Great story, I hope you write many more.

The quoted section left me uncertain about the describe situation.

Is "open defecation" typically an unsafe sanitation practice? Is using a latrine/outhouse/campers toilet considered open defecation? Is there a proper biodegradable bag to be defecated into?

When rough camping, open defecation is normal, the animals poop more in the woods and prairies than people. I have spent much time in rustic camps with no running water, we use an outhouse that we believe we safely manage.

Are the 3.5 billion people you say don't have access to safely managed sanitation all living in cities?

At my primary residence we have separate storm water and sewer systems. Even with this we have frequent street flooding. The city can't seem to keep ahead of the storm water problem. Population growth and the increased intensity of rainfall outpace the almost continuous improvements they have going on. Seems they have a better handle on sewer capacity. Only times it seems we have a sewer problem is during major flooding events like hurricanes.

Again, thanks for the great story.

TEK