CE 6339 (Fecal Sludge Management)

October 2018 Semester

Lecture-2:
Onsite Sanitation Facilities: Concepts and Design

Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Ali

Department of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
(BUET)
06-Jan-19
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM

• Onsite sanitation system

• Off-site sanitation system

Dr. M. Ashrf Ali; CE 333, BUET- July 2014

06-Jan-19
Semester
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
(1) On-site Sanitation System: When the wastes are
collected, treated and disposed of at or close to the point of
generation.
Example: Pit latrines (rural, urban slum)

Super structure

Pit

The complete onsite

system must include Open Brick Work
Fecal Sludge 100 mm diameter
or
Management (FSM) pipe
R C C Ri (
services

Liquid Infiltration
06-Jan-19
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
(1) On-site Sanitation System:
Example: Septic Tank System (urban)
Fecal Sludge

Scum

Sludge
Sludge

The complete onsite system must include Fecal

Sludge Management (FSM) services

4
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM (contd.)
(1) On-site Sanitation System (contd):
Basic Principle:
• Liquids infiltrate into soil (infiltration capacity of soil,
and location of groundwater table important issues)
• Solids are retained (confined) and digested
Features:
• Designed to dispose of human waste only
• Wastewater from other sources (kitchen, washing,
bathing) has to be disposed separately
• Suitable for sparsely settled rural areas with low
population density, and low water consumption
• Not feasible in areas with: (a) high population density,
(b) low infiltration capacity of soil
06-Jan-19
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
(2) Off-site Sanitation System: When the wastes are
collected and transported to somewhere else for treatment
and disposal.
Example: Conventional sewerage system; Small-bore
Sewerage System (SBS); Bucket latrines

06-Jan-19
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM (contd.)
(2) Off-site Sanitation System (contd):
Features:
• Collection and transportation of waste through a sewer
system requires that the waste be diluted by water.
• Hence piped water supply is essential
• Most satisfactory system of waste disposal, provided
sufficient funds are available for its construction and
maintenance.
• Because of high cost, preferable to introduce gradually;
where possible existing sanitation system (e.g., septic tank
system) should be upgraded and improved (e.g., SBS
system utilizing existing septic tank system; will be
discussed later in the course)
06-Jan-19
 CLASSIFICATION OF SANITATION SYSTEM
Appropriate sanitation system based on level of water
supply and population density

• d

06-Jan-19
 FSM System Elements

First element in the FSM service chain is:

Containment or Sanitation/toilet facility

06-Jan-19
 First element in the FSM service chain is:
Containment or Sanitation/toilet facility

06-Jan-19
 Basis for Assessing Sanitation/Toilet Options

• Different types of sanitation/toilet options are in use

in rural and low-income urban areas, not all of
which are hygienic.

06-Jan-19
 Hygienic Latrine
A “hygienic latrine” is defined as a sanitation facility,
which effectively breaks the cycle of disease transmission.
A hygienic latrine would include all of the following:
1. Confinement of waste (feces),
2. Sealing of the passage between the squat hole and the
pit to effectively block pathways for flies and other
insect vectors, thereby breaking the cycle of disease
transmission, and
3. Venting out of foul gases generated in the pit through
a properly positioned vent pipe to keep latrine odor
free and encourage its continual use.

06-Jan-19
 SANITATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR RURAL/
LOW-INCOME AREAS

Major technological options are:

- Pit Latrines (for areas with “limited” water
supply)
- Pour Flush Latrines

(often both types are referred to as “pit latrines”)

06-Jan-19
 Pit Latrines
(for areas with limited water supply)
• A pit is simply a hole in the ground that receives
human waste. Urine and other liquids soak into
the ground and solid materials are retained and
decomposed in the pit.
• A pit latrine is designed such that it could
operate without the requirement of “flushing”.
• Since no flushing water is used, these are
sometimes referred to as “dry toilets”.

06-Jan-19
 Pit Latrines
The major types of pit latrines:

• Simple or “Home-made” Pit Latrines

• Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrine
• Reed Odourless Earth Closet (ROEC)

06-Jan-19
 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) Latrines
Fly screen

min. 300 mm

• Pit partially offset Vent pipe

• Provision of “vent pipe” Superstructure

Slab with squat

hole

Pit lining

Solids
accumulation
Liquid infiltration

06-Jan-19
 VIP Latrines: Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
• Controls odor and insects to a large extent
• Relatively low-cost, easily constructed

Disadvantages:
• Absence of “seal” between squat hole and pit
prevents is from becoming a “sanitary/ hygienic
latrine”.

