Faecal sludge sample collection and handling

Quantities and qualities of faecal sludge vary significantly along the entire faecal sludge management (FSM) service chain. Further understanding of factors such as biodegradability, nutrient content, pumpability, dewaterability, resource recovery potential, pathogens, and potential inhibitory compounds are all particularly important for effective faecal sludge planning and management. Sampling is the action or process of taking a subset of a larger volume for characterisation. This process assumes that samples are representative of the larger volume, and there are measures to put in place to help ensure this. Therefore, a proper sampling scheme and subsequent analysis of faecal sludge is paramount for sustainable FSM.