Sustainability and appropriate latrine designs-Some Notes By Dr.S.V.

Mapuskar Appa Patwardhan Safai w Paryawaran Tantraniketan Dehugaon, Tal: Haveli, Dist: Pune, Maharashtra-412109
SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA Sanitation is explained in dictionary as adoption of measures to eliminate unhealthy elements especially with regards to dirt and infections. Thus, adoption of these measures, a sanitation system, could be considered as comprising the uses of all parts of the system, along with collection, transport and treatment of human excreta, grey water, solid waste, industrial waste water and storm water and the management of resulting and products. This recognizes sanitation as being multi faceted and includes social, economical and logistical side along with the resource management. Thus, for sustainability, a holistic decision making process for sanitary provision is needed. Therefore a sustainable sanitary system should 1. protect and promote human health 2. Should not contribute to environmental degradation or depletion of the resource base. 3. should be technically and institutionally appropriate 4. should be economically viable 5. should be socially acceptable The basic or core consideration for sustainability criteria may be drawn up on this basis. As seen above, sanitation provision is multifaceted with following important criteria for sustainability I) Health 1. Risk of infection 2. Risk of exposure to hazardous substances II) Environmental 1. Use of natural resources for facility 2. Use of land for facility 3. Use of energy for facility 4. Construction material 5. Chemical 6. Fresh water 7. Discharge to water bodies 8. Discharge of hazardous substances 9. Air emissions 10. Contribution to global warming

11. Odour 12. Resource recovery III) Economic 1. Costs-capital 2. Costs- operation and maintenance 3. Capacity to pay- by user IV) Sociocultural 1. Willingness to pay 2. Convenience (Comfort, smell, noise, privacy, adaptability etc.) 3. Responsibility distribution 4. Acceptable for use and maintenance 5. Awareness and information needs. V) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Technical System robustness Robustness in use Local competence for construction Local competence for O & M Durability Complexity of construction and O & M Flexibility to user needs and environmental conditions.

PROMOTION OF SANITATION With these sustainability criteria in mind promotion of sanitation may involve following important aspects for implementation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Involvement and participation of community in planning and implementation Creation of Felt-need through awareness building and education Low cost appropriate technologies using local skills integration with other development activities Comprehensive sanitation programme planning Well planned implementation strategy

SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY In this paper we shall restrict our attention to mainly technological aspects of sanitation facilities which would in the long run be sustainable. In nature, nothing is a waste. Matter only changes form. Thus, waste is wealth. This is an important concept for selection of appropriate technology for management of waste.

Based on criteria for sustainability, some important parameters for selection of appropriate technology may be 1. Disease prevention 2. Environment friendly methods 3. Maximum population coverage from low income urban, periurban and rural population 4. On site to avoid transportation 5. Economic viability 6. Low capital and O & M cost 7. Financial benefits from resource recovery and recycling 8. Energy recovery 9. Production of fertilizers as end product 10. Suitability for levels of local skills available for installation and maintenance

SUITABILITY OF THE TREATMENT PROCESS

In India (for that matter, in tropical countries) natural biodegradation process is most suitable and appropriate for biodegradable waste, while recycling and reuse would be desirable for most of the non biodegradable waste. In nature, two biodegradation processes take place 1) Aerobic, where microbes degrade the substrate in presence of air, 2) Anaerobic, where microbes degrade the substrate in absence of air. Both these processes can be On site or Off site.

HUMAN EXCRETA MANAGEMENT

Human excreta management gets priority in sanitation programme as its improper management is a major cause for illnesses in the community. Appropriate technology selection for human excreta management will have to be especially based on sustainability criteria and appropriate technology selection parameters discussed above.

Selection of Technology
Can community Latrines be the solution? Probably not! Community Latrine is No bodys baby. As such, its O & M is always problematic. Therefore, latrine construction programme needs to be focused on individual families. The basic norm may be Each family should understand its own responsibility to manage its own waste and should adopt necessary measures accordingly. What comprises a Latrine? It has two components. One is where human excreta is managed and treated. Other is a superstructure. First component is most important. It has to be constructed properly from health and sustainability points of view. Superstructure can be adjusted to suit mainly financial requirements.

Minimum requirements for such a Latrine can be as follows1. Prevent spread of infection 2. Ecofriendly 3. Low cost 4. Easy for construction 5. Suitable for soil and climate 6. Odourless 7. Aesthetically good 8. Harmless to water sources 9. Faeces inaccessible to insects and animals 10. Keeping soil surface clean 11. Easy for maintenance 12. Produce fertilizer

Several technologies are at present available. Some of them are aerobic digestion based, some are anaerobic digestion based. AEROBIC DIGESTION BASED POUR FLUSH TWO PIT LATRINE TECHNOLOGY In most parts of India, pour flush two pit latrine with offset pits has been found to be suitable. In this design water seal trap and pan are used.

