and the Efficacy of Pit Latrine Additives - Water Research Commission

4.3.5.2 Measuring technique and equipment
For any field trial it is absolutely necessary that a standardised and reliable method of measuring pit content
volume is developed. It is proposed that the measuring system should have the following features:
the location coordinates of each latrine
the distance to top of heap
the shape of the heap
the design, size and condition of the latrine structure
The system should be objective, repeatable, hygienic, rapid, easily performed and should minimise manual
data logging. To this end, design of a "Faecometer" has been initiated.
The proposed instrument with data logging functionality should be mounted in a frame that can be
rested across the seat of a latrine pedestal and, by means of a laser measuring beam, the distance to
the top of the heap measured and recorded.
By pivoting the instrument and recording both the angle and distance to a lower point in the pit, it would
be possible to estimate the profile of the heap. Alternatively, by taking two photographs a known
distance apart, using automatic graphical analysis, the shape of the heap may be mathematically
defined, and the difference in volume easily calculated. (This graphical technique has already been
successfully developed in project K5/1629 for measuring the volume of contents of urine diversion toilet
vaults)
The incorporation of a GPS or GIS function would enable the position of each structure to be recorded
in a GIS database
4.3.5.3 Latrine Design and Construction
The poor condition and unhygienic state of pit latrines may be attributed, in part, to unsuitable design and/or
inferior materials and construction. From the pits observed in this study the focus of latrine design and
construction appears, understandably, to have been on cost and delivery concerns rather than fitness for
purpose.
The most frequently observed design and construction faults include gaps in the side, lid and vent pipe of the
pit, vent pipes that are too short, lack insect screens, drop into the pit or are easily removed, pedestals that
are porous (thus absorbing odour producing substances, especially urine), uncomfortable, don't close or
collapse into the pit, doors that don't fit, close or withstand corrosion, roofs that leak and cubicles that are too
small or have inappropriate layout and dimensions
4.3.5.4 User Education
The most important user impact influencing rate of accumulation of pit latrine contents is the non-faecal
additions to the vault or pit. These comprise anal cleansing material (newsprint is widely used), refuse and
additives such as Jeye's Fluid, insecticides and ash. Certain practices may be beneficial e.g. use of toilet
paper will contribute to extending the useful life of the pit, ash on the heap may reduce odours and fly
breeding, while some practices may be disadvantageous e.g. use of newsprint and plastic will reduce pit life
and disinfectants may inhibit biodegradation processes.
Fostering user ownership of sanitation facilities has been identified as an important means of reducing the
amount of non-faecal material in pits but there is a lack of consistency in this approach. Attempts to create
user ownership have included user education programs, a requirement for a cash contribution to
construction or sweat equity, but these initiatives may be undermined by conflicting political agendas
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