This report is a proposal that details a possible hand – washing facility as well as an examination of the cultural and social aspects involved in delivering sanitary hand washing to villages in Cameroon. The handwashing facility proposed is the Tippy Tap. The tippy tap cuts out the use of manual operation by linking a foot pedal to a water container by a rope. The rope is suspended over a beam, which dispenses the water found in an allocated container following foot pedal operation. The primary material implemented is timber, which is utilised to frame the overall structure comprised of a beam resting on two inclined timber columns. This structural arrangement was considered due to added lateral resistance as opposed to vertical columns. A span between 1.5m and 2m ensures sufficient space for a maximum load of 5 containers. In order to ensure a long – term solution, the foot of the timber columns will be placed into a mixture of cement and sand for added support. Furthermore, the tippy tap design accounts for drainage of used water by means of a shallow gravel pit. In addition to the design proposal, a maintenance strategy has been outlined to assess and enhance the sustainability of the facilities described. The maintenance section examines possible issues that may arise during the operation of the facilities, a breakdown of these issues and mitigation strategies. The measures taken influence cultural and social attributes, thus the aspect of education and acceptance is of high importance and as such has been accounted within the report. An action plan has been presented to ensure safe, effective and intuitive practice of the facilities stated.

1. Cameroon Catalyst
Hand Washing System Design
By
Sinthujan Pushpakaran

2. Executive Summary
This report is a proposal that details two possible hand – washing facilities as well as
an examination of the cultural and social aspects involved in delivering sanitary hand
washing to villages in Cameroon.
The first handwashing facility proposed is the Tippy Tap. The tippy tap cuts out the
use of manual operation by linking a foot pedal to a water container by a rope. The rope is
suspended over a beam, which dispenses the water found in an allocated container
following foot pedal operation. The primary material implemented is timber, which is utilised
to frame the overall structure comprised of a beam resting on two inclined timber columns.
This structural arrangement was considered due to added lateral resistance as opposed to
vertical columns. A span between 1.5m and 2m ensures sufficient space for a maximum
load of 5 containers. In order to ensure a long – term solution, the foot of the timber columns
will be placed into a mixture of cement and sand for added support. Furthermore, the tippy
tap design accounts for drainage of used water by means of a shallow gravel pit.
An alternative handwashing facility is the punch pipe system. It is a more systematic
approach; thus, meticulous hand washing is achievable. This system is often implemented in
schools or instances where multiple hands may be washed at once. The design consists of a
water container located at an average adult head height whereby flow of water is induced
through a valve. The water is forced through a narrow piping whereby water is ejected
through a series of holes, subsequently sprayed on the hands of the users. The primary
material utilised in this design is PVC, which is utilised in the piping and basin. The use of
hands is not totally omitted; however, this is greatly reduced as one user is needed to allow
washing of multiple hands at any one given time. The design pertains to drainage,
henceforth a container similar in dimension to the basin is recommended to be placed at the
bottom of the system to enable collection of wastewater that can then be implemented in
other activities such as cleaning of floors or other surfaces.
In addition to the design proposals, a maintenance strategy has been outlined to
assess and enhance the sustainability of the facilities described. The maintenance section
examines possible issues that may arise during the operation of the facilities, a breakdown
of these issues and mitigation strategies. The measures taken influence cultural and social
attributes, thus the aspect of education and acceptance is of high importance and as such
has been accounted within the report. An action plan has been presented to ensure safe,
effective and intuitive practice of the facilities stated.

3. Table of Contents
1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….........1
1.1 Objectives………………………………………………………………………………........1
2. Tippy Tap System..........................................................................................................1
2.2 Timber Frame..............................................................................................................2
2.3 Container……………………………………………………………………………….........3
2.4 Rope..........................................................................................................................3
2.5 Gravel.........................................................................................................................4
3. Punched Pipe System..................................................................................................4
3.1Cistern.........................................................................................................................4
3.2 Basin..........................................................................................................................5
3.3 Pipe............................................................................................................................5
3.4 Drainage....................................................................................................................6
3.5 Materials and Equipment...........................................................................................6
4. Maintenance f Facilities..............................................................................................7
4.1 Maintenance of Tippy Tap System.........................................................................7
4.2 Maintenance of Punch – Pipe System...................................................................8
4.3 Maintenance Overview............................................................................................9
5. Security..........................................................................................................................9
6. Acceptance and Education.........................................................................................9
6.1 Tippy Tap System....................................................................................................11
6.2 Punched Pipe System.............................................................................................11
7. Conclusion....................................................................................................................12
Bibliography..............................................................................................................................13

