2.2 Project Variables of EWB-USA
We take into consideration several specific variables to ensure the project is built to
last. These are:
1. Program Scope. The community’s request might be for latrines, but there could
be other sources of waste and pollution or hygiene issues to address, such as gray
water, groundwater protection, trash, lack of handwashing, etc.
2. Education and Training. EWB-USA chapters are encouraged to work with public
health specialists, such as health delegates from the community or volunteers
from the United States, to collect data on the diseases present in the community
related to poor sanitation and hygiene. This information is used to create appropriate health education training programs and resources, as well as guide the
design of an appropriate infrastructure solution.
3. Gender Approach. We consider the safety of young women in the design of
sanitation facilities, such as distance from homes or schools and privacy. Women
could be at risk if they must travel long distances in isolated pathways by
themselves, even during the day. Women are included in design discussions
and operation and maintenance (O&M) trainings. Women will usually be the
ones to clean the sanitation facilities and will be directly affected by design
decisions.
4. Financing Strategies for On-Site Household Systems. Different strategies can be
used to help families pay for their sanitation facilities. In certain regions,
microfinancing institutions might offer loans for community members looking
to build or improve their sanitation systems. A revolving fund might help build
more latrines in large communities. The best strategy needs to be discussed and
agreed upon with the community before implementation.
3 Latrine Technologies
3.1 Introduction to Latrine Design
Many rural low-cost latrine designs exist from respectable organizations like the
United Nations (UN) Development Program [6], the World Bank [7], the Sphere
Project [8], the RedR [9], and the World Health Organization (WHO) [10]. This
basic introduction doesn’t look to add one more latrine design to the library but
rather to include a basic introduction of latrine design. Below is a list of information
that a team would look to compile to design a low-cost, effective, sustainable latrine
in a rural setting. These are minimum recommendations and specific projects may
include the need for additional requirements. For instance, to meet wastewater
treatment requirements for a specific country or region, additional design details
beyond what is explained here would be necessary.
42
J. Knight et al.
We take into consideration several specific variables to ensure the project is built to
last. These are:
1. Program Scope. The community’s request might be for latrines, but there could
be other sources of waste and pollution or hygiene issues to address, such as gray
water, groundwater protection, trash, lack of handwashing, etc.
2. Education and Training. EWB-USA chapters are encouraged to work with public
health specialists, such as health delegates from the community or volunteers
from the United States, to collect data on the diseases present in the community
related to poor sanitation and hygiene. This information is used to create appropriate health education training programs and resources, as well as guide the
design of an appropriate infrastructure solution.
3. Gender Approach. We consider the safety of young women in the design of
sanitation facilities, such as distance from homes or schools and privacy. Women
could be at risk if they must travel long distances in isolated pathways by
themselves, even during the day. Women are included in design discussions
and operation and maintenance (O&M) trainings. Women will usually be the
ones to clean the sanitation facilities and will be directly affected by design
decisions.
4. Financing Strategies for On-Site Household Systems. Different strategies can be
used to help families pay for their sanitation facilities. In certain regions,
microfinancing institutions might offer loans for community members looking
to build or improve their sanitation systems. A revolving fund might help build
more latrines in large communities. The best strategy needs to be discussed and
agreed upon with the community before implementation.
3 Latrine Technologies
3.1 Introduction to Latrine Design
Many rural low-cost latrine designs exist from respectable organizations like the
United Nations (UN) Development Program [6], the World Bank [7], the Sphere
Project [8], the RedR [9], and the World Health Organization (WHO) [10]. This
basic introduction doesn’t look to add one more latrine design to the library but
rather to include a basic introduction of latrine design. Below is a list of information
that a team would look to compile to design a low-cost, effective, sustainable latrine
in a rural setting. These are minimum recommendations and specific projects may
include the need for additional requirements. For instance, to meet wastewater
treatment requirements for a specific country or region, additional design details
beyond what is explained here would be necessary.
42
J. Knight et al.