Glossary

The obligation to demonstrate that work has been conducted in compliance with agreed rules and standards. Sphere describes accountability as the process of using power responsibly, taking account of and being held accountable by different stakeholders and primarily those who are affected by the exercise of such power. It helps ensure that resources are used appropriately and transparently, that WASH responders take responsibility for their work and that communities benefit from efficient and effective programming.

It usually covers the period from the first hours and days up to the first few weeks or months of a humanitarian response, when rapid, short-term measures are implemented until more permanent or durable solutions can be found. Rapid humanitarian relief interventions are made immediately following natural disasters, conflicts, epidemics/pandemics, or further degradation of a protracted crisis. The purpose of interventions in the acute response phase is to secure and ensure the survival of the affected population, guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

Biological processes that occur in the presence of oxygen.

A lagoon that forms the third treatment stage in waste stabilisation ponds.

Biological processes that occur in the absence of oxygen.

The degradation and stabilisation of organic compounds by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen, leading to production of biogas.

A lagoon that forms the first treatment stage in waste stabilisation ponds.

Water used to cleanse the body after defecating and/or urinating. The volume of water used per cleaning typically ranges from 0.5–3 litres (but can be more in developed urban areas).

An oxygen depleted environment with partially aerobic and anaerobic conditions fluctuating in time and space.

Combination of sanitation technologies that are compatible and provide a socially and environmentally acceptable level of service at affordable cost. This can be translated into geo-physical, technical, socio-cultural, legal, financial as well as criteria concerning capacity and management.

The controlled cultivation of aquatic plants and animals.

An underground layer of permeable rock or sediment (usually gravel or sand) that holds or transmits groundwater.

Simple, single cell organisms that are found everywhere on earth. They are essential for maintaining life and performing essential “services”, such as composting, aerobic degradation of waste, and digesting food in human intestines. Some types, however, can be pathogenic and cause mild to severe illnesses. Bacteria obtain nutrients from their environment by excreting enzymes that dissolve complex molecules into more simple ones which can then pass through the cell membrane.

Determines the starting point for subsequent monitoring. The term ‘baseline’ can refer to the situation before the emergency or provide initial data to compare with an ‘endline’ survey.

The social, environmental, psychological and cultural factors that influence (sanitation) behaviour.

A measure of the amount of oxygen used by microorganisms to degrade organic matter in water over time (expressed in mg/L and normally measured over five days as BOD5). It is an indirect measure of the amount of biodegradable organic material present in water or wastewater: the more the organic content, the more oxygen is required to degrade it (high BOD).

Biological transformation of organic material into more basic compounds and elements (e.g., carbon dioxide, water) by bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.

Common name for the mixture of gases released from the anaerobic digestion of organic material. Biogas comprises methane (50 to 75 %), carbon dioxide (25 to 50 %) and varying quantities of nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, water vapour and other components, depending on the material being digested. Biogas can be collected and burned for fuel (like propane).

Refers to plants or animals grown using the water and/or nutrients flowing through a sanitation system. The term biomass may include fish, insects, vegetables, fruit, forage or other beneficial crops that can be utilised for food, feed, fibre and fuel production.

Mixture of urine, faeces and flushwater along with anal cleansing water (if water is used for cleansing) and/or dry cleansing materials. Blackwater contains the pathogens, nutrients and organic matter of faeces and the nutrients of urine that are diluted in the flushwater.

The ratio of the mass of carbon to the mass of nitrogen in a substrate used to analyse soil organic matter or soil amendments such as compost.

A modality of Market-Based Programming with direct transfer of payments to recipients that can be either conditional or unconditional.

An ambiguous term either used to describe a soak pit, leach pit, or a holding tank.

A measure of the amount of oxygen required for chemical oxidation of organic material in water by a strong chemical oxidant (expressed in mg/L). COD is always equal to or higher than BOD since it is the total oxygen required for complete oxidation. It is an indirect measure of the amount of organic material present in water or wastewater: the more the organic content, the more oxygen is required to chemically oxidise it (high COD).

Special medical units to treat cholera.

A type of flush toilet.

The destabilisation of particles in water by adding chemicals (e.g. aluminium sulphate or ferric chloride) so that they can aggregate and form larger flocs.

Commonly agreed measurable result(s) or impact(s) enhanced by the combined effort of different actors, within their respective mandates, to address and reduce people’s unmet needs, risks and vulnerabilities, increasing their resilience and addressing the root causes of conflict” (OECD 2022).

