Start Date: 2012-09-01

Completion Date: 2012-12-01

Technology Used:

The ecological latrine is unique in that it built above ground and does not require plumbing or water for usage. The bathroom is built on top of a double vault system (the chambers are divided by a thick cement wall), with one chamber in use at any given time. A toilet seat with two holes separates urine from fecal matter. Only fecal matter enters the disposal chamber where it is contained. When the chamber fills, the toilet seat is moved to the second chamber and fecal matter in the first chamber begins the composting process. When the second chamber is filled, compost from the first chamber is removed, and the process starts over. After each use of the latrine, dry material (ash or lime) is added to prevent odor, repel bugs and support decomposition. Toilet paper can be thrown into the latrine and will not disrupt decomposition. The process of alternating usage of the pits and excavating compost must be maintained for the toilet to function and be sustainable. The above-ground model eliminates risk of fecal matter leaking into ground water.

The toilet of an ecological toilet looks similar to a traditional toilet; however the bowl is divided into a small front hole for the urine and a larger rear hole for the fecal matter. The urine leaves the bathroom structure through a tube (most often buried under the ground a few meters away from the latrine), while the fecal matter falls directly into the chamber. There is a round hole built into the top side of each chamber creating two holes in the cement floor of the bathroom. The base of the cement toilet fits directly into the hole of the chamber that is in use, allowing the fecal matter to fall into the chamber. The second chamber not in use is covered by a small cement top.

Prior to initiating the project Etta Projects visited over eight villages throughout the municipalities of Savvedra and San Pedro to evaluate the sustainability and impact of the project. The most prevalent challenge was the cement toilet seat. Participants of these past project complained of the toilets’ heavy weight and fragile material. We observed many broken toilets as well as toilets with cracks.

Our team was determined to design a new toilet that was lighter and more durable. We accomplished this, through the design of a metal insert described above. Despite the benefits of the actual design, the material used proved to lack sustainability.

Project staff consulted with various experts to investigate options to replace the metal insert. Our combined efforts led us to a new model that utilizes the same concept as the current model, but replaces the metal inserts with a new insert made out of fiber glass and dipped in plastic. The total cost of the new insert is $55 per latrine. The company Industrias SER located in Parque Industrial Manzana in the city of Santa Cruz is manufacturing the new toilet insert. They provided us with a guarantee of ten years.

In March of 2012, Etta Projects purchased inserts for six families in the village Paisaje. Since then, we have been doing continual monitoring and evaluation. Thus far the new model has proven to be sustainable showing no signs of deterioration. This project requests the purchase of 63 more latrines so that all 69 families can have a sustainable toilet.

Phases:

Yes, the project will be done in one phase.

Community Organization:

The first component of the latrine project in each community was to raise public awareness of the project and organize within the community. In each of the communities meetings were held with the members of the village, during which sanitation and health topics were discussed, such as “water related illnesses” and “The danger of excrement”. These meetings were designed to demonstrate and underline the importance of implementing an adequate sanitation system, with the end result of improving the level of personal health and hygiene.

The workshops achieved their objective, and the population actively supported the implementation of an adequate sanitation system for eliminating fecal matter.

In the second series of workshops two themes were touched upon: “Different options for an adequate sanitation system” and “The Benefits of dry ecological bathrooms.” The families understood the benefits and elected to move forward with the project. Families began to organize and sign up to participate in the project.

Sanitation Promoters were elected from the community by the community. These Sanitation Promoters led and directed the entire project, including training workshops and monitoring & evaluation activities. The promoters received training and motivation that will allow them to continue driving the Project once it is over. Throughout the project they made household visits with the families to provide and reinforce the sanitation training. They also used a stoplight system (categories green, yellow and red) to monitor of correct usage and maintenance of the ecological bathrooms.

The Second Phase of the Project was the self-construction of the ecological bathrooms. Construction staff met with the chosen families in each of the four communities to explain the process of constructing the bathrooms.

The constructions began in the village of Paisaje in the Municipality of Warnes and laster moved to the peri-urban neighborhood in Montero; Rodeo, Paraíso and Litoral. The ecological bathrooms were built in phases with the participation and help of each family. This allowed them to put into practice what they had learned during the construction workshops, and understand how the bathrooms were built in order to later be capable of carrying out adequate maintenance of the bathrooms when necessary.

The project had excellent participation both in the training workshops and the construction process. Men, women and children actively participated in the activities. Almost all families are correctly maintaining their latrine; however it is critical we replace the metal insert with a more sustainable option to guarantee long-term sanitation improvement.

Government Interaction:

The Municipality of Warnes changed mayors two times during the course of the project. Each turnover caused a delay in the advancements of securing local government support, despite the fact that the first mayor signed a legal agreement committing the municipality’s support to the project. Unfortunately the project was completed in Paisaje before obtaining a financial contribution from the local government. In Montero, the local municipality was extremely active. They participated in all phases of the project and frequently visited the neighborhoods to contribute to a training session or oversee the construction process. They also made a financial contribution to the project towards construction materials totaling $5,912.

Ancillary activities:

Other Issues:

Etta Projects worked with all four communities in water projects prior to the ecological latrine project. After actively participating in the hygiene and sanitation workshops during the water projects, community members recognized the importance of improved sanitation. They solicited Etta Projects and their local municipality to support a sanitation project. From the start this was a community-driven effort. Data shows participants are invested in using and maintaining their latrine. We are confident this project will have long-term, positive results once we resolve the toilet issue.