Where does waste go? (defecation)

[Evan HarrisonParticipant]

When a person goes to the toilet where does the waste go? how do they handle their waste?

[Tom NguyenKeymaster]

Hi Evan (and team)

Like many other rural regions (including Australia and New Zealand), there may not always be a centralised gravity or pressurised sewer main network.

You’ll be able to see from the 360 interactives what a typical outdoor toilet (detached dwelling) looks like in Loidahar. These are typically manual flush toilets where users utilise a small bucket that scoops up water from an adjacent container.

Waste enters a pit attached to the toilet/latrine, where it anaerobically decomposes.

Affordable systems commonly found in rural Timor-Leste

Direct Pit Latrine: Squat slab directly above a single pit.
Offset Pit Latrine: Uses a short horizontal pipe or channel to connect the squat pan to a pit some distance away (can reduce odour and increase safety).
Pour-Flush Toilets: Squat pan with Septic Tanks or Soak Pits

You can research what kind of common materials are used in construction of these systems, as well as their estimated cost. Consider maintenance requirements for components of the system you’re designing.

Kind regards

EWB Challenge team

[Author]

Posts