Two pit pour flush latrine design

In this design the shape of pit is shown as circular. Structurally circular pits are more stable than rectangular pits. Hence circular shape (hollow cylindrical) should always be preferred.

Preferable shape of pit circular and not rectangular Sizing of the pit is an important issue. Following parameters may be kept in mind for sizing of latrine leach pits. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Manurial residue per person per year is to 1 cubic foot One toilet seat for maximum 20 persons For digestive process availability of air from soil is up to a depth of 4 feet. A period of one year is necessary for pathogen kill in the pit. Distance between two pits may be about 3 feet. so that the maturing manure in closed pit would be dry and pathogen free.

Thus, for an average latrine the pit may have a depth of 4 feet and a diameter of 3 feet.This pit will last for about five yrs. for a family of five persons. Two pits will be used alternately, so that manure from full pit can be emptied after one year,when it will be pathogen free.

Methodology of construction of leach pit For leach pit work, honey combing is done.. 6 to 8 holes of 2 inches width are kept in alternate layers of brick work. In top 1 1/4 foot holes are not kept. Inlet pipe coming to pit is usually accommodated in upper one foot. Chamber intervenes between the toilet seat and the pit. The pipe from chamber to pit is given a slope of 1 ft. in 10 ft. length. The plinth of the seat is usually kept one foot higher than the top of the pit.

Difference in levels of pit top and plinth top indicating gradient for pipe slope

Appropriate Rural pan and trap For minimizing the use of flushing water, a pan with high gradient and trap with low water seal height are used. The sloping surface of the pan has an angle of 25 to 30 with the horizontal plane, while the water seal trap has a waterseal with 20 mm height. This reduces required quantity of flushing water to about one to two liters of water.

Comparison of urban and rural pan indicating angle of slope with horizontal plane

20mm. height waterseal trap

Important points to be remembered during construction Some important points to be noted during construction of pour flush two pit latrine are as follows1. Pit should be circular. The inner dia of pit may be about 3 ft., depth of pit should be about 4 ft. 2. Pit wall construction should be raised 3 inches above ground level. 3. Two pits to have intervening distance of 3 ft. 4. Pipeline from the pan to the pit should have a gradient pf 1:10 that is 1 ft. drop for 10 ft. 5. Top of the plinth should be 9 inches to 12 inches above the level of top of the pit 6. Bottom of the trap should be about 18 inches from the top of the plinth. However, this will depend on the total height of pan placed over the trap. 7. Surface in the chamber should be rounded off and polished with near cement. Turn in the chamber should be Y shaped. 8. Latrine pan floor should have around 25 to 30 angle with the horizontal plane. 9. Trap should have 20 mm. water seal. 10. Internal dia of pipe from chamber to pit should be about 100 mm. or 4 inches 11. Rear edge of pan should be 6 inches to 8 inches from the rear wall. 12. Seat floor should be sloping gradually towards the pan and should be finished in neat cement. 13. Foot rests should be rectangular. The distance between two foot rests may be around 10 inches 14. Cement stuck up on the inside surface of pan and trap should be thoroughly cleaned and the surface should be made smooth. Operation and maintenance guidelines Some important observation and maintenance guidelines for the user families may be1. Moisten the pan a little before use. This will reduce water required for flushing. 2. Use only water for cleaning seat. Do not use disinfectant or antiseptic. 3. Do not use excessive water. 4. When one pit is full, change the flow to second pit by opening chamber. 5. Keep the full pit closed for one year. Open it after one year and remove the fertilizer residue. 6. In case of blockage in trap, open the chamber also and remove the blockage by working from both sides of trap. After manure is matured, the pit can be opened and manure can be removed by the owner himself very easily. No outside help is required. Masons help may be required only for closing the pit again. The manure can be used on the agricultural land as fertilizer.

ANAEROBIC BIODEGRADATION PROCESSES SEPTIC TANK Septic tank is not a preferred option. However, if it is constructed, it should be constructed with correct design. It should have volume of 45 days HRT. Further, effluent should be managed in a leach pit. It should not be allowed to flow in open or in surface drain. Top of its vent pipe should be covered with nylon mesh to prevent entry of mosquitoes and flies

Design of septic tank

HRT TO BE 45 DAYS

ANAEROBIC BIODEGRADATION PROCESS-BIOGAS PLANT Biogas plant is a preferred option if anaerobic biodegradation is to be used,

Floating dome water jacketed biogas plant

Fixed dome Malaprabha Biogas plant Generally two designs. 1. Floating dome water jacketed biogas plant 2. Fixed dome Malaprabha biogas plant are two preferred designs. These plants should have 45 days HRT.