ExcretaDisposal

Facilitator:

Dr.NAVPREET
AssistantProfessor,DepartmentofCommunityMedicine
Govt.MedicalCollege&Hospital,Chandigarh.

SpecificLearningObjectives
At the end of session, the learner shall be able to
knowabout:
Importanceofhumanexcretadisposal
Variousmethodsofhumanexcretadisposal
Advantages & constraints of various methods of
humanexcretadisposal.

Introduction
Humanexcretaisasourceofinfection.
Improper excreta disposal has various health
hazards.
Soil pollution, water pollution, diseases spread by fecal
oralroute

Disposal of human excreta assumes greater

importance.

InIndia
69%goforopenfielddefecation.
21%useimprovedsanitationfacilities
ensurehygienicseparationofhumanexcretafromhuman
contact
e.g.flush/pourflushtopipedsewersystemorseptictank,
Ventilatedimprovedpitlatrine,Pitlatrinewithslab

10%usesharedandunimprovedsanitationfacilities.
donotensurehygienicseparation of human excreta from
humancontact
e.g.pitlatrineswithoutaslab,bucketlatrines

SanitationBarrier

Methodsofexcretadisposal
I.Unseweredareas
1.Servicetypelatrines(ConservancySystem)
2.Nonservicetype(Sanitarylatrines)
a) Boreholelatrine
b) DugwellorPitlatrine
c) Watersealtypeoflatrines(PRAI,RCA,SulabhShauchalaya)
d) Septictank
e) Aquaprivy
3.Latrinesuitableforcampsandtemporaryuse
a) Shallowtrenchlatrine
b) Deeptrenchlatrine
c) Pitlatrine
d) Boreholelatrine

Methodsofexcretadisposal
II.SeweredAreas
WatercarriagesystemandSewageTreatment
a) Primarytreatment
b) Secondarytreatment
c) Other methods (Oxidation pond, sea outfall, river outfall,
sewagefarming)

Openfielddefecation
Never be accepted as a satisfactory system of
excretadisposal
Mightbeinevitableincertaincircumstances.
theonlyoption(foradisplacedpopulationindisaster)in
the initial phase and might work well for 24 to 48 hrs,
provided appropriate facilities of open defecation areas
aresetup.

 Inthesesituations,
Clearlydemarcatedopendefecationareas
Theprinciplesofhygienemustbekeptinmind
The method must be followed for as short a period
aspossible.
The community must be encouraged to use better
alternatives.

ServiceTypeLatrines(ConservancySystem)
Night soil is removed by a human agency using a
bucket.
Nightsoilistransportedinbucketsontheheadorin
nightsoilcartsmanuallytoadisposalsite.
Disposalmaybedonethroughdumping,composting
orburialbyshallowtrenching.

 Totallyunacceptable
humandignity.
hygienepointofview.

Filthyandinsanitary.
Night soil lying at home awaiting disposal stinks and
attractsflies.
Thecollection,transportanddisposalofnightsoil,all
perpetuatetheinfectioncycle.
Absenceofmanpowerforthisjobputsthesystemto
ahalt.

 It was recommended by the Environmental Hygiene

Committee, in 1949, that service areas must be
replacedbysanitarylatrines.
The founder of Sulabh International, Dr B Dubey,
alsotookuptheissueinabigway.
Heshowedthewayforwardbyalmostrevolutionizingthe
sewage disposal to eliminate human carriage of night soil
andinstallinglowcostsanitarylatrinesinstead.

ShallowTrenchLatrines
2030cm(aboutafoot)wide
1530cm(about 1foot)deep.
Thetrenchfieldcanbedividedinto
strips1.5mwidewithaccesspaths.
Dug in parallel with an interval of
at least 60 cm in between two
trenches.

The earth removed should be

neatly piled at its head end
which could be used to cover
the excreta by each user, and
subsequentlytofillthetrench.

 The issue of privacy is also important. Plastic

sheeting, bamboomat etc. can be used to make
walls.
Thetrenchisusedbysquattingastrideit,withafoot
oneithersideandnotbothfeetonthesameside.
After defecation the excreta must be covered by
earthwithascoop.

