How cheap can hygienic latrines be?

A construction and operation costing of 12 types of hygienic latrines widely used in rural areas of Vietnam and presented in the Hygienic latrine Manual of the Ministry of Health, using traditional construction materials has been conducted. The cost of latrines using traditional construction materials is ranging from USD37.5 (VIP) to USD194.4 (Septic tank constructed by brick for treatment of black and grey wastewater from sitting bowl toilet). Annually averted O&M costs of Vietnamese latrines range from USD1.86 (VIP) to USD 4.58 (wet latrine with septic tank) per capita per year. Costs of hygienic latrines can be further reduced, applying solutions such as using local materials for construction, reducing the tank volume by using the water-saving flushing devices or applying more frequent tank emptying services and mass production of latrine components. The less a hygienic latrine costs, the more chance for poor people in different places can get access to improved sanitation

On-plot sanitation in low-income urban communities: a review of the literature

More than three hundred documents were examined in this review and material relevant to on-plot urban sanitation has been summarized in sections dealing with technical, health and social, and management matters. Alternative technologies are critically reviewed, with special attention given to the relative advantages and disadvantages of each option

A study on scaling up latrine and human excreta management in rural communities of Afghanistan

The overall objective of the study was to identify the trends of scaling up latrine construction and excreta management in rural communities of Afghanistan. A total of 418 households were visited and interviewed and 30 focus group discussions were conducted. The study found that a total of 93.6% of the households had some form of a latrine, of which 47.5% of the latrines were improved and newly constructed since 2010 and only 42% the observed latrines were hygienic or safe. Ninety per cent of the interviewees said that all members of the family are using the latrine all the time. Seventy percent of latrine owners bury excreta nearby lands or yard for awhile and then use it as fertilizer. Trends of latrine scaling up were occurred more in IDPs and returnees settlements

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene In Health Care Facilities: Status in Low- and Middle-income Countries and Way Forward

This report presents, for the first time, a global assessment of the extent to which health care facilities provide essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. Drawing on data from 54 low- and middle-income countries, this report finds that 38 percent lack access to even rudimentary levels of water. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, governments, and other partners must develop a global plan to address the pressing needs and ensure that all health care facilities have WASH services

User based perceptions of on-plot sanitation systems in low income urban communities in Africa and Asia

Rates of population growth in developing country cities are straining the capacity of sanitation service providers. In spite of widespread sector recognition of the need to adopt low-cost, people centred approaches, 80 per cent of investments in the water and sanitation sector continue to be allocated to high cost technologies for urban elites. Household level, on-plot sanitation systems potentially offer a solution to the sanitary needs of the urban poor. Nevertheless, commonly held assumptions amongst sector professionals that lower cost, on-plot systems are inappropriate and unacceptable in urban communities impede-their wider application. There is little empirical evidence to justify this position. The scope of this work examines the technical appropriateness and user acceptability of on-plot sanitation options. The thesis contributes to an improved understanding of the context in which on-plot systems operate, what factors constrain their application, and what issues need consideration when deciding on sanitary options in low-income communities. The research adopted a mix of methodological techniques to improve the reliability and validity of findings, with both quantitative and qualitative methods applied during fieldwork. Findings from Ghana, Mozambique and India are included in the thesis in order to permit sampling of key latrine types used internationally. The thesis concludes that user based perceptions of the performance and acceptability of on-plot systems varies markedly to those of sector professionals, particularly in relation to plot size, satisfaction levels and reasons for absence of household latrine. Furthermore, user based criteria of performance are developed for consideration practitioners when narrowing decision making on sanitary options. The implications of the study highlight the need for integration of user concerns into strategic planning for sanitation, more effective stimulation and negotiation of demand for sanitation systems and challenges for agencies in adopting a user oriented approach. The recommendations from the thesis include practitioner focused policy changes that affect project planning and support systems for user education. Potential areas of further research interest include ranking user perceptions, an holistic understanding of excreta management processes and institutional constraints affecting user-service provider consultations

Self-help incremental sanitary approach

Self-help incremental sanitary approac

Pit latrines and their impacts on groundwater quality: a systematic review.

BackgroundPit latrines are one of the most common human excreta disposal systems in low-income countries, and their use is on the rise as countries aim to meet the sanitation-related target of the Millennium Development Goals. There is concern, however, that discharges of chemical and microbial contaminants from pit latrines to groundwater may negatively affect human health.ObjectivesOur goals were to a) calculate global pit latrine coverage, b) systematically review empirical studies of the impacts of pit latrines on groundwater quality, c) evaluate latrine siting standards, and d) identify knowledge gaps regarding the potential for and consequences of groundwater contamination by latrines.MethodsWe used existing survey and population data to calculate global pit latrine coverage. We reviewed the scientific literature on the occurrence of contaminants originating from pit latrines and considered the factors affecting transport of these contaminants. Data were extracted from peer-reviewed articles, books, and reports identified using Web of ScienceSM, PubMed, Google, and document reference lists.DiscussionWe estimated that approximately 1.77 billion people use pit latrines as their primary means of sanitation. Studies of pit latrines and groundwater are limited and have generally focused on only a few indicator contaminants. Although groundwater contamination is frequently observed downstream of latrines, contaminant transport distances, recommendations based on empirical studies, and siting guidelines are variable and not well aligned with one another.ConclusionsIn order to improve environmental and human health, future research should examine a larger set of contextual variables, improve measurement approaches, and develop better criteria for siting pit latrines

Affordable sanitation for low-income communities

Affordable sanitation for low-income communitie

Appraisal of Existing Sanitation Technology in Nigeria; A Critical Review

The research was carried out in ten states of the country and the results from the communities revealed the backwardness in the provision of sustainable sanitation technology which indicates the whole Nigeria is still having great problem of sustainable sanitation There should be serious enlightenment campaign about sustainable sanitation technology within Nigeria while the provision of water by the government to all communities at considerable and affordable cost should be intensified There should be re-introduction of Public Health Workers in ascertaining provision of good sanitary technology just as in the 70 s Pre-site and post-site visit by the planners before and after given approval for any building to be constructed in Nigeria generally especially when the building is to be used for commercial or residential purpose