• to demonstrate that the humus produced by the breakdown of organic matter inputs can be largely processed and transferred into the soil by worms and to document humus buildup over time

• visual and video monitoring of organic waste breakdown and buildup over time.

• project life expectancy before the system reaches a max buildup level within the trench of 200 mm above the soil surface

• from experience, more than 600 mm of buildup can start to loose its aerobic structure and slow wastewater infiltration rates

• to demonstrate that the system can operate with the input of normal household chemicals such as chlorine bleach, detergents, grease, and food oils and can operate with intermittent and highly variable sewage input loadings

• Experience shows that wet vermicomposting ecosystems are very robust to typical household chemicals and loading variability but this trial is an opportunity to carefully document the loading and chemical tolerance limits of the ecosystem.

• document ecosystem changes based on increasing loading rates

to demonstrate that GOSEP output water quality is suitable for irrigation of food crops

• Dissolved Oxygen(DO)>5mg/l

• Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)<20mg/l,

• 5day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD₅) <5mg/l,

• Total Suspended Solids (TSS)<5mg/l ,

• Turbidity NTU >5,

• Total Faecal coliforms (TFC) < 10 CFU/l)

• no detectable effluent odour

to compare alternatives to sandy loam topsoil as the filtration medium below the main treatment layer. Media options to be trialed;

• • Sand

  • sandy loam

  • charcoal modified soil

  • coarse screened sand

  • highly organic soils / coco-peat modified soils

  • layers of or mixes of the above

Investigate transpiration soil capillary wicking and as an even cheaper alternative to a plastic effluent collection liner with an effluent solar pumping system.

• • investigate root control options to prevent large root mechanical disturbance of the system

  • investigate soil capillary movement of effluent from the subsoil to root zone in various soil types

To create the required trench arch and pumpwell/ storage tanks using waste plastic containers

• • villages can produce their own water and sanitation hardware

  • small scale industry in conjunction with garbage sorters

  • develop a proven protocol that can be implemented as a street level enterprise

  • address critical safety and engineering aspects of local plastic product production

    1. plastic fumes

    2. mechanical durability

    3. identify viable mixes of plastic types

Lined and underdrained planted soil filters to capture and clean runoff water to create a reliable passive drinking water supply at source.

• • determine the limits of input contamination to achieve drinking water standards

  • investigate irrigating stormwater soil filters with GOSEP effluent to provide more potable water during dry times.

  • determine optimus sizing and loading limits

Document and record the actual cost of all installed systems.

• • Collate all field trial costs

  • make data publicly available

  • analyse reasons for outliers and cost variance

  • use this data to inform ongoing design evolution

Desktop study comparing the actual installation and running costs for trial systems and compare it to alternative treatment approaches including centralized sewerage.

• Include GHG emissions comparisons

• Analyse local economic benefit and multiplier effect of plastics hardware production from waste plastics