Planted drying beds in the African context: state of knowledge and prospects

Abstract

In low-income countries, the discharge of untreated fecal sludge directly into the environment is a common practice that poses a threat to both environmental and public health. Planted drying beds (PDBs) are a promising and low-cost option for treating fecal sludge. Therefore, in Africa, the use of PDBs for treating fecal sludge is increasingly valuable due to the technology's high efficiency, especially in tropical climates. This paper presents a literature review on the use of PDBs for treating fecal sludge in Africa, focusing on current research requirements and directions. This review shows that Echinochloa pyramidalis appears to be the most effective indigenous species used for this purpose, while also highlighting the lack of stability in the design and implementation models of PDBs. Standardizing and generalizing implementation methodologies for PDBs in Africa, researching new native and efficient species, and testing combinations of different species in the beds would all be beneficial.