4. 1
1. Introduction
The following report has been produced by the Cameroon Catalyst Student Design
Team in order to achieve sustainable development. The goal of the project is to support and
strengthen participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
with a focus on hand – washing. Good sanitation practice hinders likelihood of people
contracting and dying from diseases such as typhoid and diarrhoea.
Two types of handwashing facilities have been proposed, namely the Tippy Tap and
Punched Pipe system, following a discussion on the implications of their implementation in
the local communities of Cameroon. Proposals of designs have been kept as simplistic as
possible, thus several assumptions in the availability of certain components has been made
to ensure feasibility.
The following report will explore the conceptual design of both the Tippy Tap and
Punched Pipe system as well as the maintenance solutions in light of a range of foreseeable
problems that may arise over the course of the design lives.
1.1 Objectives
• To produce a detailed research of the Tippy Tap and Punched Pipe System for
handwashing.
• To compare and contrast the difficulties associated with educating communities and
accepting both proposals.
• To produced plans for the maintenance of both proposals following their commission.
2. Tippy Tap System
Tippy Taps are arguably the simplest and most economical interventions to improve
sanitation in places where water is not readily available as it has been known to use up to 10
times less water than conventional handwashing methods (Parker et al., 2011). The hand –
washing stations are made with commonly available materials and are not dependent on a
piped water supply.
The main issue with the standard tippy – tap is its durability and the need for
continuous maintenance as a result of the weak materials used to construct the system,
such as sticks and twigs. In light of these issues, the proposed tippy – tap design is to still
utilise widely available materials that are stronger and more durable, thus reducing the
frequency of maintenance.

5. 2
2.2 Timber Frame
Arrangement of the timber posts are highlighted in Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1: General arrangement of Tippy Tap System
Two posts are joined to one another using a smaller block that would be connected using a
mortise and tenon joints and further strengthened using glue. A horizontal beam will span
between the posts on either side with a dear span of 1.5 – 2m. This provides enough space
for 4 to 5 containers to be installed onto a single unit. The entirety of the timber frame should
form a triangular prism with a height of 1.5m above the ground. The triangular prism shape
adds some lateral resistance to the structure. The height has been deemed as a suitable
height for most users (average adult height 1.8m) to use the tippy tap without having to bend
over excessively. The proposed height also provides accessibility to children.
The rigid frame can be constructed using locally sourced timber and its diagonal
members have been designed to be tolerant of a range of cross section geometries from
100mm x 100mm. The estimation has been achieved by taking into consideration the
possible scarcity of resources available to the communities. The feet of the diagonal
Front ElevationSide Elevation
Isometric Projection

6. 3
members are to be inserted into the ground and secured using foundations formed from a
mixture of cement and sand.
2.3 Container
Containers of varying capacities can be used within this system with volumes ranging
from 500ml to 5L. Modifications to the containers should be executed prior to utilisation in
the tippy – tap system in order to ensure that they are suspended at a correct orientation.
Different methods can be used to fit a hole on a container which is dependent on the
container shape. In the case of a 5L jerry can with a horizontal handle, a nail can be heated
using a candle for a period of 1 minute while being held by pliers or gloves. The hot nail must
be then inserted into the water container approximately a quarter of the length down from the
top of the containers and removed once a 2mm hole has been formed.
Figure 2.2: Insertion of nail into a 5L jerry can Figure 2.3: Pinching of a 2L container handle
For a 2L plastic container with a vertical handle on its side; the base of the handle
must be heated until the plastic is soft and then pinched with a pair of pliers until it cools to
restrict the flow of water through it. A hot nail can then be used to pierce a 2mm hole just
above the pinch – closed base of the handle.
Soap can then be suspended beneath the plastic container by piercing a hole and
protected via a plastic/metal lid to avoid contact from rain and radiation of the sun.
2.4 Rope
The same rope from which the container is suspended must be attached to the
horizontal beam which spans between two supports on either side of the container. After
forming a loop around the beam, the rope should extend from the horizontal beam to the
ground where it is attached to a foot pedal. The purpose of the foot pedal is to tilt the
container in proportion to force applied on the foot pedal. For this system to function as
designed, the rope should have sufficient tension; if it is too long, the rope will slack and if it
is too short, the foot pedal will tend to lift of the ground.