A group of people sharing something in common.

Connects the community and other stakeholders so that people affected by crisis can participate and have more control over the response and its impact on them.

Aims to understand community structures and dynamics and determine which individuals and groups are vulnerable to which WASH-related risks and why.

Community/stakeholder consultation refers to a process of engaging with the individuals or groups that are affected by or have an interest in a particular project or decision. The aim of consultation is to gather input, opinions, and concerns from these stakeholders to inform the decision-making process. The consultation process can take many forms, including public meetings, online surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews. The goal is to create a two-way dialogue between the decision-makers and the stakeholders, where both parties have an opportunity to share information and perspectives. It is important to note that consultation is not the same as participation.

Decomposed organic matter that results from a controlled aerobic degradation process. Microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) decompose the biodegradable waste components and produce an earth-like, odourless, brown/black material. Compost has excellent soil-conditioning properties and a variable nutrient content. Because of leaching and volatilisation, some of the nutrients may be lost, but the material remains rich in nutrients and organic matter. Generally, excreta or sludge should be composted long enough (2 to 4 months) under thermophilic conditions (55 to 60 °C) in order to be sanitised sufficiently for safe agricultural use.

The process by which biodegradable components are biologically decomposed by microorganisms (mainly bacteria and fungi) under controlled aerobic conditions.

Ability of a sanitation agencies to understand its operating context, the interaction between its interventions and the context, and act upon this understanding to avoid negative impacts (“do no harm”) and maximise positive impacts on conflict factors ( UNICEF 2020, IASC 2020b).

A treatment technology for wastewater that aims to replicate the naturally occurring processes in wetlands.

Sanitation technology where toilets collect human excreta in sealable, removable containers that are transported to treatment facilities.

A small-scale sanitation system used to collect, treat, discharge, and/or reclaim wastewater from a small community or service area.

The process of removing the accumulated sludge from a storage or treatment facility.

The process of reducing the water content of a sludge or slurry. Dewatered sludge may still have a significant moisture content, but it typically is dry enough to be conveyed as a solid (e.g. shovelled).

The solid and/or liquid material remaining after undergoing anaerobic digestion.

The ability of individuals, communities, organisations and states to adapt to and recover from hazards, shocks or stresses without compromising long-term prospects for development. 

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disaster risk and managing residual risk, all of which contribute to strengthening resilience and sustainability of sanitation interventions. 

The elimination of (pathogenic) microorganisms by inactivation (using chemical agents, radiation or heat) or by physical separation processes (e.g. membranes).

Building on the recommendation of the conflict analysis, the next step is to ensure a “do no harm” approach “to avoid unintended negative consequences” from the implementation of the WASH programme. According to the Interagency Standing Comittee (IASC) and Sphere this is a minimum requirement for all types of interventions .

Drainage refers to the process of removing excess water from an area and its transport to another location.

Faeces dehydrated to an extend until they become a dry, crumbly material. Dehydration takes place by storing faeces in a dry environment with good ventilation, high temperatures and/or the presence of an absorbent material. Very little degradation occurs during dehydration and this means that the dried faeces are still rich in organic matter. Faeces reduce by around 75 % in volume during dehydration and most pathogens die off. There is a small risk that some pathogenic organisms (e.g. helminth ova) can be reactivated under the right conditions, particularly, in humid environments.

Solid materials used to cleanse oneself after defecating and/or urinating (e.g. paper, leaves, corncobs, rags or stones). Depending on the system, dry cleansing materials may be collected and separately disposed of or dealt with alongside the other solid materials in the sanitation system.

An approach that aims to safely recycle nutrients, water and/or energy contained in excreta and wastewater in such a way that the use of non-renewable resources is minimised.

General term for a liquid that leaves a technology, typically after blackwater or sludge has undergone solids separation or some other type of treatment. Effluent originates at either a collection and storage or a (semi-) centralised treatment technology. Depending on the type of treatment, the effluent may be completely sanitised or may require further treatment before it can be used or disposed of.

All behaviours that ensure a clean and safe household and community environment. It includes proper waste collection, transport and disposal, drainage, potential site improvements and vector control measures.

