Guidelines and manuals
2006 • World Health Organization (WHO) WHO guidelines – safe use of wastewater, excreta, and greywater - Volume 4: Excreta and greywater use in agriculture
This volume provides detailed guidelines for the safe use of excreta and greywater in agriculture. It emphasizes health risk management while promoting resource recovery for agricultural development, particularly in low-income and peri-urban areas. Using risk-based approaches like the Stockholm Framework, it offers strategies for reducing exposure, treating waste, and monitoring system performance. Target audience include public health officials, policymakers, agricultural workers, and sanitation engineers.
Recovered Materials & Products
Energy
Biogas
Nutrients
Fertilizer
Compost
Water
Water reuse
Waste Streams
Faecal sludge
Urine
Greywater
Faeces
Confirmed countries
Germany
What is this tool intended for?
The tool aims to guide policymakers, engineers, and practitioners on safely using excreta and greywater in agriculture. Following the guidelines reduces health risks associated with pathogen exposure while optimizing resource recovery to support food security and sustainable farming practices.
How does this tool work?
The guidelines provide a systematic framework for health-based targets, risk assessment, and risk management. It includes technical details on waste treatment technologies, pathogen reduction targets, exposure control, and monitoring. The approach integrates public health, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic feasibility.
Who might use this tool and with which types of stakeholders?
- Public health authorities: For developing health-based targets.
- Sanitation engineers: For designing and operating treatment systems.
- Agricultural practitioners: For utilizing safe treated excreta and greywater.
- Policy makers: For establishing legal and regulatory frameworks.
What stages of a process can this tool support?
- Policy development: Establishing regulations for waste reuse.
- Design and implementation: Setting up safe waste reuse systems.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Validating system performance and ensuring compliance.
Where can this tool be used?
It applies globally, with particular relevance for regions with water scarcity, nutrient deficiencies, and sanitation challenges.
Get the Tool
Technologies
Composting
Anaerobic digestion
Themes
Assessment
Design
Policy and regulation
Risk assessement