Global Sanitation Challenge
Lack of adequate sanitation is a common challenge for millions of refugees worldwide. Many settlements are not able to provide proper containment & treatment of human waste, a troubling situation for refugees who might remain displaced for decades. In most camps, sanitation is based on pit latrine use.
The FSTU Solution
Our innovation to help manage waste in such an environment is a Faecal Sludge Treatment Unit (FSTU) designed to contain and treat human waste safely. Collaborating with ETH Zurich, Sistema.bio & Veolia Foundation aided in piloting FSTU at our WASH technology hub in Kisumu, Kenya.
Anaerobic Treatment
The unit safely contains human waste in a Sistema.bio anaerobic reactor where it is anaerobically treated producing biogas as an output.
Thermal Disinfection
Effluent is treated through thermal disinfection at 65-75 degrees Celsius, producing a nutrient-rich & pathogen-free product.
Self-Sustaining System
The thermal treatment is powered by biogas from the first stage, making the FSTU completely self-sustaining without chemical requirements.
Implementation Progress
FSTU System
The complete FSTU installation at our WASH technology hub in Kisumu.
Anaerobic Reactor
The Sistema.bio anaerobic reactor processing waste and producing biogas.
Monitoring & Control
Opero-Services team monitoring the treatment process.
Key Achievements
Treatment Efficiency
Complete pathogen removal achieved at 60–70 degrees with 15 minutes contact time.
Environmental Impact
Prevented emission of 1600m³ of methane that would have been generated from decomposition in pits.
Service Capacity
Successfully treated 115m³ of faecal sludge from pit latrines in Kisumu over 15 months.