Multidimensional benefits of improved sanitation: Evaluating 'PEE POWER®' in Kisoro, Uganda

You, Jiseon; Staddon, Chad; Cook, Alan; Walker, James; Boulton, Jess; Powell, Wayne; Ieropoulos, Ioannis

Abstract

With 2.3 billion people around the world lacking adequate sanitation services, attention has turned to alternative service provision models. This study suggests an approach for meeting the sanitation challenge, especially as expressed in Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, using a toilet technology system, such as Pee Power® that generates electricity using diverted urine as a fuel. A field trial was carried out in a girls' school in Kisoro, Uganda, where the generated electricity was used to light the existing toilet block. The trial was evaluated in terms of social acceptability and user experience using a multidimensional assessment protocol. The results of our assessment show that users felt safer when visiting the toilets at night. Lights provided from the technology also helped with the perceived cleanliness of the toilets. The technology was well accepted, with 97% of the respondents saying that they liked the idea of the Pee Power® technology and 94% preferring it over other facilities on site. This shows how the technology helps meet SDG target 6.2, with its particular focus on vulnerable populations.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 19, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Mar 25, 2020
• Publication Date: Mar 25, 2020
• Deposit Date: Mar 25, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 26, 2020
• Print ISSN: 1661-7827
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: 2175
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072175
• Keywords: Pee Power®; ecological sanitation; renewable energy; social acceptance; user perception; female safety; gender equality; female empowerment; sustainable development goal
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5803554