit latrine emptying tools. We used 150 structured household surveys and field observations. From this, a subset was selected and 30 manual cone penetrometer tests were conducted at full latrines. Chemical oxygen demand analysis was also performed for 14 pit latrines. The results indicated that in addition to serving as a disposal for fecal matter, 90% of households also used pit latrines for domestic waste. Only 10% of the studied pit latrines were lined. The filling rate in the study area is calculated to be about three years, and no respondents reported previous emptying. It is suggested pit latrine emptying technology development focuses on a maximum tool diameter of 10 cm to fit through the keyhole (squat hole) and height of 146 cm to fit inside the superstructure, as well as supporting unlined pits and the ability to pump trash.

scholarly journals Access to improved sanitation facilities in low-income informal settlements of East African cities

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Okurut ◽  
R. N. Kulabako ◽  
P. Abbott ◽  
J. M. Adogo ◽  
J. Chenoweth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
East African ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Improved Sanitation ◽  
Joint Monitoring ◽  
Sub Saharan

Throughout Africa, the population in urban areas is increasing rapidly, often exceeding the capacity and the resources of the cities and towns to accommodate the people. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of urban dwellers live in informal settlements served by inadequate sanitation facilities. These settlements present unique challenges to the provision of sustainable and hygienic sanitation, and there is insufficient information on access to improved facilities. This paper reports findings of a study undertaken in low-income informal settlements using a mixed methods approach to assess access to sanitation and identify the barriers to household uptake of improved sanitation facilities. More than half of the respondents (59.7%) reported using sanitation facilities that are included in the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme definition of improved sanitation. However, a high proportion of these facilities did not provide access to basic sanitation. Less than 5% of all the respondents did not report problems related to sustainable access to basic sanitation. The findings highlight the urgent need to develop specific and strategic interventions for each low-income informal settlement, to upscale the sustainable access and use of improved sanitation in urban centres.

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