NEW! Finance Brief 6: The UK Public Works Loans Board: central government loans for local government investment. By Richard Franceys

ABSTRACT: The UK’s Public Works Loans Board was a mechanism through which local government could access low-cost loans through central government. It played a key role in water and sanitation improvements in the UK between the 1870s and the 1980s. Until very recently, it remained a major vehicle for central-to-local government lending in the UK, and it has been a valuable template for many similar systems worldwide. This Finance Brief outlines the history of this body, still very relevant as a model today.

http://www.publicfinanceforwash.com/ZkA

VACANCY: Urban Water and Sanitation Specialist, WSUP Advisory

Job Location: London, UK
Closing Date: 30^th June 2014

WSUP Advisory is a consultancy service providing technical expertise to those seeking to address the challenges of providing urban WASH services to low-income urban consumers. WSUP Advisory takes the lessons learned from WSUP’s programmes and makes them available to countries across the world.

To meet its goals, WSUP Advisory is seeking an Urban Water & Sanitation Specialist who is interested in supporting cities across the world to adopt successful service models that reach low income consumers, and who is also interested in helping to build an advisory business. This is an opportunity to play a key role in a growing organisation. The role will require creative thinking and tenacity to seek continual improvement.

To read more about the role and find out how to apply, please visit http://www.wsup.com/programme/vacancies.

Wheelie bin converted into toilet

A wheelie bin [household waste container on wheels] has been adapted into a public toilet in a bid to stop people urinating on south London streets.

People can urinate into a funnel inside the bin which transfers the liquid into its base, where it is converted into bio-fertiliser.

Swiss designer Stephan Bischof tested the bin in New Cross and Honour Oak.

He said: “It wouldn’t be better than a proper public toilet but because there are so many (wheelie bins) close it is like an emergency solution.”

Mr Bischof invented the wheelie bin urinal as part of a series of designs to tackle antisocial or illegal behaviour.

‘Weird solution’

The bin’s removable base contains either garden waste or dry grass, which absorbs the urine to create bio-fertiliser.

“It’s a bit of a weird solution,” said Mr Bischof.

“My intentions were not to destroy the primary functions of the wheelie bin so therefore it can still be used as a bin.”

Mr Bischof is seeking funding to further develop his prototype.

His other designs include a traffic sign with a birdhouse inside it and musical speed humps.

A spokesman for Lambeth Council said it was “too early” to say whether the council would consider adopting the wheelie bin urinals.

Source: BBC, 05 Jan 2010 (includes BBC news video)

Loo’ve been framed – Britains send toilet photos to Prime Minister

WaterAid UK is calling on its supporters to “send some Loo’ve” to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

By adding photos of toilets to the “Loo’ve been framed photo gallery” supporters can:

• show the UK Prime Minister they are watching his progress as a “sanitation champion”
• urge him to talk toilets at the Annual High-Level Meeting on Sanitation and Water in April 2010

See an example here:

Barry from UK: dont hide behind the mask sort it out mr brown !!!. Photo: WaterAid

See more photos on the Loo’ve been framed campaign web site.

World Toilet Day: The Royal Society For Public Health Asks ‘How Healthy Are Our Loos’?

Poor hygiene is threatening public health and The Royal Society for Public Health believes that, on World Toilet Day – Monday November 17, the developed world has no reason to be complacent about its loo routines.

Toilet germs are spreading fast, with almost 50% of adults in the UK failing to dry their hands after using a public toilet, and one in six adults admitting that they don’t wash their hands every time(1). (…)

Read all MedicalNewsToday.com