Interventions that reduce peoples’ exposure to disease by providing a clean environment in which to live, with measures to break the cycle of disease. This usually includes hygienic management of human and animal excreta, solid waste, wastewater, and stormwater; the control of disease vectors; and the provision of washing facilities for personal and domestic hygiene. Environmental Sanitation involves both behaviours and facilities that work together to form a hygienic environment.

Escherichia coli, a bacterium inhabiting the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. It is used as an indicator of faecal contamination of water.

The enrichment of water, both fresh and saline, by nutrients (especially the compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus) that accelerate the growth of algae and higher forms of plant life and lead to the depletion of oxygen.

The systematic and objective examination of a humanitarian intervention to determine the worth or significance of an activity, policy or programme and intended to draw lessons to improve policy and practice and enhance accountability. The key evaluation criteria are relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability and coherence.

The phase change from liquid to gas that takes place below the boiling temperature and normally occurs on the surface of a liquid.

The combined loss of water from a surface by evaporation and plant transpiration.

Refers to human excrements consisting of urine and faeces.

An exit strategy is a planned approach of why, what, when and how implementing organisations will end their sanitation related humanitarian engagement. This includes the process of transitioning, handing-over, decommissioning of infrastructure and exiting or disengaging from activities, projects, programme areas or countries.

A lagoon that forms the second treatment stage in waste stabilisation ponds.

The material that is collected in on-site sanitation technologies like pit latrines or septic tanks.

The multi-step process of collecting, desludging, transporting, treating and/or disposing of faecal sludge.

Refers to (semi-solid) excrement that is not mixed with urine or water. Depending on diet, each person produces approximately 50–150 kg per year of faecal matter of which about 80 % is water and the remaining solid fraction is mostly composed of organic material. Of the total essential plant nutrients excreted by the human body, faeces contain around 39 % of the phosphorus (P), 26 % of the potassium (K) and 12 % of the nitrogen (N). Faeces also contain the vast majority of the pathogens excreted by the body, as well as energy and carbon rich, fibrous material.

The liquid that has passed through a filter.

A mechanical separation process using a porous medium (e.g., cloth, paper, sand bed, or mixed media bed) that captures particulate material and permits the liquid or gaseous fraction to pass through. The size of the pores of the medium determines what is captured and what passes through.

The process by which the size of particles increases as a result of particle collision. Particles form aggregates or flocs from finely divided particles and from chemically destabilised particles and can then be removed by settling or filtration.

The process whereby lighter fractions of a wastewater, including oil, grease, or soaps rise to the surface, and thereby can be separated.

Water discharged into the user interface to clean it and transport the contents into the conveying/transporting system or to the on-site storage. Freshwater, rainwater, recycled greywater, or any combination of the three can be used as a flushwater source. Many sanitation systems do not require flushwater.

The combination of exposure to risk and insufficient coping capacity of the state, systems and/or communities to manage, absorb or mitigate those risks. Fragility is measured on a spectrum of intensity and expressed in different ways across the economic, environmental, political, security and societal dimensions, with a sixth dimension (human capital) forthcoming in OECD’s States of Fragility. Regardless ofthe definition, fragile states characterised by weak institutions, extreme poverty, political instability, poor infrastructure, and limited service provision perpetuate a persistently risky environment

A functional group is a grouping of sanitation technologies that have similar functions. The five different functional groups from which technologies can be chosen to build a sanitation system include (1) the user interface, (2) the collection and storage/treatment, (3) the conveyance/transport, (4) the (semi-) centralised treatment, and (5) the use and/or disposal.

Gender analysis aims to understand the relationships between men and women, their access to resources, their activities, the constraints they face relative to each other and how this might affect sanitation programming.

Gender analysis is a structured way to integrate gender considerations into every stage of a programme. This requires sex-disaggregated data. It strives to make sure that development initiatives are designed with the roles, needs, and participation of women, men, girls, boys, and those with diverse SOGIESC in mind.

Gender equality exists when women (girls) and men (boys) have equal rights, opportunities and status.

Local and national gender equality organizations strive to achieve gender justice, women’s rights, and women’s empowerment.

Limited or no awareness of differences for women or men, with taking action that may increase inequities or harm to women or men.

The way women, men, girls, and boys are expected to act and be is shaped by gender norms. Internalizing gender norms at a young age can solidify ideas about gender roles and stereotypes.

Considers differences and potential inequities between women and men and takes action to remove barriers or challenges faced by women e.g. targeted training for women workers, gender policy and action plan to increase women’s representation in senior roles.

