Home  |  Faqs  |  Photo Gallery  |  Who is Who  |  Links  | Contact Us
Home » Initiatives » Ecological Sanitation
Initiatives

Ecological Sanitation Project in Tigani and Its Findings from Status survey

Introduction

The growth of population brings along many challenges. Yet humans have learnt to cope up with such challenges and at the same time translate them into opportunities. In this context a technology has been developed which not only tackles the problem of human excreta but also makes use of it. This simple technology is called ecological sanitation. In short also known as EcoSan, it is based on the principle of separating urine and faeces, which is then transformed into manure. This process not only allows for safe disposal of human excreta but also permits to produce qualitative manure for free and helps to create a healthy environment.

This technology is found to be in use in various parts of the world, developed appropriate to that particular place's environment and background. Even in Nepal various organisations involved in the promotion of sanitation have implemented programmes for people interested in communities to construct an EcoSan latrine, teach them about its use and the use of manure produced through it.

In the present context management of solid wastes and wastewater has proven to be very expensive. Thus, in such a case a simple technology like EcoSan has not only helped to simplify and cheapen the process of maintaining a balanced environment but also has supported to sustain personal and environmental sanitation. This technology shows great potential of increasing the fertility of agricultural lands. The use of EcoSan latrine has demonstrated that proper management of human wastes like faeces and urine can prove to be beneficial.

Objective of implementing EcoSan project

NEWAH's objectives of implementing the EcoSan project were as follows:

  1. To motivate users to use latrines by constructing five EcoSan latrines in the community
  2. To inform about the technology to various users
  3. To improve the health and hygiene behaviour and practices of the users
  4. To provide information to the users about the advantages and disadvantages of urine and faeces
  5. To help produce qualitative manure for free of cost

About the technology

EcoSan technology is based on separation of urine and faeces. Defecation and urination is done in separate holes. A polythene pipe is installed inside the latrine to let out gas and air. After defecating if ash, husk, wooden dust is sprinkled on top of the faeces then it prevents bad odor and flies. The mixture of faeces, ash, husk and wooden dust converts into manure within a few months time. Likewise, because of the presence of adequate proportion of protein and nitrogen required for plants in the urine, its use has great advantage for plants. Urine can be directly used in the plants.

Selecting the site

While selecting the site for EcoSan latrine construction, open area where there is thin human settlement is suitable. It is appropriate to construct EcoSan latrines in open fields where there is adequate sunshine. It is favorable to construct this type of latrine in farming communities where use of urine and faeces is a traditional practice.

Project site background

NEWAH for the first time in 2003 piloted a EcoSan programme in Bhaktapur district, Ward No. 3., Tigani, a Newari settlement inside Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, to promote good sanitation practices in the community. A majority of Newar families reside in the Tigani community located 8 Kms. East of Kathmandu. Though in many communities in Bhaktapur people still do not understand or speak the Nepali language, people from this community can speak Nepali properly. Only a few families here can afford to live on their income throughout the year while majority of them thrive on daily wages. Some women in the community weave carpets while the men sell the vegetables. Many housewives sell fried gram and peas to generate income.

NEWAH implemented the project with the financial support of DFID, Nepal in partnership with Grameen Bikas Samaj, (Rural Development Society, Nepal). The following criteria were considered for selecting the users of the project:

  1. farmers using urine and faeces as manure in the past
  2. possessing arable land to produce vegetables
  3. users willing to make the additional required contribution and contribute their labor for latrine construction
  4. people without a latrine at home
  5. having knowledge about EcoSan latrine

Who constructed an EcoSan latrine?

The people fulfilling the above-mentioned criteria were Ram Bahadur Rajbahak, Hari Chandra Rjabahak, Surya Maila Rajbahak, Jyapu Kancha Rajbahak, and Gorucha Rajbahak who constructed EcoSan latrines in their households. A total of 33 people belonging to these five households have benefited from the use of EcoSan latrine.

The construction work in Tigani community began from April 2003 and people started using the latrines from November 2003.

