Sewage/Waste Treatment (Environmental Health)
There are various methods of sewage treatment, such as composting toilets, septic systems, among others. Composting toilets convert human excrement into a soil-like material that can be hauled away or buried underground. The toilets are easy to operate since they require little water. They can also deactivate pathogens found in human wastes making them less infectious. Friis (2012) noted that composting systems such as Clivus Multrum disables bacterial and aerobic actions hence ensuring health safety. Debris can also be treated through the septic system, which is an underground well that can hold human sanitary wastes. Further, the septic system disposes of waste from households, businesses, communities, and public places where people may gather. Septic systems also apply the concept of aerobic and anaerobic to treat wastes.
Wastes also exist in the solid form referred to as solid wastes, and examples include municipal solid wastes, also known as trash or the garbage and sludge from treatment plants. Solid waste can be managed through recycling, combustion, and combusting. Recycling involves reuse of solid waste whereby the waste is put into use either as it is or after modification to change the form, shape, or component to make it more useful. Combustion involves incineration and burning to produce energy that can be used for other purposes.
If hazardous waste is not controlled and well-managed various problems may occur.
- Skin irritations- harmful gases produced from the wastes may lead to skin problems and allergies
- Respiratory issues- inhalation of gases from waste results to breathing complications and may result in respiratory organ failure
- Growth and reproductive problems – pathogen infections from wastes lead to various health complication that may make victims have stunted growth and even reproductive issues.