WATER SANITATION
2 billion people depend on Himalayan freshwater
Human waste is a growing threat to the environment and to the communities that depend on Himalayan water.
With no sustainable system currently in place, our priority is to develop a long-term solution to safely manage the 13 tonnes of human waste discarded into the glacier every climbing season.
Protecting these water sources is our responsibility, for the communities who call these mountains home, and for the wildlife that depends on them.
Toilet waste management
We are developing a pilot high-altitude toilet system with a conveyor belt designed to separate urine and feces, with plans to deploy several units at Base Camp. In parallel, we are exploring a small-scale biogas solution downstream, combining complementary technologies to create a comprehensive and scalable approach to managing the large volumes of human waste generated each climbing season.
Scientific assessment
We’re conducting research and planning to publish a water pollution assessment with scientific experts, combining field data collection with actionable recommendations to improve water management from Everest Base Camp to the higher camps.
