News
Putting our heads together: Imperial College London and Ghent University
04.2024
PhD student Yogesh visited Dr Bruno Levecke’s research group at Ghent University, Belgium, to learn methods for Ascaris egg counting in sludge to adapt it to test for the presence of eggs in vermicompost.
Yogesh learned Ascaris egg enumeration methods from Dr Levecke and Justien Arens at the Ghent University laboratory.
Putting our heads together: Imperial College London and Asian Institute of Technology
04.2024
PhD student Aiman paid a visit to the team of esteemed colleague Professor Thammarat Koottatep at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand to support her research on septic tanks.
Aiman (center) surrounded by Professor Koottatep's team at AIT
AIT campus in Thailand
Aiman learned from AIT's prototypes to draw parallels in her own research
Welcome to our new PhD student!
03.2024
Indonesian student Adhin Harum Wulaningtyas is the newest PhD candidate to join the team. Adhin will be researching how to improve the design of septic tanks for humanitarian response applications.
Dr Sioné discusses Tiger Worm Toilets in new Nature Careers podcast
03.2024
In their new Careers podcast series, Nature explores ow the 17 Sustainable Development Goals can help ‘save humanity’ through a series of interviews with professionals working in each of the goals. Dr Sioné discusses the challenges barring the way to achieving Goal 6, clean water and sanitation for all, and shines the spotlight on how Tiger Worm Technology can help overcome those challenges. Listen here.
PhD Students win Imperial College Civil Engineering departmental prizes
03.2024
Congratulations to PhD students Mengru and Maria for winning excellent presentation and poster respectively at this year’s departmental PhD Conference! Mengru presented her work so far on exploring pit latrine additives while Maria presented her findings on pyrolysis and faecal-derived biochar as her PhD research comes to a close.
PhD Student travels to India to explore the legacy of 10-year Tiger Worm Toilets
02.2024
PhD student Yogesh Janardhan Badekar travelled to India to conduct a field survey on the long-term functionality of established TWTs (Tiger Worm Toilets) with Primove and Easol. Yogesh also exchanged with the users of the TWTs, learning from their experiences on the ground.
Yogesh's field survey and data collection exercise was supported by the Primove team at their Pune office in India
Visiting a working Tiger Toilet Facility in Pune
Checking the contents of a TWT's biodigester for faecal matter and live worms
Learning about using coco coir cake for worm bedding
Checking on worm health
New Publication: Journal of Environmental Management
26.01.2024
A new article discussing how to enhance the nitrogen and phosphorus content of faecal-derived biochar via adsorption and precipitation from human urine.
New Publication: Nature Water
16.11.2023
Nature Water has published an article discussing on the understated importance of sustaining effective latrine cleaning in schools to protect child health in low-income settings.
New Publication: Frontiers in Environmental Science
2.11.2023
Frontiers in Environmental Science has published an article authored by members of the International Worm-Based Sanitation Association (IWBSA), which discusses the opportunities and challenges of taking Tiger Worm Toilets to scale and presents the state-of-the-art in TWT construction and operation based on frontier global experiences to-date.
1st IWA Non-Sewered Sanitation Conference
15.10.2023
Ms Maria Koulouri presented her insights on source interventions and biochar quality at the 1st IWA Non-Sewered Sanitation Conference as part of her work on resource recovery from faecal sludge pyrolysis.
Professor Templeton honoured at the MDPI World Sustainability Award Ceremony
14.09.2023
Professor Michael Templeton attended the 10th World Sustainability Forum in Basel where he accepted his award in recognition of his contribution towards providing Sustainable Sanitation for All and presented notable aspects of his work to academics from diverse disciplines.
Interview with 2023 World Sustainability Award Awardee: Prof Templeton
08.08.2023
In this interview with MDPI, Professor Michael Templeton discusses his work to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in the context of international development, and how engineers have a key role to play in solving global challenges. Prof Templeton will discuss his work in detail when he accepts his award at the ceremony held on the 14th September 2023 during the 10th World Sustainability Forum.
New Publication: Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
4.08.2023
The Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development has published an article discussing the Lessons learned from a Tiger Worm Toilet implementation project in Sierra Leone. Furthermore, the study exposes the benefits that TWTs offer over traditional pit latrines, including higher cost efficiency - especially in areas with challenging environmental conditions.
MSc Student awarded Basu Travel Prize 2023 to join Water for People team in India
07.2023
MSc student Eppie Nguyen-Xuan conducted field-based research in Kolkata for her dissertation There, she joined local Water for People staff to assess the long-term functionality and economic viability of their community-managed sanitation complexes, and gather perspectives from local latrine users to suggest improvements. Her research was supported by the Basu Travel Prize, awarded to MSc students who submit the best proposal for undertaking their dissertation project overseas.
Eppie was hosted by the in-country Water for People staff who shared their knowledge on sanitation
The Water for People team generously assisted Eppie in touring government-built public latrines in peri-urban Kolkata and in interviewing latrine users and community management groups.
Eppie identified relationships between cleanliness and tariff collection
2023 World Sustainability Award Winner
14.07.2023
Professor Michael Templeton has won first place in the MDPI Sustainability Foundation’s World Sustainability Award, in recognition of his uniquely innovative work in the field of water and sanitation, and its contribution to building a more sustainable society. Professor Templeton will present his work at the Award Ceremony on the 14th of September 2023 in Basel, during the 10th World Sustainability Forum (WSF2023).