06-Jan-19
 Prevention of Groundwater Pollution:
Thumb Rule

10.0 m

2.0 m
06-Jan-19
 Typical “Pit” Construction

(Not common)

Typical “pit” in loose/ Typical “pit” in

unconsolidated soil relatively stale soil
Typical dimension of each ring: Depth of Pit:
Diameter: ∼ 3 feet/ 1 m 5 to 6 ring (i.e., 1.5 to 1.8 m)
Height: 1 feet/ 0.3 m are most common
Wall thickness: 1.25 to 1.50 inch
06-Jan-19
(manually dug pit)
 Maximum depth of manually
excavated pit
• In most circumstances, the maximum depth of
manually dug pit is about 1.8 m (equivalent to
6 rings).
• Unless otherwise specified, consider a
maximum depth of 1.8 m for manual
excavation.
• However, note that in many areas of the
country, it is possible to construct deeper pits
(especially with mechanical means).

06-Jan-19
 Design of “Pit” for “Pit Latrines”
Design Considerations:
• Sufficient volume for storage and digestion of
waste

• Infiltration of water not specifically considered

(because minimum water use/ no flushing)

06-Jan-19
 Design of “Pit” for “Pit Latrines”
Effective Volume of Pit, Veff = C x P x N
V = Effective volume of pit in m3
C = Solid accumulation rate (m3/person/yr)
P = Number of users
N = Design life (years)
0.5 m
Design Solids Accumulation Rate (C):
Wet pit: 0.04 m3/person/yr (Pour-flush latrines)
Dry pit: 0.06 m3/person/yr (Pit latrines)

Effective Height of Pit, Heff = Veff / A Effective pit

A = x-sectional area of pit volume

Total Height of Pit: H = Heff + 0.5 m

06-Jan-19
 Design of “Vent Pipe/System”
Material: PVC; uPVC; GI; Brick
Choice depends on: durability,
availability, cost, ease of construction
Height/ Position (pipe top):
500 mm higher than roof (flat roof)
500 mm above highest point in roof (sloping roof)
Internal diameter:
• A ventilation rate of 20 m3/hr (depends on roughness of
pipe, length, head loss through fly screen, wind direction,
etc.)
• Recommended size: PVC: 150 mm diameter
Brick: 230 mm square
06-Jan-19
Others: 230 mm diameter
 Design of “Vent Pipe/System” (contd.)

Specification for Fly-screen:

Purpose: To prevent passage of mosquito, flies

Size: Aperture ≤ 1.2 mm x 1.5 mm

Material: Corrosion resistant, able to withstand intense

rainfall, high temperature, sunlight, preferably stainless
steel

06-Jan-19
 Design Problems
(1) Local authority in a village is offering pre-cast concrete rings of
1.0 m diameter and 0.3 m depth, and concrete slab to cover it
at a subsidized price. Design a pit latrine for a family of 7, with
maximum possible design life. The soil is unconsolidated/
loose, and the groundwater table is 5.0 m below ground
surface.

Water availability in the area is limited. Design a VIP latrine for

the family

Draw a neat sketch showing all elements of the designed

latrine.

06-Jan-19
 Design Problems
(2) Repeat the same problem if groundwater table is 3.7 m below
ground surface.

06-Jan-19
 Pour-Flush Sanitation Technologies
• Improvement over “pit latrines”, through
incorporation of a manual “pour flush” system.

• An important precondition for such latrines is

availability of some water (about 2 to 5 liters per
use) for cleansing and flushing (i.e., tubewell-
based water supply would be required)

• The most vital part is the “water seal” or “other

seal” incorporated in the latrine pan/ slab, which
eliminate odor and insects problems

27
 Water seal

To prevent odour and flies

28
 Pour-Flush Latrine
Major Components:
(1) Superstructure
(2) Latrine Pan with “water/other seal”
(3) “Leach Pit” (single or twin)

29
 Water Seal
• Key component: After each use, about 2 to 5 L of water is
poured in to flush the waste. Some of the clean flush water
remains in the trap thus maintaining the “water seal”.
• The “depth of the water seal” within the trap unit is very
important. A seal depth of 15 to 25 mm should be optimum.