7. 4
2.5 Gravel
Water from the system is expelled directly into the coarse gravel. The space required
should cover a surface area that is equivalent to approximately half of the surface area
between each of the 4 legs of the mechanism. The purpose of the gravel is to prevent
formation of mud beneath the tippy – tap which could deter individuals from using the system
to wash their hands following use of latrines.
3. Punched Pipe System
This technology has proven to be successful in schools and projects where washing
hands in groups is encouraged, thus reducing costs from water usage.
Figure 3.1: General arrangement of Punched Pipe System
3.1 Cistern
This technology can be self – contained with no additional connection to any of the
existing main water systems. The cistern (bucket/tank/culvert) would rest on an elevated
surface, for example a flat roof, in order to provide a suitable flow rate using gravitational
forces which accelerates the water through the pipe. The elevation of the system not only
produces a pressure differential for the flow rate, but also allowing rainwater collection thus
reducing frequency of container filling during wetter periods of the year.
The opening of the cistern should not be too narrow or too wide at either opening; the
orifice connecting it to the pipeline and the one from which it is refilled. Determination of
optimum diameter of openings would prevent need for frequent refilling of cisterns, which in
turn would not require users to walk long distances to collect water from the source. It would
also prevent excessive flow of the water through the system to prevent it from being wasted.

8. 5
3.2 Basin
The basin will direct the wastewater to the drainage system following its use. The
basin can be designed using a variety of materials, however the most viable option would be
PVC pipe (e.g. 8 -inch pipe cut in half) as it provides a slim profile for the basin. In addition,
such polymers are easier and cheaper to gain access to in more remote locations compared
to superior materials such as concrete, composite stones, metal and wood. However, the
ultimate choice of material will be based on the preferences of the communities and the
available funds.
The profile of the basin should be inclined to effectively direct the water to the
drainage system and prevent accumulation of debris along the length of the basin. The
specified height of the basin from the ground should consider access for all potential users of
the system (e.g. children). Furthermore, measures such as the average arm length of a child
should also be accounted for when determining width of the basin from the point water is
dispensed from.
3.3 Pipe
Similarly to the basin, the most viable material for the pipe would be PVC due to its
availability, economic factors than other counterparts (e.g. metal piping), durability and
corrosion resistivity.
The pipe is punched/punctured at equal intervals from which the water will be ejected
from the system. The holes should ideally be 1mm in diameter to provide an optimal drip
flow. The distribution of holes in the pipe should also take into consideration the typical
shoulder length of an average child/adult to ensure that the mechanism is comfortable when
multiple individuals use it simultaneously. Furthermore, the holes in the pipe must be drilled
at angles that would allow the water to be captured by the basin when it is dispensed from
the pipe; in most cases, the holes are drilled at the bottom of the pipe providing a vertical
outflow of the water.
To avoid water wastage, a dual valve system can be employed if only a single
individual should need to use the system, hence capable of preventing any outflow from the
succeeding holes along the remaining length of the pipe. To ensure the structural integrity of
the pipe is maintained throughout the duration of the system’s design life, adequate support
must be provided at appropriate intervals to ensure that each span does not suffer from
excessive deflections.
3.4 Drainage
In most remote communities, there is a lack of adequate infrastructure to provide
access to water therefore it would be in the best interests of the owners of this technology to

9. 6
not end the life cycle of the water upon its expulsion from the system. A container of similar
dimensions to the elevated cistern can be placed beneath the drainage point and used to
collect wastewater that could be utilised in other household tasks, such as cleaning of
verandas and indoor floors.
3.5 Materials and Equipment
The following equipment required for this technology (all diameters of 25mm) are
highlighted in Table 3.1.

10. 7
4. Maintenance of Facilities
4.1 Maintenance of Tippy Tap System
The tippy – tap should be inspected every 2 weeks to ensure the effectiveness and lifespan of the design.
Table 4.1: Problems faced by the design and mitigation measures
Problem Causes Solutions
Bottle not tipping enough water when
stepping on foot-pedal
Lack of tension in rope due to the length
Ensure the rope is wrapped around the foot-pedal enough times
Ensure the rope is tied to the foot-pedal at the recommended specified
length
Foot-pedal swings around, increasing the
difficulty of use and potential causing
harm to villagers
Lack of anchor to the foot-pedal
Strong winds will make the foot-pedal
sway
Ensure a sturdy and long foot-pedal is used, and use rocks to anchor
the end of the foot-pedal
Failure in the stability and strength of the
structure
Deterioration of material (Timber
susceptible to decay and termite/pest
infestation)
High winds
Moist unstable soil
Use of materials which is not susceptible to decay and pests
Use concrete foundations of a suitable depth to prevent ingress of
water
Water container becomes unsanitary
Refilling with contaminated water
Improper use
Use soap to wash the outside of the container and rinse inside with
soapy water, before re-rinsing with clean water. Leave to dry upside-
down
Ground underneath the Tippy Tap
becomes waterlogged
High usage of water causes ground to
soak excessive water
Wait for ground to dry. Use shovel to remove the gravel and dig the pit
deeper by approx. 20cm. Refill with gravel
No water flowrate
Water hole in container is clogged or
blocked
Dirt/debris present in the container
Empty the container and remove any debris surrounding the water hole
Replace water container
Soap not present
Depleted through usage
Removal of soap
Tie rope through a bar of soap and attach to structure
Use of Ash may replace the need for soap

