48 Sanitation and Cleanliness for a Healthy Environment
List of difficult words
Compost – plant matter and manure that has broken down and turned into fertilizer.
To work well, composting (the process of making compost) requires a mix of different
elements, such as dry plant matter, wet plant matter, other nutrients, air and moisture.
Decompose – when living things are broken down by heat, insects, and bacteria. When
plant matter decomposes, it turns to compost or rich soil.
Dehydration – loss of fluid. Dehydration is one sign of diarrhea diseases related to
unhealthy sanitation. Dehydration can be very dangerous, especially for children.
Dilute – make weaker by mixing with water.
Ecological – imitating or acting like a natural system. Sanitation can be called
ecological when it recycles nutrients by returning them to the earth. Compost toilets
and dry toilets are ecological.
Ferment – when food or other organic matter rots and becomes sour. This happens
because bacteria enter and change the nature of the substance. Compost can also be
said to be fermenting.
Germs – tiny living things that can spread disease. Different germs cause different
health problems and spread in different ways. For example, dysentery germs are
spread through feces, tuberculosis germs spread through the air, and scabies spreads
through clothes and bedding.
Groundwater – water that flows underground. Groundwater is the source of drinking
water in wells and springs. Groundwater may also be called a water table or an aquifer.
The groundwater level changes depending on rainfall and water use.
Hygiene – things people do to stay clean and prevent the spread of germs. Hygiene
includes washing hands and bathing, storing and preparing food, and keeping the
home clean.
Nutrient – anything that feeds plants, animals, or people. People need nutrients in
food to grow strong and healthy, and plants need nutrients in soil to grow strong and
bear fruit. When farmers add compost and fertilizer to the soil, these are ways of
adding nutrients.
Organic matter – what is left when plants and other living things die and break down.
Organic matter is part of healthy soil and helps plants grow.
Rehydration drink – a drink made of sugar, salt, and water or from grain and water
that helps retain liquid and restore health when a person is dehydrated.
Sanitation – managing human waste in a safe and healthy way.