Considers differences and potential inequities between women and men and takes action to respond to practical needs of women e.g. access to on-site childcare facilities.

Aims to change social norms, behaviours and attitudes that affect women’s ability to change the positions traditionally held by women and men.

Total volume of water generated from washing food, clothes and dishware, as well as from bathing, but not from toilets (see blackwater). It may also contain traces of excreta (e.g. from washing diapers) and, therefore, some pathogens. Greywater accounts for approximately 65 % of the wastewater produced in households with flush toilets.

Greywater management refers to the process of collecting, treating, and using or disposing of wastewater generated from non-toilet domestic activities, such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing. Greywater is distinct from blackwater, which is wastewater generated from toilets that contains human urine and faeces.

Water that is located beneath the earth’s surface.

The level below the earth’s surface which is saturated with water. It corresponds to the level where water is found when a hole is dug or drilled. A groundwater table is not static and can vary by season, year or usage.

General term referring to any action of cleaning one’s hands with soap and water (or equivalent materials such as alcohol-based hand sanitiser) to remove pathogens like viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms as well as dirt, grease or harmful and unwanted substances stuck to the hands.

A parasitic worm, i.e. one that lives in or on its host, causing damage. Some examples that infect humans are roundworms (e.g., Ascaris and hookworm) and tapeworms. The infective eggs of helminths can be found in excreta, wastewater and sludge. They are very resistant to inactivation and may remain viable in faeces and sludge for several years.

The stable remnant of decomposed organic material. It improves soil structure and increases water retention, but has no nutritive value.

The average amount of time that liquid and soluble compounds stay in a reactor or tank.

A planned, systematic approach that enables people to take action and encourages behaviours or conditions that prevent or mitigate WASH-related diseases. Hygiene promotion aims to support the dignity and wellbeing of emergency affected populations. Hygiene promotion is intertwined with community engagement and is fundamental to a successful WASH response. No sanitation intervention should be undertaken without including it.

A type of activated sludge system.

Sanitation facilities that ensure hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact.

The policy and practice of ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources for those who are often excluded or marginalised.

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Indicators are the ‘signals’ that enable measurement of progress and objectives and therefore of change.

The general name for the liquid that enters into a sanitation system or process (e.g. wastewater).

A sanitation facility used for urination and defecation including a ‘user interface’ and an ‘onsite storage pit’. Often interchangeably referred to as toilet.

The liquid fraction that is separated from the solid component by gravity filtration through a media (e.g. liquid that drains from drying beds).

The common name for calcium oxide (quicklime, CaO) or calcium hydroxide (slaked or hydrated lime, Ca(OH)2). It is a white, caustic and alkaline powder produced by heating limestone. Slaked lime is less caustic than quicklime and is widely used in water/wastewater treatment and construction (for mortars and plasters). It can also be used for on-site treatment of faecal sludge.

Organism removal efficiencies. 1 log unit = 90 %, 2 log units = 99 %, 3 log units = 99.9 %, and so on.

An aquatic plant large enough to be readily visible to the naked eye. Its roots and differentiated tissues may be emergent (reeds, cattails, bulrushes, wild rice), submergent (water milfoil, bladderwort) or floating (duckweed, lily pads).

A management plan outlines the processes and procedures that are required to manage the sanitation service chain. They include required personal, financial and physical resources and how these resources will be allocated.  

A range of programme modalities that are based on understanding and supporting local sanitation market systems.

A lagoon that forms the third treatment stage in waste stabilisation ponds.

Encompasses both menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and the systemic factors that link menstruation with health, well-being, gender equality, education, equity, empowerment, dignity, and rights. The systematic factors include accurate and timely knowledge; available, safe, and affordable materials; informed and comfortable professionals; referral and access to health services; sanitation and washing facilities; positive social norms; safe and hygienic disposal; and advocacy and policy.

Menstrual Hygiene Management includes the provision of adequate, appropriate and quality menstrual supplies, access to sanitation facilities to manage menstruation and access to information and education on menstruation.

Products to manage menstruation. These include disposable pads and tampons, reusable menstrual products such as reusable pads, menstrual cups, period underwear or clean cloth and may vary according to the context.

A colourless, odourless, flammable, gaseous hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH4. Methane is present in natural gas and is the main component (50–75%) of biogas that is formed by the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter.

Pollutant that is present in extremely low concentrations (e.g. trace organic compounds).