ShallowTrenchLatrines
Advantages:
Itisrapidtoimplement.
Faecescanbecoveredeasilywithsoil.
Constraints:
Limited privacy, short life and requirement of
considerablespacearesomeoftheconstraints.
Fly breeding occurs if excreta is not covered with
earth.

DeepTrenchLatrines
Maximumlengthoftrench
is6m,providingsixcubicles.
0.81mwide,3.75mlong
and22.75mdeep.
Canbeusedby100people
forfewmonths.

DeepTrenchLatrines
Advantages:
Itischeapandquicktoconstruct;
Nowaterisneededforoperation.
Itiseasilyunderstoodbythecommunity.
Constraints:
Unsuitable where watertable is high, soil is too
unstabletodigorgroundisveryrocky;
Oftenodourproblems;
Cleaning and maintenance of communal trench
latrinesareoftenpoorlydonebyusers.

ImprovisedDeepTrenchLatrine
An improvisation of Deep Trench Latrine may be
carriedoutbyplacingtheseatsfittedwithmodified
water closets, 1.5m in front of the long edge of the
trench.
The seats are fitted with a water seal (bend pipe)
whichisconnectedtoapipeleadingintothetrench.
Smallquantityofwater(2.5to3liters)issufficientto
flushtheseatsaftereachuse.
Theexcretaisflushedthroughsewagepipesintothe
trench.

 This type of latrine, therefore, is more hygienic and

acceptable.
It is similar in principle to the hand flushed water
seallatrine.
Thewatersealpreventsaccesstofliesbysealingoff
thenightsoilandescapeoffoulgases.

SimplePitLatrines(DugWellLatrine)
The pit should be as deep as
possible(atleast2mindepth)
Coveredbyaslab.
Ifthesoilisloose,atleastthetop
1m of the pit should be lined to
preventcollapse.
Asquatordropholeisprovidedin
theslabwhichallowsexcretatofall
directlyintothepit.
Firmly supported on all sides and
raised above the surrounding
ground level to prevent surface
waterenteringthepit.
The superstructure can be made
frommaterialsavailablelocally.

SimplePitLatrines(DugWellLatrine)
Advantages:
Itischeap;
Quicktoconstruct;
Nowaterneededforoperation.
Constraints:
It is unsuitable where watertable is high, soil is too
unstabletodigorgroundisveryrocky;
Oftenodourproblems

ImprovisedPitLatrine
V.I.P.(VentilatedImprovedPit)
Latrine
This latrine is an improved pit latrine
designedtominimizeodourandflies.
A vent pipe covered with a gauze mesh
or fly proof netting extending at least
0.5m above the superstructure roof is
incorporated.
Airshouldbeabletoflowfreelythrough
the squat hole and vent pipe; therefore
nodropholecoverisrequired.
The superstructure interior is kept
reasonably dark to deter flies, but there
should be a gap, usually above the door,
toallowairtoenter

ImprovisedPitLatrine
(TheVentilatedImprovedPitLatrine)
Advantages:
Reducedodour&fliesandgoodresults.
Constraints:
Difficult and expensive and time consuming to
constructproperly;
Dark interior may deter young children from use;
doesnotdetermosquitoes.

BoreholeLatrines
Boreholelatrinesaremostappropriatein
situations where a large number of
latrinesmustbe constructedrapidly,and
wherepitsaredifficulttoexcavate,either
because of ground conditions or the lack
ofalabourforce.
The borehole has a typical diameter of
400mmandadepthof510m.Atleastthe
top0.5mshouldbelined.
Lastfor(afamilyof)5peoplefor2years.

BoreholeLatrines

Advantages:
Theboreholecanbeexcavatedquickly;
Suitable in hard ground conditions and appropriate where
onlyasmallworkforceisavailable.
Constraints:
Drilling equipmentisrequired;
There is a greater risk of groundwater pollution due to
greaterdepththanpitlatrines;
Lifespan is short; sides are liable to be fouled, causing odour
and attracting flies; and there is a high likelihood of
blockages.
This option should only be considered in extreme conditions
whenpitexcavationisnotpossible.

