Economics of liquid waste management in Funafuti, Tuvalu / by Padma Lal, Kelesoma Saloa and Falealili Uila

Abstract

Human waste management is a major concern in Tuvalu despite decades of promotion of the use of water-seal flush toilets and septic tank systems as the safest and most hygienic way to dispose of human wastes. These systems were promoted as an alternative to the use of the beach for human waste disposal. Unfortunately, the septic tank-based system was introduced in Tuvalu and many other atolls in the Pacific Islands region without regard to the geophysical characteristics of atolls.