Any cellular or non-cellular microbiological entity capable of replication or of transferring genetic material (e.g. bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae or fungi).

Measures progress and checks whether a programme or intervention is working according to plan. It is the planned, systematic and continuous checking of a sanitation intervention to ensure it is doing what was intended, that allocated funds are being used effectively, that feedback is heard and acted upon and that strengths, weaknesses and gaps are identified, so that changes can be made as needed.

A historical term for faecal sludge.

Essential items, other than food, that people affected by humanitarian crises may need, including items to enable hygiene such as soap, buckets, razors or potties.

Any substance that is used for growth. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are the main nutrients contained in agricultural fertilisers. N and P are also primarily responsible for the eutrophication of water bodies.

A sanitation system in which excreta and wastewater are collected and conveyed away from the plot where they are generated. An off-site sanitation system relies on a sewer or transport technology for conveyance.

A sanitation system in which excreta and wastewater are collected and stored or treated on the plot where they are generated.

Practice of defecating outside in the open environment.

Routine or periodic tasks required to keep a sanitation process or system functioning according to performance requirements and to prevent delays, repairs or downtime.

An operation and maintenance plan (or O&M Plan) outlines the specific actions, activities, and processes required to run the sanitation service chain.

Refer to biodegradable plant material (organic waste) that must be added to some technologies in order for them to function properly. Organic degradable material can include, but is not limited to, leaves, grass and food market waste. Although other products in this compendium contain organic matter, the term organics is used to refer to undigested plant material.

An organisation of persons with disabilities (OPD) is an organisation representing persons with disabilities, including organisations representing women and children with disabilities, comprised by a majority of persons with disabilities (at least half of its membership), governed, led and directed by persons with disabilities.

An organism that lives on or in another organism and damages its host.

Aims to empower people and involve them in decisions that affect their lives. Inclusive planning and participation are key ingredients to achieve sustainability in humanitarian interventions. They exceed consultation which involves seeking input from stakeholders. The different levels of participation are: inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower. Participation is interactive process that incorporates regular feedback loops (‘consult, modify, consult’). Great care should be taken when planning to consider the humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence.

An organism or other agent that causes disease.

Capacity to “reduce the risk of a lapse or relapse into violent conflict by directly addressing root causes and consequences of conflict,” and to address conflict and “lay and support foundations for sustainable peace and development”

Ability of key sanitation stakeholders to address the root causes of violence that impact on the performance of a WASH system (noting that the WASH system itself may be one of the root causes) and to contribute to the peace and development of the community (UNICEF 2020, IASC 2020b). 

The movement of liquid through a filtering medium with the force of gravity.

Protective clothing including boots, masks, gloves, apron, etc. or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection from sanitation products.

The measure of acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A pH value below 7 indicates that it is acidic, a pH value above 7 indicates that it is basic (alkaline).

Term used to describe the nutrient-rich, hygienically improved, humic material that is generated in double pit technologies through dewatering and degradation. The various natural decomposition processes taking place in alternating pits can be both aerobic and anaerobic in nature, depending on the technology and operating conditions. The main difference of pit humus compared to compost is that the degradation processes are passive and are not subjected to a controlled oxygen supply and that the carbon to nitrogen ratio, humidity and temperature may be less favourable. Therefore, the rate of pathogen reduction is generally lower and the quality of the product, including its nutrient and organic matter content, can vary considerably. Pit humus can look very similar to compost and has good soil conditioning properties, although pathogens can still be present.

A lagoon that forms the third treatment stage in waste stabilisation ponds.

A type of flush toilet where water is poured into a toilet manually by the user.

Materials separated from blackwater, greywater or sludge in preliminary treatment units, such as screens, grease traps or grit chambers. Substances like fat, oil, grease, and various solids (e.g. sand, fibres and trash), can impair transport and/or treatment efficiency through clogging and wear of pipes. Therefore, early removal of these substances can be crucial for the maintenance of a sanitation system.

People who are most affected by an issue and who are the key target of an intervention.

Information that is collected directly from the affected population, usually through fieldwork or by carrying out an assessment.

Those who hold a direct interest in the project e.g. affected communities.

The first major stage in wastewater treatment that removes solids and organic matter mostly by the process of sedimentation or flotation.

A diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, including amoeba, ciliates, and flagellates. Some can be pathogenic and cause mild to severe illnesses.

