Acknowledgement

Concep t , Scr ip t and Techn i ca l Suppo r t

M r . A r u m u g a m K a l i m u t h u Technical Advisor-Water Supply & Environmental Sanitation Plan International (India), New Delhi

Ed i ted by

M s . V e r i t y C o r b e t t | Programme Support Manager Plan International (India), New Delhi

P ic tures D rawn

C h i l d r e n in t h e T s u n a m i a f f e c t e d a r e a C. Ashok Kumar (16), V. Selvavlzhi (16) Manivannan (14), V. Jeyaveni (IS) Nagapattinam District, Tamilnadu, India.

Des ign and de ve l opmen t

M r . L . P e t e r Executive Secretary, Rural Education and Action for Liberation (REAL) Dindigul,Tamilnadu.

Fac i l i ta t ion ar t i s t

M r . A.J . K e n n e d y Drawing Master, !

Dindigul,Tamilnadu. ;

P r in ter

T a c t o G r a p h i c s Dindigul, Tamilnadu.

First Edition August 2006

No part of this book may be .sproduced in any form without the written permission of Plan International (India)

Content

Site Selection 5

Fixing the right dimensions 7

Fixing the layout & earth work 9

Construction of basement & lining of leach pit 10

Selection of Pan 13

Placing Pan, P-trap (water seal) and stoneware pipe 14

Sealing of joints 15

Floor finishing 18

Superstructure construction 19

How to use your toilet 20

Materials required 23

Do you

want to construct

an affordable &

cost effective latrine

in your house?

If your answer is

"Yes" read on!

a simple guide for the i-.ons traction of "afTurdubtc A cost effective" latrine

Is your house situated in a dry/semi arid climate region with no problem of water logging/shallow water table* (ground water table is not shallow i.e. less than 10ft)?

I f your answer is "Yes"

A leach pit toilet would

serve your needs ...

The procedure for construction of single leach pit pour flush toilet is very simple ...

just follow the steps narrated in the booklet ...

•Village/Area prone to water logging/shallow water table is usually situated in coastal belt, perennial rivcrbanks and valleys, in the project site, if the water level in a bore well/open well is less thai) 10 ft, it can be considered as water logging/shallow water table area. In such location, avoid leach pit toilet construction and promote EcoS;m,

a simple guide for the constnjt:l:ii)[i ol

post effective" latrine

Let us understand various parts (components) of a

single leach pit pour flush toilet

Ventilator

Runoff Buffer

a simple guide for f:h<! construction Of "drfcjrdi.ihtr: & cost err«[:i-iv(.i" latrine

Step Site Selection Proximity: As far as possible, the toilet should be located very near the house/residence for convenience. As shown in the figure, using an existing wall of your house would reduce construction cost.

Bath a t tached to i le t

J

w a l l

Site condition:

Avoid construction of leach pits in low-lying areas to prevent runoff water entering the leach pit.

a simple guide for the construction nf

"afforctobii! & cost effective" latrines

Permissible safe distance:

Maintain a safe distance between leach pit and drinking water sources.

Though safe distance between a leach pit and drinking water (ground water) sources varies from soil to soil, as a ruleofthumb...

L 9d (Ort 4 5 f t J J Hor izonta l d is tance "

^ Dr ink ing water source T o j | e t >

J j ^ N Ground level rr i

l «

>

m

1U-r

3d (o r ) 15f t . Vert ical d istan

Groundwater tab le |

- Leach p i t

e

! i i ' J D W . , *

Horizontal distance between the leach pit and water source can be 9 times the depth of leach pit (or approximately 40 feet).

Vertical distance between the leach pit bottom and ground water table should be 3 times the depth of leach pit (or approximately 15 ft).

g simple guide tor the construction of "affordable & cost effective" latrln«

Step Fixing the right dimensions Depending on space availability around your house and what you can afford, decide whether to construct just a toilet or bath with attached toilet for the sake of convenience.

Suggested size for only a toilet:

Leach pit inner diameter: 3ft. and height: over 6ft. Basement inner size: 3'6" x 3'6" (refer design)

PLAN

, 1:3:6 concrete Plastering

36" / 3inch CC/F$rro Cement Slat?

(slope 1:12 cm)

SECTION - AA

a simple guide for the construction nf "affordable; &

cost effective" latrine

Leach pit inner diameter: 3ft.; Leach pit height: over 6ft.; Basement

size: 7ft x 4ft (refer design).

Bath Attached Single Leach Pit Toilet Drawing

4V2 inch Honey comb brick work or CC rings

2 inch dia waste water pipe

' ^ X 9"

-1:3:6 Concrete Plastering

l y j l y j

° H

X

1 9"

- 36" H / 3inch COFerro Cement Stab |

,

-H 9" h-12" h-"H 15" !

PLAM

C.R. Masonry (CM 1:5}

Stoneware pipe __ (slope 1:12 cm) ->•'••-]*-

SECTION - AA

r Honey Comb

i 1 1:2:4 Cement Concrete viitii Smooth FTnisfliiig [ I i — Sand till!

-w 12" H-SECTION - I

Step Fixing the layout & earth work Using lime powder, mark the layout on the ground before earthwork.

After marking, excavate the soil for the basement foundation and leach pit. l - l1 /2 f t . deep pit is sufficient for basement foundation. The leach pit depth can be over 6ft.

« simple guide for the construe!ion ot

^affordable & cost ftlfective" latrine

Step 4 Construction of basement & lining of leach pit Use locally available construction materials for the basement and leach pit lining construction - mud or cement mortar can be used.