11. 8
4.2 Maintenance of Punch – Pipe System
The punch – pipe system requires inspection every week due to being a relatively complicated hand sanitation system. The points that
should be checked during inspection is highlighted in Table 4.2.
Table 4.2: Problems faced by the design and mitigation measures
Problem Causes Solutions
No water circulating through
pipes
Water storage tank empty
Clog/blockage in pipe
Height of cistern is not sufficient to overcome
pressure losses through pipe system
Leak in pipe causing pressure loss
Refill the water storage tank
Removal of pipe for inspection and unblocking
Raise cistern to a greater height if possible; Provide larger cistern to provide
more pressure
Removal of pipe for inspection for cracks and leaks. Pipe needs to be
replaced if cracks present
Water is unclean
Biofilm formation within the pipe system
Contaminated water present in the storage
tank
Removal of pipes for cleaning
Empty the water tank and refill with clean water. Operate the punch-pipe
system until water depletes before refilling with clean water
Failure in the stability and
strength of the structure
Deterioration of material. (Timer is susceptible
to decay and terminate/pest infestation)
High winds
Moist unstable soil
Use of material which are not susceptible to decay and pests
Use concrete foundations of a suitable depth to prevent ingress of water
Ground underneath the punch-
pipe system becomes
waterlogged
High usage of water causes ground to soak
excessive water
High water retention soil
Heavy rain or long periods of rain
Dig deeper gravel pits below the punch-pipe system without compromising
the stability of the structure
Soap not present
Depletion through usage
Removal of soap
Tie rope through a bar of soap and attach to the structure.
Use of Ash may replace the need for soap

12. 9
4.3 Maintenance Overview
Table 4.1 and 4.2 provide a comparison between the Tippy – Tap and Punch – Pipe
system and it can be highlighted that although the Tippy - Tap system has more problems
than the Punch – Pipe system, the latter has more causes for these problems, thus
increasing the chance of occurrence and likely to result in numerous other problems. It can
be observed that the primary problems for both sanitation systems involve the maintaining of
sanitation as well as ensuring that the structure does not fail, which may be difficult to
achieve when using the limited materials provided in the local area.
5. Security
The design has also accounted for mitigation measures in regard to potential security
issues. This particular aspect is important as there have been issues in the targeting of
vulnerable women during night times. Outside of these instances, security measures must
be considered to mitigate the likelihood of theft of materials.
A mitigation measure for these security issues is to localise the design to a given
residence as opposed to implement them to communal areas. The tippy – tap is easier to
build and can be scaled up or down depending on the height of timbers, length of beams
and number of water dispensers. In addition, by localising the hand – washing facilities to a
given residence, users will not have to travel outside, thus ultimately safer.
A further security measure that can be implemented includes lighting of the facility.
Platforms in proximity to the handwashing facility should be erected in order for the light to
be placed at arm’s reach whilst a user washes their hands.
6. Acceptance and Education
There must be a strong desire from the users if the project is to be successful and if
the proposed designs are to be accepted by the communities. Research shows that low
handwashing rates (e.g. 10% after cleaning up a child in rural Nigeria) are caused by a lack
of habit (Omotae et al., 1995). Consequently, the regular washing of hands before and after
certain tasks (e.g. after visiting the latrine and before eating), must be drilled in to ‘every –
day routines’ if a sustainable solution to improving hygiene and sanitation is to be
implemented. Failure to do so will result in villagers falling back into old habits, and the
proposed handwashing stations will be seldom used. Inspection teams responsible for
carrying out audits on households and handwashing stations have proven to be useful in
maintaining and increasing handwashing rates (Parker et al., 2011). However, families may
oppose these propositions due to their intrusive nature.
Previous projects concerned with improving hygiene and sanitation in water scarce