The Great Exhibition Road Festival 2023
06.2023
Dr Laure Sioné and MEng students showcased the group's research on sanitation at the Great Exhibition Road Festival 2023, which brings together iconic museums, and research and culture organisations, including Imperial College London, the Royal Albert Hall, Science Museum, V&A, and the Natural History Museum.
The stall displayed pit emptying technologies including a novel manual pump and fishing tool, which the public could try for themselves on simulated sludge while learning about the current risks of pit emptying and the challenges involved in developing new technologies.
Tiger worms and Tiger Worm Toilets were the show of the stall, teaching the public about this simple yet effective technology in reducing pit fill rate, burden of disease, odours and flies in pits.
The team at the Festival.
MEng student Nadia Angelica pictured below, mixing simulated sludge in preparation for the public to pump.
The public trying out the pump with Dr Laure Sioné.
MEng student Elsa Germain showing Tiger Worms to children while parents listen in.
Water Innovation and Circularity Conference (WICC) 2023
06.2023
Ms Maria Koulouri presented at the Water Innovation & Circularity Conference 2023, on phosphorus and nitrogen recovery from stored human urine via precipitation and adsorption onto faecal-derived biochars.
Seminar presentation by Professor Templeton
25.05.2023
On Thursday 25 May 2023 Professor Templeton gave an invited seminar presentation at the Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows at the University of Cambridge titled ‘Energy and Environmental Flows in Sanitation’.
New Publication: Journal of Environmental Management
The Journal of Environmental Management has published a paper on Source separation of human excreta: effect on resource recovery via pyrolysis. This study aimed to establish a quantifiable relationship between human excreta source separation and resource recovery via pyrolysis.
The effects of source separation of faeces and urine on biochar quality were investigated for different pyrolysis temperatures and this information was used to assess energy and nutrient recovery.
Findings could support the design of circular faecal sludge management systems, linking resource recovery objectives to source conditions, and vice-versa.
Imperial team visits partners in Rwanda
01.03.2023
In early March 2023 Professor Michael Templeton, the Oxfam and Water For People / Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Global Sanitation Technology, and his students travelled to Kigali, Rwanda, also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills due to its hilly terrain. They were there to conduct research with the Water For People in-country water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) team. Professor Templeton also met with many stakeholders involved in sanitation in Rwanda, including the Ministry of Infrastructure, Unicef, and WaterAid and Kigali-based researchers at the University of Rwanda and Carnegie Mellon University-Africa.
The Imperial College London team left to right: Maria Koulouri (PhD student), Nadia Angelica (MEng student 2023), Elsa Germain (MEng student 2023), Prof Michael Templeton, Benjamin Okoko (MEng student 2023) with independent sanitation consultant Jeff Broome (centre right) at the Water for People Kigali office to meet Country Director Eugene Dusingizumuremyi (center left).
Professor Templeton meeting with the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Over the next few months, final year MEng students will be researching engineering challenges at different points along the sanitation service chain, using case studies from Rwanda.
Elsa visited the Rulindo Vermifiltration Plant with Water for People staff and the Rulindo Plant workers, to investigate worm-based technology as a potential low-cost, modular community-scale faecal sludge treatment option. The Rulindo Vermifiltration Plant makes the most of the hilly terrain and gravity-feeds faecal waste to worm bio-filters. The worms thrive on the faecal sludge and convert it into compost.
Elsa discussing worm-based technology used at the Rulindo Vermifiltration Plant.
A healthy worm population at Rulindo.
The Rulindo Vermifiltration Plant.
Nadia, accompanied by PhD student Maria, visited the Nyamagabe Decentralized Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant to investigate the performance of pyrolysis of faecal sludge under different operating conditions. Benjamin is testing out prototypes to mix, ‘fish’ and pump out solids from pit latrines on full latrines in Kigali, with the aim of improving the designs and making latrine emptying easier and quicker.
Nadia and Maria at the Nyamagabe Decentralized Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant.
Nadia investigating the pyrolysis of faecal sludge.
The prototype pump for emptying latrines.
The 21st African Water Association International Congress & Exhibition
19.02.2023
PhD student Maria Koulouri presented her findings on the effect of wood biomass and human faeces co-pyrolysis on carbon sequestration at the Congress in Abidjan. Her presentation included insights on the calculation of carbon retention and stability in biochars produced at different blending ratios and different temperatures. Wider implications of this work are relevant to sustainability decision-making in sanitation management, encouraging carbon calculations and climate change mitigation considerations in the design of thermal faecal sludge treatment systems.
World Toilet Day 2022
19.11.2022
World Toilet Day is an official United Nations international observance day of the global sanitation crisis. What did you see or do on World Toilet Day that raised awareness of people living without access to safely managed sanitation? Let us know!
9th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management
06.2022
Congratulations to Ms Maria Koulouri for winning an award for the best poster presentation at the 9th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Corfu 2022. The poster presented her work on source-separation of human excreta as a driver for optimised resource recovery via pyrolysis.
New publication - The Source Magazine, IWA
26.05.2022
The Source Magazine has published a piece on innovation titled “Shitovation: solving sanitation challenges where sewers don’t exist”. International Water Association (IWA) Publishing focuses on issues surrounding water, aiming to help improve global health and well-being.