WASTE WATERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HUMAN NATURE

WASTE WATERS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HUMAN NATURE

1. Introduction

1.1. Wastewater(s) in a rapidly urbanizing world

Globally the majority of people live in cities, and as such the sustainability of urban service delivery is of prime importance (Childers et al. Citation2019). Historically, the Global North has opted to centralize wastewater infrastructure, often combining different types of wastes and looking to treat and dilute the wastewater to minimize immediate human and environmental health concerns. The collection and treatment of blackwater (human excreta and toilet water) has enormous health benefits; this is why equitable access to sanitation is a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (i.e. SDG6, target 6.3). Sewer systems which move waste underground and away from people and, under the best of circumstances, towards a functional wastewater treatment plant are considered the ‘Gold Standard’ by many, including city residents. Storm water (i.e. water flowing in cities as a result of precipitation events), greywater (i.e. water from cooking and cleaning), as well as other types of industrial wastewaters often use the same sewer system even though their composition requires different levels of treatment. Continued rapid rates of urbanization and a slow capacity for building large greywater infrastructure, in conjunction with the effects of climate change on water availability, flooding, and drought, further highlight why such centralized wastewater systems are not a realistic, or perhaps even desirable, way forward for cities (Öberg et al. Citation2020).

1.2. Sustainable system-of-systems (SSoS) framework

The sustainable system-of-systems (SSoS) framework was developed by Thatcher and Yeow (Citation2016) as a means of identifying the principles necessary to design sustainable ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) interventions. The SSoS framework is not a theory or a model, but rather a set of guiding principles, drawn from the functioning of ecological systems, and applied to eco-socio-technical systems (Thatcher and Yeow Citation2020). Because the SSoS framework uses natural ecosystem functioning as its basis it is therefore an example of green ergonomics (Thatcher Citation2013). The SSoS framework is also not an analysis tool.

1.3. Case study: greywater treatment in an urban informal settlement

The physical context for this case study is an informal settlement, around Mpanga, located along the  bank of the Mpanga River in Fortportal Kabarole Western Uganda on foothills of Rwenzori mountain (2023). The initial settlement of started rapidly  in the mid 2000s during the existing urbanisation which also suffered major service delivery issues, could no longer support the continued influx of people coming from rural areas to seek employment in Fortportal from neighboring districts of kasese, kamwenge,Kyenjojo, Hoima etc. Since then, Mpanga has seen continued growth and now has an estimated population of over 5,000 people living in an area less than 1 km2 in low-rise buildings. Many of the buildings are makeshift constructions consisting of ‘found’ materials such as corrugated iron, recycled bricks, plastic sheeting, and cardboard. Local government has provided limited electricity, potable water (communal taps), temporary sewerage (with several households sharing a single portable toilet emptied weekly), and solid waste removal (a single, open-topped skip emptied weekly).

This study looks at the problem of greywater treatment and removal which is often neglected as an essential service because it is perceived to have much lower health risks than sewage (i.e. ‘blackwater’). Greywater refers to wastewater from washing and other household chores (Oteng-Peprah, Acheampong, and DeVries Citation2018). Due to the lack of formal sewerage services in Mpanga  greywater is simply thrown onto the ground, where it ends up in the streets and the pathways where people live, running through the informal settlement into the river with no treatment of the water (either chemically or microbiologically). Water quality testing of the greywater in Mpanga  guidelines suggest that safe counts for recreational water should be maximised. The investigations reported in this paper form part of a transdisciplinary research project, called UERU (Urban Environmental Research Uganda by Robert and Herbert), whose aim is to design greywater treatment and removal solutions for urban informal settlements.

Following interviews with relevant stakeholders across Fortportal tourism city a survey campaign on water and wastewater habits among residents in January and February,2023, and a series of  participatory workshops going on to boost the project, no any of either  small, pilot, sub-surface, constructed wetlands water purifiers were installed for safe clean water in a growing town. These adaptations will be the focus of a future paper.

2.2. Collecting data from the relevant interrelated and interacting systems

Permission was obtained for each component of the study from the University’s Guild Comitte on "Save the Environment" (Uganda Pentecostal University ,Environmental protocol number S19/02/23).

2.2.1. Interviews

Formal individual and group interviews were conducted with eight stakeholder types in January 2023, One group interview was conducted with students stakeholders ; three group interviews with the metropolitan municipality (i.e. City Department of  Environmental Health Department; Environmental and Infrastructure Services Departments); two group interviews with stakeholder actors of interest (i.e. Fortportal City Regional Observatory); and one group interview with the Community Leadership Forum. An individual interview was also conducted with the Ward Councilor.

2.2.2. Surveys

A survey on water use was developed to obtain a baseline understanding how water was collected, used, and disposed in the informal settlement. The survey was an adapted questionnaire which was originally used to assess water usage in low-income urban communities in Fortportal Uganda. The survey consisted of seven sections: water acquisition sources; water collection methods; water storage; water usage; water disposal; waste management; and demographics of the respondent. Survey data were collected from 28 residents using water that flows along the river. This was documented through Observations were captured through field notes that allowed the researchers to document changes at the study site and behavioral interactions as the project unfolded. . Data collection involved direct observations of spatial configurations of infrastructure, related geographical features, and services (e.g. waste disposal), and community residents’ behavior and interactions with water collection and water disposal. Except during the stricter Covid-19 lockdown levels where our idea to begin research was interfered.

Visits to the research site were made on at least on a daily or weekly basis for more than 3 months ( December 2022 to February 2023) on different days of the week (including weekends) and at different times of day by two of the researchers, alternating their visits. In total 74 hours of ethnographic observations were made over this period. The ethnographic observations were augmented with 40 informal interviews with community stakeholders. Community stakeholders included community leaders, community residents who volunteered to take ownership of the system, community residents who used the system, community residents who didn’t use the system, and the builders of the greywater treatment system.

3. Results and discussion

Almost 8/10 people around the bank of Mpanga River take grey water hence a clear mark that shows an easy break of very many diseases. People use it for cooking, washing, cleaning and so on. Others dispose rubbish in this natural flowing water.

3.1 Competing goals

 The other stakeholders had similar (but not fully overlapping) goals aligned with issues such as affordable housing, job creation/security, physical safety and security, wastewater and sanitation management, food security, and storm water protection and maintenance. It was only on the issue of a healthy living environment and disease protection that there was overlap with the other stakeholders. This suggested that the target intervention may meet some resistance from the community (and other stakeholders). Other research in South Fortportal city has also found that greywater management is often a low priority, especially among community residents.

The goals of the six main types of stakeholders identified are mapped according to the three sustainability spheres of economy, society, and environment. This enables the identification of overlapping goals (e.g. disease prevention and storm water protection) and unfulfilled goals (e.g. low ecological impact and low-cost greywater infrastructure).

Previous theoretical work on the Save the Environment framework has not provided much guidance on determining goals other than to stress the need to find balance among the goals . Different stakeholder goals (especially end-user’s goals) provided the design and research team with important input into the intervention process. Even if end-user goals were not directly relevant to greywater treatment they still play a role. .

4. Conclusion

The SSoS was developed purposely to fight against the common error of destruction of natural environment not only in Uganda but with a purpose of save the world. The key outlook is to advise the government to take a concern of natural rivers that are accessed by a big population of citizens especially those that cross big towns and cities such as River Mpanga and River Rwizi, all in western Uganda. Together we can fight grey water out of natural color less water.

MUGABE ROBERT

LLB 2 GROTIUS LAW SCHOOL.

ENVIRONMENT SWITCH 2023.