According to the UN World Water Development Report 2023, the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion people in 2050, with India projected to be the most severely affected. As you can imagine, this has significant consequences for sanitation, particularly in a country of 1.4 billion people.
India’s National Water Mission reports that 38,000 million litres per day (mld) of wastewater are generated in the urban centres that have a population of more than 50,000 in India (housing more than 70% of urban population). The municipal wastewater treatment capacity developed so far in India is about 11,000 mld accounting for 29% of wastewater generation. In view of population increase, demand for freshwater for all the uses will be unmanageable.
One of the biggest challenges ahead of us is the contamination of water in distribution systems, which poses a threat to safe water supply. In cities like Mumbai, which are flood prone, foodwaters carry all that faecal sludge and unprocessed sewage into flooded areas. This has serious public health consequences, particularly in Mumbai’s many slums. Waterborne diseases run rampant, as do vector borne infections. The underprivileged in our cities and villages often bear the biggest burden of these diseases, and have the highest rates of mortality and the poorest outcomes.
Particularly in a tropical country like India, where the communicable disease burden is high, we need to design climate-resilient and highly effective water and sanitation services that can withstand the twin pressures of high population density and unpredictable climate, while also conserving water. It’s a tall order, but several technologies hold immense promise.
Toilets That Save Water
Traditional toilets can be surprisingly water-hungry, with a single flush using as much as 22 litres of water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. New-age toilet technologies are tackling this challenge head-on, offering solutions that promote water conservation without sacrificing performance:
Dual-flush toilets: These toilets empower users to choose between a full flush for solid waste and a partial flush for liquids, significantly reducing overall water usage.
Low-flow toilets: Designed with narrower pipes and efficient flushing mechanisms, low-flow toilets use less water per flush while maintaining optimal performance.
Vacuum toilets: These innovative systems utilise compressed air instead of water to remove waste, making them ideal for water-scarce regions or situations where water conservation is paramount.
Toilets That Minimise Waste At Source
What if we could minimise the amount of waste that ends up in our waste treatment facilities? That’s the promise of composting toilets and biogas toilets. Composting toilets separate liquid and solid waste, and the solid waste undergoes a composting process, turning it into a nutrient-rich fertiliser that can be used for gardens. This also helps reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers, creating a true win-win scenario for all involved.
Biogas toilets use anaerobic digestion, a natural process that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, to convert human waste into biogas. Biogas is a clean-burning renewable fuel source that can be used for cooking, lighting, or heating homes, reducing reliance on traditional fuels like firewood or kerosene. This not only improves indoor air quality but also combats deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the leftover digestate from the biogas production process can also be used as a fertiliser, further maximising resource recovery.
Monsoon Proof Toilets
In India, one of the biggest impacts of climate change has been the increase in severity of rainfall during the monsoon season. Researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) found strong evidence that every degree Celsius of warming would likely increase monsoon rainfall by about 5%. Moreover, the monsoon is likely to become more erratic as warming increases.
There are, fortunately, a number of things we can do to ensure that the toilets we build are able to withstand the Indian monsoon. For starters, toilets should be built on raised platforms to prevent floodwaters from entering the structure. Raising the toilet off the ground level helps protect it from damage and ensures functionality during flooding. Construction materials should be resistant to water damage and corrosion. Using materials like reinforced concrete or fibre-reinforced plastic can increase the durability and longevity of toilets. Toilets should be equipped with efficient drainage systems that can handle the increased water flow during monsoons. This includes well-designed sewage and waste management systems to prevent the contamination of water sources. Strong and stable foundations are essential to withstand the pressure exerted by floodwaters. Reinforced concrete foundations or pile foundations can provide the necessary stability and prevent structural damage.
Community Participation
As we have seen with the Swachh Bharat Mission, community participation is key. However, it is also, perhaps, the hardest problem to crack. As the Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Swachh Bharat Mission found, constructing toilets is just half the solution, the other half lies in bringing about behavioural change.
Change is hard, and this is why striking the right note on change communication is so important. There is no magical combination of words that will work for all communities everywhere, and in a country like India where the culture and language changes every few hundred kilometres, we need an approach that is diverse, engaging and customised. Fortunately, the GoI is not alone in this.
Harpic, India’s leading brand in the lavatory care segment, has been championing the cause of toilet hygiene for decades now through thought provoking and creative campaigns. For the last 3 years, Harpic has joined hands with News18 to create Mission Swachhta aur Paani, a movement that upholds the cause of inclusive sanitation where everyone has access to clean toilets. Mission Swachhta aur Paani advocates equality for all genders, abilities, castes and classes and strongly believes that clean toilets are a shared responsibility.
For 3 years now, Mission Swachhta aur Paani has brought together the right stakeholders on a common platform, so that issues of importance can be discussed, and solutions found. These stakeholders include govt officials, municipalities, NGOs, activists, grassroots organisations, sanitation workers and affected communities. It also functions as a repository for information on a vast variety of topics surrounding toilet access, toilet hygiene, and how to help improve toilet access and toilet habits across the board.
The future is one we all make together, as a community. To create a cleaner and healthier tomorrow, we all need to participate in changing our own attitudes and habits and in helping those around us make the change as well.
Join us here, to learn how you can be an advocate – be it through social media posts, campaigning to your local municipality, or just having conversations with your children. Use your voice, use your platform, and help us usher in a Swasth and Swachh Bharat for all.