Materials normally used for basement construction are:

• Rough stone/boulders • Brick/fly ash brick • Hollow blocks/solid blocks

Materials that can be used for leach pit lining include:

• Rough stone/boulders • Brick/fly ash brick • Cement/ferrocement rings • Bamboo mats etc.

10 I a simple guide for | the construction at , affordable, i Si cost «fTt?i;tive" latrine

a Simple guide for the construction of

"affordable A cost effective" latrine 11

While constructing the leach pit, take care of the following:

• Weep holes or honeycomb arrangements in the lining of leach pits are to be made only below the topsoil level.

• The lining of the leach pit should be sealed completely bytopsoil if the formation isloose(max. upto2feet) .

• Raise the lining 3-6 inches above ground level to prevent runoff entry into the leach pit.

• Soil/stoneware pipe from the P-trap should extend well inside leach pit (minimum of 3 inches projection)

• Leach pit should be covered with RCC or ferrocement slab and sealed thoroughly.

• Do not provide a vent pipe to the leach pit like septic tanks.

- Top Soil (seal comple te ly )

Cover slab (seal proper ly)

Stoneware pipe (slope 1:12 cm)

Honey comb a r rangements

a simple gy]d« for the LL/'.'.'.-'i' V.on of "affordable & cost effective" lotrln*

Step 5 Selection of Pan There are two types of Indian water closets (pans) available in the market (footrest attached and without footrest attachment)

• Use a pan with the footrest attached to avoid construction faults wherever possible.

• For children toilets use small pans (20 inches size)

• For the convenience of physically challenged people use western type pans.

Various types of pans such as ceramic, mosaic, micro concrete and fibre/plastic are available in the market.

M.

a simple guide for the construction of

"affordable 4 cost effective" latrine 13

Step 6 Placing Pan, P-trap (water seal) and stoneware pipe Assembling of pan, p-trap and stoneware pipe is an important part of toilet construction. Use a sprit level to carefully level the pan and fix the P-trap to it. Fix the pan in such a way that the back edge of the pan is located at a distance 9 inches from backside wall of the toilet.

14 & simple guide for thp construction of "affordable & cost effective" la*rln»

Step 7 Sealing of joints The joints between the pan & p-trap and p-trap & stoneware pipe should be sealed properly to prevent any leakages. Wet cloths/gunny bags dipped in cement slurry can be used to seal these joints.

After fixing and sealing the joints, fill the basement with brick ballast and sand. Ensure tight packing around the pan assembly.

a simple guide for the construction of

"affordable & t o i l elective" latrine

15

While fixing the basin, proper alignment is essential. Avoid following mistakes.

Similarly, if you are fixing the footrests yourself, avoid the following construction faults.

Fixing the footrest wrongly makes use uncomfortable.

a simple guide for the construction of "zftorti'irjlc &

cost effective" latrine

Step 8

Floor finishing Floor finishing can be done with good cement mortar. Provide proper slope towards the pan. Please note that the top edges of the toilet pan should be below floor level.

18 a simple guide for the construction of "affordable & c:rwt effective" latrine

Step Superstructure construction Depending on what you can afford, select the right materials for the superstructure construction. Materials such as thatch, palm leaf, reeds, fertiliser/gunny bags, hollow blocks, solid blocks, bricks, ferrocementslab, etc., can all be used.

If your area receives normal rainfall and has no high raised buildings surrounding your toilet, roof cover for the toilet is not really necessary.

a simple guide for the construction of

"affordable & cost cffoctive" latrine

How to use your toilet

Before use, pour a litre of water to wet the pan.

Position yourself properly over the pan.

After defecation, flush the toi let. E n s u r e Feaca l matter passes into the water seal.

2 0 a simple guide for the construction nf "affordable: & cost effective" latrine

Wash your hands using soap, ash or mud.

Keep your toilet neat&clean

After use, keep the toilet door shut.

ft Mmpli guide for the Construction of "affordable 6.

cost effective" latrine

Please note

Do not put a vent pipe on your leach pit. The vent pipe is only needed for septic tanks and not for leach pits.

A deeper leach pit lasts longer than the shallow pit, it is advisable to go for a deeper pit (over 6 ft.)

A leach pit model is not advisable for water logged or w a t e r s c a r c i t y areas. In such condit ions, eco-san is a preferable design.

a simple guide far the c;on;;lTiit:ti<]" of "offordtiblc Ik cost effective" latrine

The construction materials required up to basement level for single toilet unit are:

Component Materials Required

Leach pit

Using cement rings: 6 rings of 3 ft. diameterand 1 ft. height

or

U s i n g h o n e y c o m b b r i c k construction: 225 bricks, 15kg cementand 0.7 eft. sand

Leach pit cover slab

6mm rod (steel) - 5kg, binding wire, cement 14kg, sand 0.7 eft and broken stone chips 1.41 eft.

Basement 550 bricks, cement 40 kg, 15 eft sand, 3.50cft brick ballest, 1 pan, 1 p-trap and 1 stoneware pipe.

a simple guide for tUft construction of

"affordable & cost effective" latrine

Cost Estimate Since materials cost varies from place to place, no cost details are incorporated in this booklet. Experience shows that a bath attached, thatched superstructure model costs around Rs. 1,250/- and bath attached hollow block model costs around Rs.2,500/-

24 a simple guide tor the construction of "affordable A co*,I *rieLtive" latrine

Plan Be a part of it.

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