Two Types:
(1)Gooseneck type
(2)U-bend type

30
 Water Seal: Gooseneck Type
• For “direct pit pour-flush latrines” (i.e., when pit is
directly below latrine), “gooseneck” trap or “U-trap”
is used.

• “Gooseneck traps” made of cement concrete or earthenware

are often broken. Trap is often intentionally broken
(especially when water is limited) to make the pan easier to
clean and avoid blockage.

U-Trap

31
 Water Seal: U-bend Type
• For “off-set pit pour-flush latrines”, U-bend type
water seal is used.
• Requires more water to flush.

P-Trap

32
 SaTo Pan:
“Seal” with Counterweight Mechanism

Front view Back view

Trapdoor

Sa – Safe
Counterweight
To - Toilet
33
 SaTo Pan:
“Seal” with Counterweight Mechanism
Background: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is
promoting innovative developments that will lead to
sustainable sanitation systems in developing countries. The
non-profit organization partnered with “American Standard”, a
leading toilet manufacturer in North America, to develop and
market a latrine concept that is affordable.

SaTo Pan in Bangladesh: In 2013, American Standard

introduced SaTo Pan under “Flush for Good campaign”. By the
end of 2013, SaTo pan was implemented in 500,000 households
and American Standard projects sales to increase to 1,000,000
by 2015.

34
 Types of Pour Flush Latrines
(1) Direct-Pit Pour Flush Latrine (pit directly below latrine)

Can use either: Vent pipe not

Gooseneck/U-Trap, or shown
SaTo Pan

35
 Types of Pour Flush Latrines
(2a) Offset-Pit Pour Flush Latrine: Single Pit

U-bend type
or P-Trap used Vent pipe not
shown

36
Dr. M. Ashraf Ali, CE 333, BUET July 2018
Semester 37
 Types of Pour Flush Latrines
(2b) Offset Pit Pour Flush Latrine: Alternating Twin Pit
Most Preferred Pit Latrine Option

Components:
• Superstructure
• Latrine pan with “water seal”
• Two “leach pits”
• A Y-junction (diversion box)
Vent pipe not
shown

38
 Types of Pour Flush Latrines
(2b) Offset Pit Pour Flush Latrine (Alternating Twin Pit)
• Pits are used alternately; only one pit used at a time
• When one pit becomes full, flow of waste is diverted
(at the Y-junction) to the second pit
• Contents of first pit decomposes to safe, pathogen-
free humus within 18 to 24 months
• Contents of the first pit may then be dug out and the
pit becomes ready for re-use.

39
 Twin Offset Pit Pour Flush Latrine
Different Pit Arrangements
Diversion box

Diversion box

Diversion box

Diversion box

Diversion box
40
Dr. M. Ashraf Ali, CE 333, BUET July 2018
Semester 41
Twin pit pour flush latrine with flexible pipe connection

Dr. M. Ashraf Ali, CE 333, BUET July 2018

Semester 42
 Advantages of Pour Flush Latrines
• A properly designed pour-flush latrine is a “hygienic
latrine” (eliminate odor, insect problems).
• Not expensive, easy to construct.
• Require low volumes of water for flushing (2-5
L/flush) (tubewell based water supply sufficient).
• Can be upgraded to: (i) a septic tank system, or (ii)
small bore sewerage system.
• Can be located, if desired, inside the house (off-set
pit latrines).
• Potential for resource recovery using the digested
sludge as soil conditioner.
43
 Disadvantages/ challenges
of Pour-Flush Latrines
• Flushing water must be available
throughout the year.
• Maintenance of Y-junction (twin pit
latrines) to be ensured.

• Desludging difficulties, especially for single

pit latrines.
• Risk of groundwater pollution, especially in
high water table areas.
(to be covered in more detail) 44
 Most Suitable Pour-Flush Latrine

• If space is available, then a twin off-set

pit pour-flush latrine is the most
suitable option, because if provides a
long-term solution and largely
eliminates the problems associated
with fecal sludge management.

