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HEALTH AND SANITATION
Bringing Innovation
to the Industry
Since its formation in 1926, IAPMO has been known for its
progressive focus on the future. One might believe sanitation
and the use of resources had reached a peak; this sort of
thinking, however, is not within the realm of IAPMO’s culture.
By Hugo Aguilar, P.E.
IAPMO Codes and Standards excels in recognising
technology that improves the lives of Americans
and elsewhere. Over time, IAPMO has proven to be
the leader in bringing innovation to the industry
while, at the same time, protecting public health
and welfare.
Russ Chaney
In the spirit of the sharing
of unique experiences
that shape the plumbing
industries in our respective
nations, the following article
looks at how international
standards are helping usher
in new technologies that
benefit the industry and the
safety it provides. Written by
IAPMO Senior Vice President
of Codes and Standards
Development Hugo Aguilar,
P.E., it is the next in a regular
series of similar articles that will
run in this magazine.
NON-SEWERED SANITATION SYSTEMS
Since the early 1900s, technologies from flight to
telephones have advanced with tremendous progress.
We have gone from a simple 12-horsepower engine
propelling an aircraft to jets that can break the sound
barrier. Telephones have gone from rotary dial and cords
to smart phones that have far more computing power
than all the computers used to send the first man to the
moon in 1969.
But what about wastewater management? It has not
really advanced much. Yes, the sanitation is far safer
than it was in the early 1900s, but the concept is the
same, not to mention that more than 2.3 billion
people across the world lack access to basic
sanitation services.
Now there is technology that is attempting to take
sanitation to another level, and which is already
benefitting where resources are scarce. Any country
that adopts this technology has taken a leap into the
future of sanitation. This technology is the non-sewered
sanitation system (NSSS) and it is covered by the ISO
30500 standard.
ISO 30500, Non-sewered sanitation systems –
prefabricated integrated treatment units – general
safety and performance requirements for design
and testing, seeks to provide general safety and
performance requirements for the product design and
performance testing of these non-sewered sanitation
systems. It applies to integrated sanitation systems that
are not attached to a sewer.
The ISO 30500 standard helps develop new toilet
technology that will save millions of lives.
Imagine using a toilet where the drainage system
has the capability of preserving energy for use in
other applications, such as powering lights, and with
a recirculation loop for fluid reuse. Imagine a remote
location where there is no water supply or a drainage
system, yet you can have a fully functional toilet or
urinal. The possibilities are endless with the use of
NSSS technology.
Connect
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July 2019 Volume 25 I Number 5
www.plumbingafrica.co.za