Substitute indicators (or signals) that measure change indirectly using a more measurable variable. This allows for an assumption of sanitation impact when direct measurement is unrealistic or not possible.

Information related to qualities or characteristics. It is usually descriptive and asks how and why.

Information related to quantities. It is numerical and asks how many, how much, or how often.

The recovery phase, sometimes referred to as the rehabilitation phase, aims to recreate or improve the pre-emergency situation of the affected population by increasingly incorporating development approaches and principles. This phase usually starts after, or sometimes during, relief interventions (usually >6 months) and can be viewed as a continuation of completed relief efforts. Overall, it can prepare the ground for longer-term development interventions and for handing over to medium-long-term partners. Depending on local needs, the general timeframe for recovery and rehabilitation interventions is usually between six months and three years. Difficult and complex situations, such as in conflict-affected areas, may need much longer and can move in and out of crisis. Recovery and rehabilitation programmes are characterised by the active participation of local partners and authorities in planning and decision making, strengthening local capacity and promoting the sustainability of interventions.

Ability of all key sanitation stakeholders to prevent, resist, absorb, adapt, respond and recover positively, efficiently and effectively when faced with a wide range of risks, while maintaining an acceptable level of WASH system performance without compromising long-term prospects for sustainable development, peace and security, human rights and wellbeing for all (UNICEF 2018)

Use of recycled water or other sanitation products.

Analysis of the local context to understand the multiple and interconnected dimensions of risk, including conflict

Sanitation products can be materials that are generated directly by humans (e.g. urine, faeces and greywater from bathing, cooking and cleaning), that are required for the technologies to function (e.g. flushwater to flush excreta through sewers) or are generated as a function of storage or treatment (e.g. sludge). For the design of a robust sanitation system, it is necessary to identify all of the products that are flowing into (inputs) and out of (outputs) each of the sanitation technologies of the system. The products referenced within this text are described below. Solid waste is not included as a sanitation product as it should not enter the sanitation chain.

A Sanitation Service Chain – sometimes also referred to as Sanitation Value Chain – is defined as the combination of technologies and services that in combination manage sanitation products from their point of generation to the point of reuse or disposal. The hardware part of the sanitation service chain can also be called sanitation system. The sanitation service chain consists of a context-specific series of technologies and services for the management of sanitation products and can be organised in five functional groups: the user interface (U), onsite collection and storage/treatment (S), conveyance and transport (C), (semi-)centralised treatment (T), and disposal and use (D). From a resource recovery perspective, the sanitation service chain can also be called sanitation value chain. By selecting technologies from each applicable functional group, considering the incoming and outgoing products, and the suitability of the technologies in a particular context, a logical, modular sanitation system can be designed. It also includes the management and operation and maintenance (O & M) required to ensure that the system functions safely and sustainably.

Sanitation software is a package of interventions delivered to enable affected people to identify, plan and implement sanitation solutions in time of emergency in collaboration with humanitarian agencies. It is complementary to the sanitation infrastructure (hardware) and is designed to help sanitation engineers to deliver effective interventions with a central focus on sanitation behaviour changem and community engagement and the creation of a enabling environment including not only appropriate technologies but also socio-cutlral acceptance, skills and capacity, government support, financial arrangements, and a regulatory framework.

A sanitation system is a context-specific set of technologies, which in combination manage sanitation products from the point of generation to the point of use or ultimate disposal along the five functional groups of the sanitation service chain. A viable system is one that is comprised of compatible technologies and in which every product is either transferred, transformed, or safely reused or disposed of.

Effective network of people (community) and the systems of which they are a part, operating together to deliver sanitation services (IRC 2022).

Specific technical infrastructure, method or service designed to collect, contain, transform, treat or make productive use of sanitation products. A context-specific combination of different sanitation technologies is required to set up a full sanitation system and ultimately a sanitation service chain.

A Sanitation Value Chain – usually referred to as Sanitation Service Chain – is defined as the combination of technologies and services that in combination manage sanitation products from their point of generation to the point of reuse or disposal. The hardware part of the sanitation service chain can also be called sanitation system. The sanitation service chain consists of a context-specific series of technologies and services for the management of sanitation products and can be organised in five functional groups: the user interface (U), onsite collection and storage/treatment (S), conveyance and transport (C), (semi-)centralised treatment (T), and disposal and use (D). From a resource recovery perspective, the sanitation service chain can also be called sanitation value chain. By selecting technologies from each applicable functional group, considering the incoming and outgoing products, and the suitability of the technologies in a particular context, a logical, modular sanitation system can be designed. It also includes the management and operation and maintenance (O & M) required to ensure that the system functions safely and sustainably.