PourFlushLatrines
(WaterSealLatrines)
Pourflush(handflushorwaterseal)latrineisavery
hygienicmodeofexcretadisposal.
Itfunctionsontheprincipleofawaterseal.
Water acts as a hygienic seal and helps remove
excretatoawetordrydisposalsystem.
The simplest pourflush latrines use a latrine pan
incorporating a shallow Ubend which retains the
water (waterseal).

 After defecation, a few litres of water must be thrown into

thebowlinordertoflushtheexcretaintothepitorsewerage
systembelow.
Theamountofwaterrequiredtoflushthesystemwilldepend
onthetypeandsizeofthewatersealconstruction.
90mmUbendnormallyrequires23litrestoflusheffectively
120mmUbendgenerallyrequires45litrestoflush.
These quantities are significantly less than the amount
requiredtoflushmostwesternwaterclosettoiletswhichmay
useasmuchas15litresperflush.

PourFlushLatrines(WaterSealLatrines)

Pourflushlatrinesmaybeconstructeddirectlyaboveapitor
maybeoffsetwherebythewastetravelsthroughadischarge
pipetoapitorseptictank

PourFlushLatrines(WaterSealLatrines)
Advantages:
Lackofodour;
Relativelylesswaterisusedup.
Itisidealwherewaterisusedforanalcleansing;

Easytoclean;
Offset design does not require a selfsupporting
latrineslab.
Constraints:
Solidanalcleansingmaterialsmaycauseblockage;
Moreexpensivethansimplepitlatrines.

Variants
Several designs have been tried and are in use.
Noteworthyofthesearethosemadeby:
Planning Research and Action Institute (PRAI),
Lucknow
Research cum Action Project (RCA), Ministry of
Health.
TheRCAlatrineiswidelyinuse.

DesignofaRCALatrine
TheRCAlatrinecomprisesofasquattingplate,made
ofanimperviousmateriallikecementconcrete.
Thisiseasytocleanandmaintain.
Raisedfootstepsareincludedinthesquattingplate.
There is a pan directly underneath the squatting
plate.Thepanreceivesthenightsoil.
Panisconnectedtothetrap,whichisabentpipe.

RCALatrine
Thetrapholdswaterandservesasawaterseal.
Thedepthofthewatersealis2cm.
Thetrapisconnectedtothepitthroughaconnectingpipe.

When the pit fills up another one can be dug up and pipe may be
accordinglyshifted.
Thepitcanalsobemadedirectlyunderneaththepan.
Anappropriatesuperstructurecanbemade.

 Itiseasytomaintainthelatrine.
Latrineishandflushedbypouring1to2litofwater
everytimethelatrineisused.
The squatting plate should also be washed clean
everyday.
Water seal prevents access to flies and avoids
releaseofodour.

SepticTank
Anidealsystemforhygienicfinaldisposalofexcreta
intheabsenceofacentralseweragesystem.
Excreta from many pourflush latrines can be discharged
intoaseptictank.

Designed to collect and treat excreta and toilet

wastewater.
Useislikelytobeappropriatewhere
the volume of wastewater produced is too large for
disposalinpitlatrines,
waterbornesewerageisuneconomicorunaffordable.

 Particularly suited to systems involving high water

use, especially where water is used for flushing and
analcleansing.
Difficulttomanageforverylargepopulations
Best suited to single households or a group of
households or institutions such as hospitals or
schools.
The efficiency of a septic tank system is inferior to
thesewageworksbutismuchcheaper,quickerand
easiertoprovideandmaintainthansewageworks.

DesignandConstruction
Septictankconsistsofanundergroundconcretetank
usuallydoublechambered.
The latrines should preferably be grouped together
withoneormoretanksplacedclosetoagroup.
The sewers leading from the latrines to the tanks
should have manholes at every 100m and at every
changeofdirection.
Twoormoremediumsizedtanksarrangedinparallel
insteadofonelargetankarepreferable
facilitate removal of sludge without disturbing the
functioningofthesystem.

