Our society’s influence on the natural world’s resources， which has been spurred on by economic growth， urbanization and an ever-increasing population， has never been more prominent or problematic than it is today. In addition， the problems raised by the decreasing quality and quantity of fresh water resources are becoming increasingly serious. The water crisis is in part a direct result of the failure of the current sanitation paradigm. Conventional on-site sanitation systems such as pit latrines and flush toilets have been used for centuries at the household level， which for the most part cannot meet the requirements of hygiene， environmental protection， or resource recovery. Sewered sanitation with flush toilets， established in the era of European urbanization in the 1870s， has been widely accepted as the solution to this issue.However， there is little discussion about its core problems， which result in health and environmental issues around the world. Alternative new solutions， i.e. ecological sanitation concepts with more of a focus on source separation and recycling， besides hygiene and environmental protection， are emerging and being implemented in both developed and developing countries. This method shows great potential for promoting environmental and ecological sustainable development.
　　This book introduces students to ecological sanitation concepts which can help them build the required capacity to tailor solutions to local needs related to the sustainable provision of safe sanitation and resource recycling.