Project Implementation process

The project implementation process took place in the following manner:

  1. Project proposal received
  2. Discussion and coordination with community and partner organization
  3. Project agreement with community, partner organization and NEWAH
  4. Formation of users committee with Ms. Sharan Maya Rajbahak as the chairperson
  5. Opening of a joint bank account
  6. Technical and financial support from NEWAH was provided
  7. Discussion and coordination with partner organization and local level body (Municipality)
  8. Financial support received from the Municipality
  9. Completion of EcoSan latrine construction work
  10. Orientation to all the users about how to use the EcoSan latrine

Facilitators and helpers involved in construction work

The following individuals were actively involved in the construction work of the EcoSan latrines in their community:

  1. Sharan Maya Rajbahak, Chairperson, Users committee
  2. Kanchan Prajapati, Representative, Partner organization
  3. Mangal Das Duwal, NEWAH
  4. Dirgha Man Shrestha, Chairperson, Partner organization

Achievements

The latrines constructed under this project have been in appropriate use and the manure produced is being used in the fields. The users have gained knowledge about practicing proper hygiene behaviours after using the latrines and also have gained knowledge and skills about operation and maintenance of EcoSan latrines. It was observed that people were spreading messages in the neighborhood that through proper utilization of urine and faeces for manure production, it not only helps to maintain environmental sanitation but also increases productivity.



Advantages of EcoSan latrine

  1. Urine and faeces can be used to produce manure to be used in the vegetable garden
  2. It can be constructed on land that is difficult to dig or is hard
  3. This type of latrine is useful in places where there is inadequate water
  4. Small area is enough to construct this latrine
  5. No danger of children falling or slipping inside the latrine
  6. Able to take out manure when necessary

Disadvantages of EcoSan latrine

  1. Cost of construction slightly expensive than other latrines
  2. Need to be careful about not letting water into the urine and faeces chamber

Status survey results of the EcoSan latrines

Initially an impact study of the EcoSan programme was planned, however, only a year had passed since project completion, thus it was decided that a status survey rather than an impact study would be more appropriate. It was too early to conduct an impact study and difficult to see the impact of the EcoSan programme within a short period of time. The status survey supported by WaterAid Nepal was conducted by NEWAH Central Regional Office and it focused on assessing the use and sustainability of these latrines.

The survey results showed that, the latrines were prevalently found in use. The users were found to sprinkle ash on their faeces after latrine use. The users explained the use of ash for various purposes such as to dry the faeces, to reduce the smell and to prepare manure. Regarding the use of the EcoSan latrine 20% of the users revealed about being very satisfied about the technical aspects of the latrine while 80% revealed only being just satisfied, while cent percent revealed about being very satisfied about the place where the latrine was constructed.

Faeces chamber (75 square cm. filled up)

Regarding how long it took to fill up the latrine chambers the users reported that:
  1. 80% informed that their faeces chamber filled within four months
  2. 20% reported that because manure was not necessary for them that their faeces chamber had not filled up

During observation and when questioned the users informed that to produce manure quickly they had used more ash in the chamber. They took out the manure within the period of 1-7 days after the chamber filled up. To increase the amount of manure Ram Basu had allowed his neighbours to use his latrine as well.

Users' involvement in cleaning the EcoSan latrine

With regard to the users involvement in cleaning the latrines the survey results showed that:

  1. 25% of both female and male were involved in the cleanliness of the latrine
  2. 75% of female cleaned the latrine

Cost of construction for the five latrines: NRs. 1,12,736

  1. 58% of the cost through NEWAH's support NRs. 65,237
  2. 24% through users contribution NRs. 27,500
  3. 18% through the support of Municipality NRs. 20,000

Problems with EcoSan latrines and recommendations

The neighours did not have a positive outlook towards this latrine due to the odor that it spreads and urine was not being properly utilized.

Forty percent of users complained about difficulty in using the latrine, problems of flies and insects and suggested that if there was a single pan where urine and faeces would be separated then it would be more comfortable for them.

Hand washing practices after latrine use

The users reported the following hand washing trends:

  1. 80% used soap & water
  2. 20% used ash & water

The latrine was found useful to the low income farmers. However, as the initial cost of construction for this type of latrine is high, poor farmers cannot afford to bear the total cost of construction. But the long term impact of using this kind of latrine can turn out to be greater. The users reported to have not been affected by diarrhoeal disease or illness since the use of the EcoSan latrines. Qualitative vegetables were being produced through the use of manure prepared from the latrine.
Latest Updates

» View All  



© 2008 Nepal Water for Health. All Rights Reserved.