5.3 Case Study Current Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
5.4 Case Study Lessons Learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
5.5 Case Study Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
6 Conclusions and Next Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
7 Author Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Abstract This article provides an introduction to proper latrine project design in
rural communities. Latrines are usually the most appropriate sanitation technology
for rural villages. However, without an adequate understanding of proper design
standards and the village context, a latrine project can be a complete failure, with
community members returning to previous, unhealthy methods for sanitation. Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) has provided humanitarian engineering
services since 2001 in rural communities on infrastructure projects and has collected
many lessons learned to assist those in international development to complete
sustainable latrine projects which will effectively decrease waterborne and waterrelated illnesses in communities. These design standards and best practices are
included here for the benefit of rural villages and those who serve them. Additionally, a case study is provided with specific lessons learned from an EWB-USA
sanitation project in Kumbo, Cameroon, Western Africa. Both the overall and case
study lessons learned point to the need for early, thorough, and respectful village
engagement as well as thorough technical investigation of the water, soil, and current
sanitation practices in the community.
Keywords Engineers Without Borders USA · Humanitarian engineering service ·
Rural communities · Villages · Latrine technologies · Design · Calculations ·
Sanitation · Ventilated improved pit latrine · Pour-flush latrine · Composting latrine ·
Project categories · Lessons learned · Nongovernmental organization
Acronyms
EWB-USA Engineers Without Borders USA
NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations
O&M
Operation and maintenance
SDG
Sustainable Development Goals
UN
United Nations
UNDP
United Nations Development Program
VIP
Ventilated improved pit
WASH
Water, sanitation, and hygiene
38
J. Knight et al.
5.4 Case Study Lessons Learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
5.5 Case Study Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
6 Conclusions and Next Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
7 Author Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Abstract This article provides an introduction to proper latrine project design in
rural communities. Latrines are usually the most appropriate sanitation technology
for rural villages. However, without an adequate understanding of proper design
standards and the village context, a latrine project can be a complete failure, with
community members returning to previous, unhealthy methods for sanitation. Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) has provided humanitarian engineering
services since 2001 in rural communities on infrastructure projects and has collected
many lessons learned to assist those in international development to complete
sustainable latrine projects which will effectively decrease waterborne and waterrelated illnesses in communities. These design standards and best practices are
included here for the benefit of rural villages and those who serve them. Additionally, a case study is provided with specific lessons learned from an EWB-USA
sanitation project in Kumbo, Cameroon, Western Africa. Both the overall and case
study lessons learned point to the need for early, thorough, and respectful village
engagement as well as thorough technical investigation of the water, soil, and current
sanitation practices in the community.
Keywords Engineers Without Borders USA · Humanitarian engineering service ·
Rural communities · Villages · Latrine technologies · Design · Calculations ·
Sanitation · Ventilated improved pit latrine · Pour-flush latrine · Composting latrine ·
Project categories · Lessons learned · Nongovernmental organization
Acronyms
EWB-USA Engineers Without Borders USA
NGOs
Nongovernmental organizations
O&M
Operation and maintenance
SDG
Sustainable Development Goals
UN
United Nations
UNDP
United Nations Development Program
VIP
Ventilated improved pit
WASH
Water, sanitation, and hygiene
38
J. Knight et al.