Set of behaviours associated with safe excreta management including the use, by all, of sanitation facilities at all times, routine operation and maintenance of toilets, the use of culturally appropriate anal cleansing materials, the safe collection, management, treatment and disposal of faeces, the safe disposal of baby and child faeces, the use of items like potties or diapers and the use of incontinence materials and facilities and toilet training for children. It may also refer to the prevention of indiscriminate/open defecation and the potential clean-up of an already contaminated environment where no toilets are available. It always implies handwashing after toilet use and after contact with children’s excreta.

The layer of solids formed by wastewater constituents that float to the surface of a tank or reactor (e.g. oil and grease).

This audience is not necessarily the primary target for change, but may be able to influence others.

Information that has been collected previously.

Those who have an indirect influence on the project.

Follows primary treatment to achieve the removal of biodegradable organic matter and suspended solids from effluent. Nutrient removal (e.g., phosphorus) and disinfection can be included in the definition of secondary treatment or tertiary treatment, depending on the configuration.

Gravity settling of particles in a liquid such that they accumulate.

Refers to treatment technologies that are generally appropriate for larger user groups (i.e. neighbourhood to city scale sanitation systems). The operation, maintenance, and energy requirements of technologies within this functional group are generally higher than for small-scale on-site technologies.

A historical term used to describe sludge removed from septic tanks.

Describes the conditions under which putrefaction and anaerobic digestion take place.

Waste matter that is transported through the sewer.

An open channel or closed pipe used to convey sewage.

A type of transfer station and storage.

The physical sewer infrastructure (sometimes used interchangeably with sewage).

The term sex is defined to mean the biological differences between women and men. Gender refers to the social relationships between women, men, girls and boys.

A Shit Flow Diagram (SFD), also referred to as an excreta flow diagram, is a tool used to readily understand and communicate how excreta ‘flows’ through a city, town or refugee camp. An SFD helps to visualise how human excreta is or is not managed safely as it moves from defecation via containment, transport and treatment to its final disposal or end-use. In a humanitarian context, an SFD can facilitate a gap identification and strategising process carried out with stakeholders and WASH cluster partners.

Short term deviations with substantial negative effects on people’s current state of wellbeing, level of assets, livelihoods, safety or ability and capacity to withstand future shocks.

Site planning (or settlement) planning is the process by which the spatial allocation of land is decided in support of the protection, access to basic services, livelihoods, and socio-cultural life of displaced people and the host community. For sustainable sanitation service provision, it is important to engage with site planning to make sure that important aspects such as space, geo-physical context, distances, and future options for collection and treatment of sludge are considered.

A person who prefers to sit on the toilet.

Mixture of solids and liquids, containing mostly excreta and water, in combination with sand, grit, metals, trash and/or various chemical compounds. A distinction can be made between faecal sludge and wastewater sludge. Faecal sludge comes from on-site sanitation technologies, i.e. it has not been transported through a sewer. It can be raw or partially digested, a slurry or semisolid, and results from the collection and storage/treatment of excreta or blackwater, with or without greywater. Wastewater sludge (also referred to as sewage sludge) originates from sewer-based wastewater collection and (semi-)centralised treatment processes. The sludge composition will determine the type of treatment that is required and the end-use possibilities.

The quality of bonds and dynamics that exist between different groups within a society. Groups can be distinguished in terms of regional, ethnic or socio-cultural identities, religious and political beliefs, social class or economic sector, or on the basis of characteristics such as gender and age.

People with diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics.

A product that enhances the water and nutrient retaining properties of soil.

The ratio of the surface area to the volume of a solid material (e.g. filter media).

A person who prefers to squat over the toilet.

The degradation of organic matter with the goal of reducing readily biodegradable compounds to lessen environmental impacts (e.g. oxygen depletion, nutrient leaching).

The stabilisation (or transition) phase usually starts after the first weeks/months of an emergency and can last six months or longer. The main focus is to increase sanitation service coverage and an incremental upgrade and improvement of temporary structures as well as to enable people to practice basic hygiene-related behaviours and ensure their active participation and engagement. During the stabilisation phase, relevant pre-emptive resilience and disaster risk reduction measures should be implemented, particularly if another disaster is likely.

