Need Credible Info on Composting Human Waste ASAP

Help!

I have just learned that my county, which up to now has pretty much left us alone, is meeting this Tuesday (June 2) to consider new sanitation regulations. This has come about because over the past few years, several large farms have been split up into 10-20 acre parcels and sold to those of us who are content to live in tiny houses and haul our water in. Certain people have complained. Surprise, surprise.

I will be allowed to speak at this public meeting and I need a few credible, scientific studies that speak to the safety of composting human waste. Quotes from books and articles on how to do it aren't going to cut it. If we can't sway the powers that be, we will likely all be forced to install expensive septic systems.

Anyone have any links?

I don't, but if I needed some, I would go to scholar.google.com.  They catalog a huge swath of the scientific literature.  It takes a few tries, usually, to get the right search terms, but I am confident that this is an excellent way to get what you need.

Best of luck!

Anne, I love you! Thank you! A whole bunch of stuff came up that I'm sure I can use.

Hooray!

If there's one thing you learn after too much education, it's how to find real research papers!

Good luck and let us know!

Oh - and look for a meta-analysis or a review paper.  These synthesize the relevant research and draw conclusions based on large numbers of studies, not a single study.

I'd also look on humanurehandbook.com to see what you can find from Joe Jenkins.  Here's a link to the paper he did on his Santos project.  Table 1 shows pathogen survival rates with different methods and there's a lab report at the end that is very informative.  You may have to go through his papers to find some stuff, but you could also try to contact him directly.  He consults and is very supportive of other people's efforts.  

The meeting was ... interesting. That's probably the most positive word I can use lol.

I do feel like I was heard and taken seriously, but I don't know if it was enough to sway the planning commission. Another non-public meeting is scheduled and I think they'll vote at that time. Thankfully my pastor is on the commission so I have a little insider info.

Good luck!

Yes, we are interested in the outcome.  Fingers crossed.  

The real question is the potential for a hidden agenda.  If the agenda is to get rid of you (and people like you), I doubt if your problems are going anywhere.  The good news is that the powers that be are not just messing with you.  This deeply impacts the people who want to sell the land as well as realtors. Best of luck.