SepticTank
Capacity of tank: 2030 gallons per
userwithaminimumsizeof3mx3m
(500gallons).
1.5to2mdeep.
Minimumairspaceof30cmabove
theliquidlevel.
The septic tank is covered by a
concreteslabwithamanholeinit.

Theaerationchambershouldbeventilated.
Theinletandexitpipestothetankshouldbetrapped.
Theeffluentmaybedisposedintoasoakwell

Functioning
The septic tank functions by the biological process of
anaerobic and aerobic digestion (single vs. double
chamberedseptictank).
Thecrudesewageonentrytoanaerobicchamberallowedto
stand for 2 to 3 days and is acted upon by the anaerobic
microorganisms.
Apartiallydigestedcolloidalsolutionisformed.
The complete oxidation and mineralization of the colloidal
matter is carried out by the aerobic microorganisms in the
aerobicchamber.
Theeffluentlosesmostofitsoffensivesmell.
Themineralsareabsorbedfromthesoilbytheplants.

Maintenance
The operation and maintenance of a septic tank is
simple.
To commission a septic tank it has to be first filled
with water and then seeded with a bucketful of
sludgefromanothertank.
Notlessthan25liter ofwaterperdayperusermust
enterthetank.
Useofsoapwaterandchemicalsshouldbeavoided.
Sludge from the tank is to be bailed out once in a
yearortwo.

 Routine inspection is necessary to check whether

desludging is needed, and to ensure that there are
noblockagesattheinletoroutlet.
A simple rule is to desludge when solids occupy
between onehalf and twothirds of the total depth
between the water level and bottom of the water
tank.

CommunalAquaPrivies
An aquaprivy is a latrine constructed directly above
aseptictank.
Aquaprivies are appropriate where pit latrines are
unacceptable.
The amount of water required for flushing is much
smaller than for a septictank due to the location of
thetank.
Ithelpstoexcludeodoursfromthesuperstructure.
Notmorethanfourfamiliesperlatrine.

 Advantages:
Reduced odour; ideal where water is used for anal
cleansing;easytoclean.
Constraints:
Increased quantity of water required; solid
analcleansing materials may cause blockages; more
expensive and difficult to construct than simple pit
latrines.

SulabhShauchalaya
TheconceptwasintroducedbyDr.B.Dubey.
He modified the standard hand flush latrine to suit rural
Indiancommunity.
Itconsistsofaspeciallydesignedpanandawatersealtrap.
Itisconnectedtoapit3x3x3feet.
Minimalwaterisneededintheprocess.
Theexcretagetsdecomposedtomanureinthepit.
This provides clean and sanitary toilets to the users at a
minimalcost.
ThesearealsomaintainedbytheSulabhInternationalsociety.

ChemicalToilets
Chemicaltoiletsaresanitationunitsthatconsistofasquatting
pan placed above a watertight excretaholding tank, which
usually contains a chemical solution (formaldehyde, etc) to
aiddigestionandreduceodour.
This is contained in a single prefabricated plastic unit with a
lockabledoor.
These can be adopted as temporary solutions where pit
latrines or septic tanks are unsuitable or unacceptable, as in
aircraftsortrains.
Theinitialchargeofchemicalisadequatefor40to160uses.

 Uses:
These are used in aircrafts and as a short term
measureindisasters,etc.
Advantages:
Portable; hygienic; minimized odour; can be
mobilizedrapidly.
Constraints:
High cost; unsustainable for long periods; regular
servicingandemptyingrequired.

Watercarriagesystem
Usefulforlargeresidentialandcommercial.
The human excreta and waste water are carried
away by a network of underground pipes called
sewerstotheultimatedisposalsite.
UsedforthefirsttimeinCalcutta(inIndia)in1867.
But even today, unfortunately not more than 20
percentoftheurbanareasinIndiacan boast of this
methodofsewagedisposal.