A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a set of step-by-step written instructions compiled by an organisation to help workers carry out routine operations. such as operation and maintainance of facilities, service provision, monitoring performance, and repair and replacement of system components

Stored urine has been hydrolysed naturally over time, i.e. the urea has been converted by enzymes into ammonia and bicarbonate. Stored urine in closed containers usually has a pH of 9 or higher. Most pathogens cannot survive at this elevated pH. After 1–6 months of storage, the risk of pathogen transmission is therefore considerably reduced.

General term for rainfall runoff collected from roofs, roads and other surfaces. Very often the term is used to refer to rainwater that enters a sewerage system. It is the portion of rainfall that does not infiltrate into the soil.

Stormwater management refers to the process of managing the surface run-off from rainwater and other precipitation.

Long term processes or conditions, often related to development and inequality, that influence the level of risk by contributing to exposure and vulnerability or reducing capacities.

A historical term for greywater.

The above ground walls and roof built around a toilet or bathing facility to provide privacy and protection to the user.

Includes underwear, extra laundry and bathing soap, a container with a lid for storing and soaking of reusable menstrual pads, cloth or dirty clothes, or rope and pegs for drying.

The portion of precipitation that does not infiltrate the ground and runs overland.

A natural or man-made water body that appears on the surface, such as a stream, river, lake, pond, or reservoir.

Sustainable sanitation aims to protect and promote human health by providing a clean environment and breaking the cycle of disease. In order to be sustainable a sanitation system has to be socially acceptable, technically and institutionally appropriate, economically viable (including the consideration of longer-term operation and maintenance requirements), needs to protect the environment and natural resources, and allow for resource recovery if desired.

Application of filtration processes for tertiary treatment of effluent.

Follows secondary treatment to achieve enhanced removal of pollutants from effluent. Nutrient removal (e.g., phosphorus) and disinfection can be included in the definition of secondary treatment or tertiary treatment, depending on the configuration.

A simple handwashing device that uses a container that can be tipped up to release water.

A sanitation facility (or ‘user interface’) used for urination and defecation. Often interchangeably referred to as latrine.

The residue that remains after filtering a water or sludge sample and drying it at 105° C (expressed in mg/L). It is the sum of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS).

Compares several different data sources and methods to cross check and confirm findings, helping to reduce bias.

Interlinkage between the humanitarian, development and peace sectors.

A design approach that aims to identify and remove potential barriers and create facilities and environments that can be used independently by everyone, irrespective of age, gender, disease or disabilities.

The organic molecule (NH2)2CO that is excreted in urine and that contains the nutrient nitrogen. Over time, urea breaks down into carbon dioxide and ammonium, which is readily used by organisms in soil. It can also be used for on-site faecal sludge treatment.

The liquid produced by the body to rid itself of nitrogen in the form of urea and other waste products. In this context, the urine product refers to pure urine that is not mixed with faeces or water. Depending on diet, human urine collected from one person during one year (approx. 300 to 550 L) contains 2 to 4 kg of nitrogen. The urine of healthy individuals is sterile when it leaves the body but is often immediately contaminated by coming into contact with faeces.

Refers to the methods through which products are returned to the environment, either as useful resources or reduced-risk materials. Some products can also be cycled back into a system (e.g. by using treated greywater for flushing).

A term used to describe the type of toilet, pedestal, pan, or urinal that the user comes into contact with; it is the way users access the sanitation system. In many cases, the choice of user interface will depend on the availability of water and on user preferences.

An organism (most commonly an insect) that transmits a disease to a host. For example, flies are vectors as they can carry and transmit pathogens from faeces to humans.

A type of constructed wetland.

An infectious agent consisting of a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat. Viruses can only replicate in the cells of a living host. Some pathogenic viruses are known to be waterborne (e.g., the rotavirus that can cause diarrheal disease).

A person who prefers to use water to cleanse after defecating, rather than wipe with dry material.

Used water from any combination of domestic, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities, surface runoff/stormwater, and any sewer inflow/infiltration.

Someone who prefers to use dry material (e.g., toilet paper or newspapers) to cleanse after defecating, rather than wash with water.

The term includes women with disabilities, women from different economic and educational backgrounds, women of diverse sexualities, transgender women, and women from different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

Women’s empowerment means having the ability to make meaningful choices about their careers and personal lives, overcoming past limitations on their options.