45
 Design of “Pour-flush Latrines”
Design Considerations:
• Shape of “leach pit”: Usually circular;
• Pits are usually lines with concrete rings.
• Water use: varies from about 5 to 20 lpcd
(depends on number of user, frequency of
flushing, flush volume, water use for cleaning)
• Pits should be shallow in depth for avoiding
groundwater pollution and ease of emptying pit (≤
1.8 m in most areas; high depths possible in dry
areas)
06-Jan-19
 Design of “Pour-flush Latrines”:
Design Considerations (contd.)
• A free space of 0.5 m should be kept above the inlet
pit in offset pits. Hence,
For direct pit latrines: Effective Depth = Total depth – 0.5 m
For off-set pit latrines: Effective Depth = Total depth – 0.6 m

• The distance between two pits 0.5m

0.1m
should be at least equal to the
effective depth of pits (see figure) Effective
depth

• Provision of “thumb rule” for

protection of ground water pollution
(2 m gap with groundwater table, 10 m with water source)

06-Jan-19
 Design of “Leach Pit”
for “Pour-flush Latrines”
Design Considerations:
(1) “Sufficient Volume” for storage and digestion of
waste
(2) “Sufficient Area” for infiltration of liquid into soil

06-Jan-19
 Design of “Leach Pit”
(1) Volume required for storage and digestion of
solids (waste):

Effective Volume of Pit, Vs = C x P x N

V = Effective volume of pit in m3
C = Solid accumulation rate (m3/person/yr)
P = Number of users
N = Design life (years)
Design Solids Accumulation Rate (C):
Wet pit: 0.04 m3/person/yr (Pour-flush latrines) Effective pit
Dry pit: 0.06 m3/person/yr (Pit latrines) volume

06-Jan-19
 Design of “Leach Pit”
(2) Area Requirement for Infiltration of Liquid:
Side-wall area required for infiltration (m2), Ai = Q / I
Q = Flow of wastewater into pit (L/day)
I = Long-term infiltration rate of soil (L/m2.day)
D
(infiltration through the bottom is not
considered, to keep a safety provision)
H
For circular pit of diameter D and height H,

Vi = (π/4). D2.H
and Ai = π.D.H

∴ Vi = (Ai.D) / 4
Or, Vi = (Q.D) / (4 I)
06-Jan-19
 Design of “Leach Pit”
Design Effective Pit Volume (Veff):
(a) Alternating Twin-pit Latrine: Vs or Vi, whichever is larger

(b) Single-pit Latrine: Veff = Vs + Vi

(For a single-pit latrine, since the pit needs to be de-sludged or

covered/ abandoned at the end of design life, the size should
be as big as possible, in order to increase design life)

06-Jan-19
 Design Parameters
(a) Long-term infiltration rate of soil (I):
depends on soil type (see Table 9.2)

Soil Type I (L/m2.day)

Sand 50
Sandy Loam 30
Porous silty loam/
silty clay loam 20
Compact silty loam, clay 10

(b) Flow of wastewater into pit (Q):

depends on number of user, frequency of flushing, flush
volume, water use for cleaning
Q = 5 to 20 lpcd
06-Jan-19
 Design of “Vent Pipe/System”
(same as for “pit latrines)
Material: PVC; uPVC; GI; Brick
Choice depends on: durability,
availability, cost, ease of construction
Height/ Position (pipe top):
500 mm higher than roof (flat roof)
500 mm above highest point in roof (sloping roof)
Internal diameter:
• A ventilation rate of 20 m3/hr (depends on roughness of
pipe, length, head loss through fly screen, wind direction,
etc.)
• Recommended size: PVC: 150 mm diameter
Brick: 230 mm square
Others: 230 mm diameter
06-Jan-19
 Design of “Vent Pipe/System” (contd.)
(same as for “pit latrines”)

Specification for Fly-screen:

Purpose: To prevent passage of mosquito, flies

Size: Aperture ≤ 1.2 mm x 1.5 mm

Material: Corrosion resistant, able to withstand intense

rainfall, high temperature, sunlight, preferably stainless
steel

06-Jan-19
 Design Problems
(1) Design a latrine for a family of 8 members in a village, where
tubewell-based water supply is available. However, facilities
for mechanical desludging is not available in the area. The
average wastewater flow rate is about 10 lpcd. The soil is
“porous silty loam”, with long-term infiltration rate of 20
L/m2.day. The pit is to be constructed with concrete rings with
diameter of 1.2 m and depth 0.3 m. Groundwater table is at
sufficient depth, such that groundwater pollution is not a
concern at the site.

What kind of latrine would you suggest?

Design the latrine, estimate its design life, and draw a neat
sketch showing all elements of the designed pour-flush
latrine.

06-Jan-19
 Pit diameter – Pit capacity

Dia = 1 m Dia = 1.25 m Dia = 1.50 m

Capacity = V Capacity = 1.6 V Capacity = 2.25 V

Increase in diameter of pit significantly

increases design life
56