 Laying down such a system is infrastructure and

capitalintensive.
Itamountstodigginguplanesandbylanes.
Skilledmanpowerisamusttoestablishthesystem.
Pipedwatersupplyismandatorytorunthesystem.
On going maintenance has to be done to keep the
pipesgoing.
Theidealsystemofsewagedisposalinlargecities.

Classification
Twotypesofseweragesystems:
Thecombinedsystem
Carriesbothsewageandstormwaterinthesamesewage
line.

Theseparatesystem.
Thesurfacewaterisnotadmittedintothesewers.
Thesystemofchoice.

Components
(a)HouseholdSanitaryFittings:
Theseincludewaterclosets,urinals,washbasins,bathtubs
alongwiththeirplumbingsystems.

(b)SoilPipes:
These are pipelines, which carry excreta from the water
closetstothehousedrain.
They are fitted with outlet ventilators for the escape of
foulgasesandhenceareplacedoutsidealongrearwallsof
thehousesandarecarriedabovetherooftops.

 (c)HouseDrains:
Itisanundergroundironorstonewarepipeusuallyof10cm
diameterandislaidinthecourtyard15cmbelowtheground
level on a bed of cement concrete mix with sufficient
gradienttowardsthepublicsewer.
It carries away the discharges from the household sanitary
fittingstothestreetsewers.

(d)PublicSewer:
It is a network of underground pipelines varying in diameter
from 22 cm to 3 m for carriage of sewage from domestic,
industrialandcommercialareastotheplaceoffinaldisposal.
Whilelayingthepipelinessufficientgradientistobeensured
forselfcleansingvelocityofsewage.
Thisvelocityvariesfrom60cmto90cmpersecond.

 (e)SewerAppurtenances:
(i)Manholes:
Manholesaretheopeningsbuiltinsewersforthepurposesofrepairsand
cleaning.
They are placed wherever there is change in the direction of sewers, at
thejunctionoftwoormoresewersandatadistanceof100metersinthe
long,straightrunofthesewers.
Workers entering manholes are at a risk of gas poisoning and
asphyxiation;sodueprecautionsmustbetakenwhileenteringthem.

(ii)Traps:
Trapsaredevicesdesignedtoprevententryoffoulgasesinside thehouse
andtoremovesand,grit,greaseetc.fromsewage.
Traps are placed at three points (1) under the water closet, (2) at the
junction of the house drain and the street sewer and (3) where the
surfacewaterentersthesewers.

Greentoilets
ResearchDesignandStandardsOrganisation(RDSO)
A green toilet may be defined as the toilet system,
which discharges effluent according to the
environmentalnorms.
The system is also known as 'environment friendly
toiletsystem'(EFTS).
The green toilets aim at zerodefecation on the
ground.
This will improve level of cleanliness at stations,
reduce corrosion of rails and rail fittings and
consumptionofwater.
This will ensure better cleanliness and hygiene of
coaches.

 Indian railways is in the process of developing two

typesoftheEFTS:
TheBiotoiletsystem:
humanwasteisconvertedintoliquidandgases.
The gases get mixed with air and liquid is discharged on
thetrack.

TheZerodischargesystem:
solid and liquid waste is separated using special type of
solidliquid separator, the liquid is recycled after proper
treatmentandwasteisconvertedintomanure.

Matchthefollowing
Populationgroupwithmostsuitablemethodofsewagedisposal
1.Jointfamilyinavillage

(a)Trenchlatrine

2.Largecity

(b)Septictank

3.Groupof20households

(c)Watercarriagesystem

4.Temporarycamp

(d)Pourflushlatrine

5.Familyinatown

(e)Biogasplant

TakeHomeMessage
Effectiveandhygienicdisposalofexcretaisasocialneed
aswellashealthneed.
Open defecation might still be a preferred method in
manyruralareas.
In the areas without sewage system, simple pit latrines
and bore hole can be used but the pour flush latrine is
theidealone.
Trench latrines can be used for camps for short
durations.
Septictankisasuitablemethodoffinaldisposalofnight
soil.
Water carriage system is the ideal system of sewage
disposal.