13. 10
areas have demonstrated the importance for the newly installed systems to interest and
engage the community. The proposed design must therefore be:
• Easy to use.
• Easy to maintain.
• Reliable.
• Located in an environment where the user feels safe. Light / lamp holders should be
incorporated into the design to achieve this.
• Located close to a latrine to encourage handwashing more effectively.
• Visually stimulating and personal to make the system a valued part of each
household (especially important for promoting handwashing with children).
Case studies have shown benefit in providing separate handwashing stations for each
household, with a lack of ownership being the main issue concerned with communal
handwashing stations. Essential maintenance tasks can often get missed if there is no
designated person / group in charge of the handwashing station. Research has also shown
that handwashing stations are much more likely to be used if they are located directly
outside the latrines (Biran, 2011). The location of the handwashing station therefore plays a
large part in the communities accepting the newly proposed technologies.
Providing education on health surrounding the importance of hygiene and sanitation
should be the first step considered when implementing a sustainable solution to improving
hygiene levels. It is of upmost importance that the villagers understand the underlying
reasons as to why they need to wash their hands. Educating school children is of particular
importance because their life – style habits are slightly less developed than adults, so there
is an improved chance of them picking up good hygiene and sanitation habits. At minimum,
the health education taught to villagers should include:
• The dangers to themselves and others that accompany poor hygiene standards.
Explaining that failure to wash hands after latrine use and prior to eating effectively
results in faecal matter being eaten. This realisation is an eye – opener for adults and
children alike, acting as a real motivation to washing hands with soap (UNICEF,
2011).
• The benefits gained for themselves and others from washing their hands regularly
and maintaining good levels of hygiene.
• Correct hand washing techniques to ensure hands are cleaned properly.
A user manual guide for the final concept design is to be provided with each handwashing
station. This will educate the users on how to use the handwashing station, ensuring a high
level of hygiene is consistently achieved. Additionally, instructions for maintenance tasks and

14. 11
key checks to carry out as part of regular maintenance will be included in the manual. More
information in regards to the maintenance and operation of the two concept designs can be
found in the earlier sections.
6.1 Tippy Tap System
Prior case studies on the tippy – tap design have shown that children enjoy using
such technology. Despite children typically wasting water when using the tippy- tap design, it
has proven to have an important role in nurturing the handwashing habit in children (Biran,
2011). Its unique aesthetic design has proven to acts as a reminder to wash hands (Curtis et
al., 2005; Devine, 2010; USAID HIP, 2009) although it must always be in operations and in
good condition with available water and soap (Verplanken and Wood, 2006).
Tippy Taps have also been shown to be preferred in rural areas where there tends to
be more space and less chance for vandalism and theft compared to urban areas. However,
the potential for theft of soap and water containers must be considered in the design.
To further improve the aesthetic design and engagement between the villagers and
the handwashing station, owners can decorate their stations, helping foster a stronger sense
of ownership amongst users.
Case studies on the tippy tap (Biran, 2011) have shown that regular filling of the
water containers can act as a barrier to technology acceptance. This is one of the
fundamental downfall of the tippy – tap system as there is no local water source continuously
feeding the handwashing stations. Henceforth, the size of the water container and
accompanying hole from which the water leaves must be sized correctly to ensure re – filling
does not become an unpractical task.
6.2 Punched Pipe System
Figure 6.1: Punched Pipe System in operation at a school

15. 12
The punched pipe system is a novel design that is likely to induce interest amongst
the community given that it has potential to be a more aesthetically appealing facility. This in
turn will help promote handwashing activities, ensuring it becomes a frequent part of the day.
The punched pipe system can also be decorated to induce a sense of uniqueness and foster
a stronger sense of ownership. They have shown to be particularly successful in increasing
handwashing rates with children, as they have predominantly been implemented in schools
(GIZ Fit for School, 2013). In regions where the punched pipe system technology has proven
to exceptionally successful in engaging communities, paintings by children on adjacent walls
promoting good hygiene and sanitation lead to a stronger sense of ownership of the
facilities.
Separate punched pipe system handwashing stations have seldom been installed for
separate households. Similarly to the tippy tap system, the main water container feeding the
punched pipe system will have to be refilled due to the lack of water infrastructure present in
the rural villages. To ensure this does not become a major roadblock to the technology
acceptance, the water container and the holes in the pipes must be sized appropriately.
7. Conclusion
This report has examined two potential design to aid in the improvement of hand
sanitation with disadvantaged communities in Cameroon. The issues that may arise
regarding the maintenance of the handwashing facilities have been outlined and so have the
appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Furthermore, the potential for the solutions
to be accepted by the communities has been explored and it was found to be dependent on
whether communities felt it was economic, logistically feasible, easy and/or visually
appealing. With that in mind it is possible that different communities could opt for one
solution and reject another, illustrating how one solution may not necessarily be applicable to
every situation.

16. 13
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