While sanitation in the home might be something many of us take for granted, in this episode we dive deeper into how they work - the specifics of decentralized water systems, how they work, their benefits and their disadvantages. Host Sarah Stancombe is joined by expert Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel to discuss his journey toward waste management.

Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel obtained chemical engineering degrees both at Bachelor and Masters levels, with a specialization in wastewater treatment. He went on to pursue his professional career with a PhD on biomass gasification in 2011 and a post-doctorate, in the same domain, for  two  more   years, in French research institutes. During this period, he acquired an expertise in thermochemical processes and biofuels. In 2014, he joined the WASH R&D Centre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal to supervise master research projects funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Water Research Commission. Currently, his focus is: leading research related to decentralized sanitation treatment systems, supporting and advising sanitation practitioners and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

In this episode, Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel explains the differences between centralized and decentralized water systems, what kinds of regions use each one, and what it takes to maintain them. There can be disadvantages with decentralized systems, such as poor management, which can lead to harming the environment. 

Together, Sarah and Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel explore innovations in the field. Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel suggests setting up a grey water system in the home to make the most of water usage, and reduce costs.

Connect with Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-septien-stringel-80604841/ 

Follow Dr. Santiago Septien Stringel’s work on Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Santiago-Septien-Stringel 

Room by Room is produced by the Home Organization Science Labs, a division of LMSL, the Life Management Science Labs.

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