Eco-toilet – An Ecological Sanitation Option for

Difficult Areas of Bangladesh (Practice)

Monirul Alam (UNICEF Bangladesh)S. A. Abdullah Al Mamun(Practical Action Bangladesh)

ASIA REGIONAL SANITATION AND HYGIENE PRACTITIONERS WORKSHOP

1st Feb 2012; BARC CDM, Dhaka

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The action research was implemented to try-out the feasibility of ecological sanitation in five types of geo-hydrologically difficult areas, characterised by:

water scarcity areas (hilly area); uneven land and clay soils in the Barind regions; flood prone areas with loamy soils; urban slums where there is insufficient land to apply

normal spacing criteria; and heavily water logged areas (6-9 months of the year) in

the low lying Haor Basin.

2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: OPTION DEVELOPED

Opt. Description Hilly Barind Tract

Flood Prone

Slum Haor

01 Fixed Chamber with Plastic Fibre Pan (FC+PFP) 02 Movable Plastic Drum with Plastic Fibre Pan (Single

Pan) (MPD+PFP)    

03 Movable Plastic Drum with High Commode (Single Pan) (MPD+HC)

     

04 Fixed Chamber with Modified Eco Pan (FC+MEP) 05 Fixed Chamber with Traditional EcoPan (FC+TEP)  

06 Movable Plastic Drum with Traditional EcoPan (MPD+TEP)

     

07 Elevated Movable Plastic Drum with RCC Column (EMPD+RCC)

     

08 Single Pit Urine Diversion Toilet (SPUD)    

09 Twin Pit Urine Diversion Toilet (TPUD)

10 Waste Concern Model with Urine Diversion Pan (WCM+UDP)

11 Community Based Urine Diversion Toilet with Biogas Plant (CUD+BGP)

Suitable option depending on site conditions 10 10 7 7 7

2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: COST SHARING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

• Implemented through a NGO consortium (Practical Action was the lead agency. SPACE, BASA and Commitment Consultant were among others)

• 11 low-cost, user-friendly options developed with provisional approval from DPHE (costing US$70-US$290). Users were free to choose options considering their affordability;

• 107 latrines piloted in difficult areas with cost sharing ranging from 10% to 40% depending on income level;

• The users, local masons, community leaders, PS & DPHE staff were trained on construction, use, and O&M.

• Developed entrepreneurship in ecopan making (Plastic Fiber)

2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: OPTION DEMONSTRATED (TYPE)

Opti

on 1

Opti

on 2

Opti

on 4

Opti

on 5

Opti

on 7

Opti

on 8

Opti

on 9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

47

8

13 14

1

9

15

Number of toilet options demonstrated

3. TESTING & MONITORING:

• The colour and odour of the compost are more or less acceptable;

• No pathogenic organism identified in bacteriological examination;

• Parasitological examination revealed that, if compost is not properly dried out, at least one type of parasite infectious to human health in each specimen; and

• Nutrient value of compost excreta revels existence of arsenic and cadmium are not at harmful level.

Pathogen test of composted faeces (by IEDCR) and nutrient analysis of urine (by the Dept. of Soil Water & Environment, DU

• To ensure application of ash after each defecation for attaining alkaline pH;

• The compost has to be dried;

• Storage of the compost for at least one month in airtight container may reduce the pathogenic load of parasites.

Recommendations on composted faeces by IEDCR

5. MAJOR CHALLENGES Construction cost????

Proper handling/use of urine & composted faeces

Land scarcity in urban slum;

Shifting 1800 for urination during menstruation;

Promotion of local Materials

Limited time for follow-up and monitoring.

6. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on option prepared for hard to reach areas, users choice and cost sharing, the following rank of options is identified:

Rank Option Name

1 Option 1: Fixed Chamber System Using Plastic Fibre Pan

2 Option 4: Fixed Chamber System Using Modified Traditional Eco Pan

3 Option 5: Fixed Chamber with Traditional EcoPan

4 Option 9: Twin Pit Urine Diversion Toilet

Potential to expand, especially in areas where conventional technologies are difficult;

Some of pilot areas can be used as demonstration centres and knowledge hubs for replication;

Continue development, testing and monitoring are essential.

Recommendations

7. Photo gallery: Innovation (small but beautiful and effective)

Eco Plastic Fiber Pan Urine Diversion Pan

Pre cast slab with Eco-pan

Pan Cover Handle

Ventilation and light facilities

Structural adjustment in the evaporation bed for menstrual hygiene management issue: still there is room for improvement

7. Photo gallery: Innovation (small but beautiful and effective)

Pictorial chart for use & maintenance

7. Photo gallery: Innovation (small but beautiful and effective)

Hand washing device

THANK YOU