200 American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) ISSN (Print) 2313-4410, ISSN (Online) 2313-4402 © Global Society of Scientific Research and Researchers http://asrjetsjournal.org/ Investigating the Applicability in Emergency Situations of Terra Preta Sanitation System using Lactic Acid Bacteria Flavius Kamwani a* , Bernard Thole b , Wilson Greya c , Katie Anderson d , Grover H. Mamani Casilla e , Jan Spit f , Johann Van der Ham g a University of Malawi, The Polytechnic, Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, Chichiri Blantyre 3. b,c University of Malawi, The Polytechnic, Department of Physics and Biochemical Sciences, Chichiri Blantyre. d,e,f WASTE Urban Sanitation Advisors, Nieuwehaven 201, 2801 CW Gouda, The Netherlands. g Resident Pastor, Crown Ministries, Chigumula, Blantyre, Malawi. a Email: kamwaniflavius@yahoo.com b Email: bthole@poly.ac.mw c Email: wilsongreya@gmail.com d Email: catherine.anderson85@gmail.com e Email: gmamani@waste.nl f Email: jspit@waste.nl g Email: johann@crown.org.za Abstract Malawi experiences emergency situations whose response does not prioritize faecal sludge management challenges. This research adopted a redefined Terra Preta Sanitation (TPS) system that replaced vermicomposting with Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) inoculation. The research aimed at determining possibility of on-site LAB procedure upscalling and safe separation of urine and lacto-fermented sludge as useful agricultural by-products. The study site was Crown Ministries, Blantyre, Malawi. A fermented mixture of15L pasteurized milk, 30ml of Yakult and 1.5g cane molasses was added to a 200L faecal sludge collection drum before use. After defecation, 100cm 3 charcoal and 2g molasses were added. Urine was anaerobically collected in 50L drum. Random grab samples results indicated that COD for urine (868.4mg/l) and Lacto-fermented sludge (431.2mg/l) were above 60mg/l Malawi Standard and E. coli (1.05 x10 7 ) and Total coliforms (2.18 x 10 7 ) for Lacto- Fermented Sludge went above <10 3 CFU/100ml. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author.