An international study on container -based drainage systems (CBS) found that this portable toilet selection greatly improves the quality of life of people living in urban slums in Kenya, Peru and South Africa.
CBS systems use sealed, portable toilet containers collected, emptied and cleaned regularly as part of a subscription -based service. Unlike traditional drainage solutions that require heavy infrastructure, CBS offers a flexible and practical alternative to densely populated urban areas.
The study, co-author of Bangor University and Cranfield University, has been published in Nature Water and could pave the way for CBS to be widely used. While container -based drainage is not a permanent replacement of Sewered systems, it represents a transformative temporary solution to improve health, dignity and quality of life in the most vulnerable urban communities in the world.
Dr. Alison Parker, a reader in international water and drainage at Cranfield University, who led the project, said: “It was a huge privilege to work with such dedicated researchers from around the world to reveal the potential that CBS had to provide a safe toilet for a safe toilet.
Quality of life was improved by CBS
Researchers have used smartphone -based surveys to collect regular sewage and health data from CBS systems. They have closely watched the experiences of residents over time, providing one of the most detailed appearance on CBS services in urban slums.
Basic findings include:
- CBS users reported significantly fewer problems with their toilets compared to non -CBS users.
- CBS satisfaction was high in multiple elements, including collection and cleaning.
- Improved CBS systems service was directly linked to the highest quality of life for residents.
Working with such a rich set of data hundreds of participants, who were regularly asked more than a year in three countries, we prove that the drain-based sewer-especially when it is well served can significantly improve the quality of life-related life-related life.
Dr. Ben Exton, Head writer, research assistant at Bangor University
Co-writer Simon Willcock, Rothamsted Research’s original researcher and sustainability professor at Bangor University said: “The study also revealed significant differences between countries.
Rémi Kaupp, executive director of Alliance Sanitation Alliance based on containers, commented: “I am pleased to see the results of this long -term, rigorous and multiple study country, has shown an excellent way to understand how to do their sewage users.
“In addition to highlighting the critical role based on containers based on containers to ensure constant access to informal settlements, the study also shows the importance of professional drainage operators to ensure that residents enjoy uninterrupted and safe basic services.”
Source:
Magazine report:
EXON, B., et al. (2025). Evaluation of the role of service in enhancing the quality of life -related sewage between container -based sewage users. Nature of water. Doi.org/10.1038/S44221-025-00508-6
