Some terms we need to know

REFUSE:
Solid or semisolid waste matter produced in the normal course of
human activities. Generated from street sweepings, markets, stable
litter, industrial refuse, commercial refuse, etc.

RUBBISH:
Solid wastes originating in houses, commercial establishments,
industries, excluding garbage and ash.

GARBAGE:
Animal & vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, storage,
sale, preparation, cooking and serving of food.

ASH:
Residue from burning of wood, coal, charcoal and other
combustible materials used for cooking and heating purposes in
houses, industries etc.

EXCRETA

Spread of disease from excreta

Sanitation barrier

Methods of excreta disposal

INSANITARY METHODS
1. Open defecation
2. Conservancy system/Cartage

SANITARY METHODS
WATER CARRIAGE SYSTEM

Methods of excreta disposal

SANITARY METHODS
1. Pit latrine
2. Pour flush/Water seal latrine
3. Composting latrine
4. Aquaprivy
5. Septic Tank
6. Chemical closet
7. Biogas plant
8. Latrines suitable for
camps and temporary
use

INSANITARY METHODS OF EXCRETA

DISPOSAL

1. Open defecation

2. Cartage (Conservancy system)

Example: Bucket latrine
Disadvantages:
Smell
Flies
Health risk to people handling the
excreta
Health risk from food crops
fertilized with raw excreta
Bucket latrine

SANITARY METHODS OF EXCRETA

DISPOSAL

1. Simple pit latrine

Location of a pit latrine

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:
Easy and cheap to construct
Slab and shelter can be reused
Excreta are isolated

Disadvantages:
Unpleasant odors
Flies

1b. VIP latrine & 1c. ROEC

Ventilated Improved pit latrine

Reed Odorless Earth Closet

Ventilated Improved Pit Latrine

0.5 m

Semi dark
Shelter

Windshear effect drawing air up

the vent pipe

2. Pour Flush/Water-seal Latrine

Pour flush latrines use a pit for excreta disposal and
have a special pan provided with a water-seal of 2030 mm.
They need 1-3 liters of water for flushing each time
they are used.
Advantages:
No fly or smell problems
Easy maintenance

Disadvantages:
Water is needed for their operation
More expensive than pit latrines

Water seal latrine

The Water Seal

2. Direct & Indirect WS Latrine

Direct

Indirect

3. Composting Latrine
Composting latrines are shallow vaults, into
which excreta, kitchen waste and similar wastes
are added.
The waste & excreta breakdown together to
produce compost fertilizer.
Two shallow vaults are usually provided - when
one is full it is covered with soil and left for at
least two years compost.
The vaults must not receive water

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:
Does not need to be moved and
new vaults do not have to be dug.
Produces compost used as a
fertilizer
Disposes kitchen waste as well

Disadvantages:
More expensive and more difficult
to build than VIP or WS latrine

4. Aquaprivy

The aquaprivy is a water tight tank filled

with water into which excreta fall via a
drop pipe, connected to a seepage pit to
dispose of sullage and effluent.
Drop pipe must reach below surface of
the water.

The AQUAPRIVY

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:
Cannot be blocked with bulky anal cleaning
material
Nil problem with odor or flies
Can be connected to a sewerage system at
a later date

Disadvantages:
Expensive to build
Need large volumes of water to work
Water seal may be hard to maintain
Tanks must be emptied about every 3 years

5. Septic Tank

Septic tanks are watertight chambers

(single, double or multi chambered) which
receive excreta and wastewater.
They are connected to a soakaway which
receives liquid overflowing from the tank.

 Solids (sludge) settle down and are purified

Working of Septic Tank

by anaerobic digestion.
The liquids (effluent) undergoes aerobic
oxidation in the upper layers of the soil,
outside the septic tank proper.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:
Isolation and treatment of excreta
No odor or fly problems
May be connected to sewerage system at a
later date

Disadvantages:
High cost of construction
Need for periodic mechanical emptying
Need for large volumes of flushing water
Only suitable where flush toilets are used

7. Chemical closet
It consists of a metal tank containing a
disinfectant fluid (Formaldehyde). A seat with

cover is placed directly over the tank.

Water should not be thrown into the tank.

8. Biogas Plant

9ai. Shallow Trench latrine

Poles to attach
screening

Security screening

Trench depth
approx. 150 mm

Access path
Handwashing facility
Dug soil (for back filling)

Superstructure

5m

4m

1.5 m

Approx.
300mm

Plan View

9aii. Deep Trench latrine

Superstructure

II. SEWERED AREAS

WATER CARRIAGE SYSTEM:

Its collecting & transporting of human excreta & waste water by a
network of sewers to the place of ultimate disposal.
There are 2 types of carriage system:
i.The combined sewer system: (sewage & surface water)
ii.The seperate sewer system: (sewage)

A Water Carriage System consists

of the following elements:
1.

HOUSEHOLD SANITARY FITTINGS:

The usual household sanitary fittings:
i.Water closet,
ii.Urinal, &
iii.Wash basin.

i.

WATER CLOSETS:

2 types: Indian Squatting type & Western Commode

type.

The water closets are provided with a flushing rim.

The closet is connected to a cistern by a pipe 2.53.75cm in diameter.

The flushing cistern normally holds 15 l of water

 For efficient performance of water closet:

-Water seal area should not be more than 7.5 cm.
-There should not be any sharp corners in the trap.
-The volume of water should not exceed 1.75 l to
maintain a minimum of 50 mm deep water seal.
-The interior of the bowl should be vertical atleast
50-75 mm just above the surface of water seal.

2.HOUSE DRAIN:
10 cm in diameter & is laid in the courtyard about 15 cm below the
ground level.
The house drain empties the sewage into the main sewer.

3.PUBLIC SEWER:
Not less than 22.5 cm in diameter, bigger ones may be 2-3 m in
diameter.
Laid 3 m below ground level with self cleansing velocity of 2-3 feet per
second.

4. SEWER APPURTANCES:
These are manholes & traps.
Manholes are placed:
i. whenever there is a change in direction of
sewer.s
ii. at the meeting point of 2 or more sewers.
iii. at distance of 100 m in long straight runs.

 Traps are placed in 3 situation:

i. Under the basin of water closet
ii. Where the house drain joins the public
drain
iii. Where surface wastes water enters
the drain.