The VIP toilets were designed to make a 3–4 m deep pit into the ground, and on
the surface, a solid foundation is provided on which concrete slabs with appropriate
cement, aggregate, sand, and mixture interwoven with iron rods. In the process,
squatting holes are opened at specific locations as well as provision for the ventilation pipes. The slabs are made at appropriate sizes that allow transportation to
another site when the toilet is full. The walls are constructed without slits on the
walls and a roof provided. The ventilation pipe is then installed into the slab rising
above the roof hosting a fine wire mesh trap at the top surface with an elbow facing
sunrise direction. The doors are provided with shutters ensuring that the toilets are
kept shut when not in use to ensure a near dark interior of the toilet. Due to the
temperature difference between the cool air in the underground pit and the warmer
air at the top of the vent, an updraft is created and air in the vent pipe rises, which
evacuates odors from the interior of the toilet and dissipates them into the atmosphere. Once a fly ventures into the toilet, it will gain access to the interior through
the squatting hole, and the vent pipe will be the only source of light guiding it to go
out; the wire mesh will prevent the fly from leaving and it will die, thus preventing
transmission of disease from the fecal matter in the pit.
5.2 Case Study Implementation
Three toilets were constructed in public places with access to a majority of the
population: government primary school, Catholic primary school, and community
center. The chapter did not undertake a master plan exercise or even review the
proposed locations with the schools because when the chapter went to assess for the
project, they found 6-meter-deep pits already dug for the latrines, with planks being
the only protection against children falling in. For that reason, the chapter felt that the
appropriate thing to do was address the sanitation issue by building VIP latrines as
planned, but to build them over the existing trenches rather than over new pits. They
expected pushback to filling in the existing trenches and wanted to address the safety
hazard quickly, so using the pits seemed like the best thing to do under the
circumstances.
The location of government primary school latrine was not well reflected upon at
the time; with the improvement of school infrastructure, it was abandoned and
allowed to crumble on its own; meanwhile, the slabs are still intact. A similar toilet
was constructed (Fig. 2.2d) though not respecting the same technology by a contractor employed by the government.
The walls and roof of the toilet at the community center were constructed with old
and torn corrugated iron sheets (Fig. 2.9b) that allowed light to penetrate into the
toilets.
At the Catholic primary school, the toilet was well-located behind the school
buildings (Fig. 2.9a). The walls were partly made of cement and mud blocks, with
poor finishing at the level of the roof with multiple openings. The doors were void of
shutters.
56
J. Knight et al.
the surface, a solid foundation is provided on which concrete slabs with appropriate
cement, aggregate, sand, and mixture interwoven with iron rods. In the process,
squatting holes are opened at specific locations as well as provision for the ventilation pipes. The slabs are made at appropriate sizes that allow transportation to
another site when the toilet is full. The walls are constructed without slits on the
walls and a roof provided. The ventilation pipe is then installed into the slab rising
above the roof hosting a fine wire mesh trap at the top surface with an elbow facing
sunrise direction. The doors are provided with shutters ensuring that the toilets are
kept shut when not in use to ensure a near dark interior of the toilet. Due to the
temperature difference between the cool air in the underground pit and the warmer
air at the top of the vent, an updraft is created and air in the vent pipe rises, which
evacuates odors from the interior of the toilet and dissipates them into the atmosphere. Once a fly ventures into the toilet, it will gain access to the interior through
the squatting hole, and the vent pipe will be the only source of light guiding it to go
out; the wire mesh will prevent the fly from leaving and it will die, thus preventing
transmission of disease from the fecal matter in the pit.
5.2 Case Study Implementation
Three toilets were constructed in public places with access to a majority of the
population: government primary school, Catholic primary school, and community
center. The chapter did not undertake a master plan exercise or even review the
proposed locations with the schools because when the chapter went to assess for the
project, they found 6-meter-deep pits already dug for the latrines, with planks being
the only protection against children falling in. For that reason, the chapter felt that the
appropriate thing to do was address the sanitation issue by building VIP latrines as
planned, but to build them over the existing trenches rather than over new pits. They
expected pushback to filling in the existing trenches and wanted to address the safety
hazard quickly, so using the pits seemed like the best thing to do under the
circumstances.
The location of government primary school latrine was not well reflected upon at
the time; with the improvement of school infrastructure, it was abandoned and
allowed to crumble on its own; meanwhile, the slabs are still intact. A similar toilet
was constructed (Fig. 2.2d) though not respecting the same technology by a contractor employed by the government.
The walls and roof of the toilet at the community center were constructed with old
and torn corrugated iron sheets (Fig. 2.9b) that allowed light to penetrate into the
toilets.
At the Catholic primary school, the toilet was well-located behind the school
buildings (Fig. 2.9a). The walls were partly made of cement and mud blocks, with
poor finishing at the level of the roof with multiple openings. The doors were void of
shutters.
56
J. Knight et al.