Eco-toilet – An Ecological Sanitation Option for Difficult Areas of Bangladesh (Practice)

1. Eco-toilet – An Ecological
Sanitation Option for Difficult
Areas of Bangladesh (Practice)
Monirul Alam (UNICEF Bangladesh)
S. A. Abdullah Al Mamun(Practical Action Bangladesh)
ASIA REGIONAL SANITATION AND HYGIENE
PRACTITIONERS WORKSHOP
1st Feb 2012; BARC CDM, Dhaka

2. 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The action research was implemented to try-out the feasibility
of ecological sanitation in five types of geo-hydrologically
difficult areas, characterised by:
 water scarcity areas (hilly area);
 uneven land and clay soils in the Barind regions;
 flood prone areas with loamy soils;
 urban slums where there is insufficient land to apply
normal spacing criteria; and
 heavily water logged areas (6-9 months of the year) in
the low lying Haor Basin.

3. 2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:
OPTION DEVELOPED
Opt. Description Hilly Barind Flood Slum Haor
Tract Prone
01 Fixed Chamber with Plastic Fibre Pan (FC+PFP)     
02 Movable Plastic Drum with Plastic Fibre Pan (Single   
Pan) (MPD+PFP)
03 Movable Plastic Drum with High Commode (Single  
Pan) (MPD+HC)
04 Fixed Chamber with Modified Eco Pan (FC+MEP)     
05 Fixed Chamber with Traditional EcoPan (FC+TEP)    
06 Movable Plastic Drum with Traditional EcoPan  
(MPD+TEP)
07 Elevated Movable Plastic Drum with RCC Column  
(EMPD+RCC)
08 Single Pit Urine Diversion Toilet (SPUD)   
09 Twin Pit Urine Diversion Toilet (TPUD)     
10 Waste Concern Model with Urine Diversion Pan     
(WCM+UDP)
11 Community Based Urine Diversion Toilet with Biogas     
Plant (CUD+BGP)
Suitable option depending on site conditions 10 10 7 7 7

4. 2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:
COST SHARING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
• Implemented through a NGO consortium (Practical Action
was the lead agency. SPACE, BASA and Commitment
Consultant were among others)
• 11 low-cost, user-friendly options developed with provisional
approval from DPHE (costing US$70-US$290). Users were
free to choose options considering their affordability;
• 107 latrines piloted in difficult areas with cost sharing
ranging from 10% to 40% depending on income level;
• The users, local masons, community leaders, PS & DPHE
staff were trained on construction, use, and O&M.
• Developed entrepreneurship in ecopan making (Plastic Fiber)

5. 2. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION:
OPTION DEMONSTRATED (TYPE)
Number of toilet options demonstrated
50
45
47
40
35
30
25
20
15
14 15
10 13
5 8 9
1
0
Option 4
Option 1
Option 5
Option 7
Option 8
Option 9
Option 2

6. 3. TESTING & MONITORING:
Pathogen test of composted faeces (by IEDCR) and nutrient
analysis of urine (by the Dept. of Soil Water & Environment, DU
• The colour and odour of the compost are more or less acceptable;
• No pathogenic organism identified in bacteriological examination;
• Parasitological examination revealed that, if compost is not properly
dried out, at least one type of parasite infectious to human health in
each specimen; and
• Nutrient value of compost excreta revels existence of arsenic and
cadmium are not at harmful level.
Recommendations on composted faeces by IEDCR
• To ensure application of ash after each defecation for
attaining alkaline pH;
• The compost has to be dried;
• Storage of the compost for at least one month in
airtight container may reduce the pathogenic load of
parasites.

7. 5. MAJOR CHALLENGES
 Construction cost????
 Proper handling/use of urine & composted faeces
 Land scarcity in urban slum;
 Shifting 1800 for urination during menstruation;
 Promotion of local Materials
 Limited time for follow-up and monitoring.

8. 6. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on option prepared for hard to reach areas, users choice
and cost sharing, the following rank of options is identified:
Rank Option Name
1 Option 1: Fixed Chamber System Using Plastic Fibre Pan
2 Option 4: Fixed Chamber System Using Modified Traditional Eco Pan
3 Option 5: Fixed Chamber with Traditional EcoPan
4 Option 9: Twin Pit Urine Diversion Toilet
Recommendations
 Potential to expand, especially in areas where conventional
technologies are difficult;
 Some of pilot areas can be used as demonstration centres and
knowledge hubs for replication;
 Continue development, testing and monitoring are essential.

9. 7. Photo gallery: Innovation (small but
beautiful and effective)
Eco Plastic Fiber Pan Pan Cover Handle Urine Diversion Pan
Ventilation and light facilities
Pre cast slab with Eco-pan

10. 7. Photo gallery: Innovation (small but
beautiful and effective)
Structural adjustment in the
evaporation bed for menstrual
hygiene management issue:
still there is room for
improvement

11. 7. Photo gallery: Innovation (small
but beautiful and effective)
Pictorial chart for use &
Hand washing device
maintenance

12. THANK YOU