General

Ideal methods for a healthy disposal of excreta

Introduction

According to World Health Organization (2002), defined ideal excreta disposal as a method in which human excreta can be sanitarily disposed off. Human excreta is a source of pathogenic organisms, it is also the causative agents of diseases such as dysentery, cholera, diarrhoea, typhoid etc.

According Olojoba (2006), there are various method/ types of ideal excreta disposal such as;

Water closet latrine.
Ventilated improved pit latrine.
Chemical closet latrine.
Pour flush latrine.
Aqua privy latrine.

Water closet system

The water closet is referred to as water seal latrine. It is one of the most popular and acceptable method of excreta disposal. It however requires water to function effectively. Functional parts of water closet system include;

Water closet basin seat
water cistern
vent pipe
inspection chamber
septic tank (
soak-away pit

(Olorunda, et al., 2007).

Water closet basin seat: Man defecates into the basin containing a measurable level of water, known as water seal. The purpose of the water seal is to prevent emanation of foul smell from the basin after use, and to prevent in and out movement of rodents or other reptiles. The basin must be well fitted to the ground to avoid any form of accident or breakage.
Water cistern: Filled above the water closet basin in the water cistern. The water inside the water cistern is used to flush the excreta through the trigger after defecation.
The vent pipe: The vent pipe is fitted vertically on a plat form of the carriage. It is meant to trap offensive or foul odour up sagging back from the septic tank to the open air without reaching the water closet basin. Air is forced in through the pipe to disperse any emanating odour from the septic tank. The top of the vent pipe is fitted with wire mesh to prevent falling in rodent.
Inspection chamber: This is fitted very close to the vent pipe base to enable inspections of the inside of the conveying pipe for evidence of blockage at any period of operation of the system.
Septic tank: This is usually rectangular pot tugged and made water tight to prevent seepage of sewage into sub-soil; otherwise source of water will be subjected to pollution. The purpose of this tank is to retain crude sewage until the soluble solids liquefy and insoluble solid precipitate as sludge.
Soak-away pit: Soak-away pit is usually constructed with the septic tank but different from the septic tank because it’s usually received only liquid water from either the septic tank or directly from individual house. Soak-away is usually not made water tight, because individual generate much waste water which is not made water tight may get filled up and consequently collapse the bricks used in construction of the soak-away pit.

Water closet latrine

It is the best and healthiest way of sanitary conveniences/sewage disposal method.
There is less faecal oral infection.
The effluent/sludge can be pumped out/treated for use in the agricultural sector.

Demerit of water closet latrine

It requires large amount of money for its installation and maintenance.
It is ineffective where there is no adequate water supply.
It causes marine pollution where the treated sewage is finally disposed of into the water course.

Ventilated improved pit system

Ventilated improved pit simply means an improvement of the traditional pit latrine meant for the disposal of human waste. The principle mechanism of ventilation in V.I.P latrine is the action of wind blowing across the top of the vent pipe they creates circulation across air through the superstructure, down through the squatting hole. Unpleasant faecal odour from the pit content are trap up and exhausted out of the vent pipe leaving the superstructure odour free. In some cases solar powered forms are added giving a constant out wards flow to the vent pipe.

Some flies may enter into the pit via-squat hole and lay their legs there new adult flies emerge they instinctively fly forwards light. Flies searching for an egg-laying site are but they are presented from entering by the fly screen at the outlet of vent pipe.

Well constructed and maintained V.I.P latrine combat of the problems associated with simple pit latrine except mosquitoes. However, they are considerable more expensive than simple pit since a ventilation pipe and full structured and required it can be build single or double pit compartment with dislodging system.

Advantages of ventilated improved pit system

No health risk.
Structural Safe.
No aesthetic nuisance.
Sources of pride and dignity to users.
Can be used outside or inside the house latrine.

Disadvantages

The latrine is highly technical.
It requires skill in order to adequately operate the vent pipe system.
Potentials for ground water pollution, if it is not properly sited.

Pour flush latrine

Pour flush latrine is like a regular cistern flush toilet but the water is poured in by the user instead of being supply above. It consists of a floor, slab and superstructure and couple with a sewer pipe with septic tank and soak-away pipe located at the back of the latrine. The superstructure is usually build with concrete block and cement plastered including the floor of the pour flush latrine. The slab of the latrine are usually somehow elevated between 5-10; 1 inch above the ground level where any individual can easily dispose of excreta. The septic tank is usually for the purpose receiving sewage from the latrine and retained it till the solid contained in it have been successfully liquefied and can pass on to the soak-away pit which meat for receiving of waste water.

Advantages

The excrement is not assessable to flies which may contamination food.
No odour is emitted.
It is any improvement over the type of pit latrine.
It prevents indiscriminate defecation.

Disadvantages

It cannot be used where there is water shortage.
Where the waste table is very high, it can easily contaminate the underground water.
It is only useful for those people who can use water for anal cleaning.

Aqua privy

The aqua privy latrine consists of a water tight tank and a floor which carry an inlet drop pipe. The lower of the inlet drop most be below the drop of the water, the tank for at least 10 centimetres of this enable a water seal to maintain to prevent smell and fly nuisance. A soak-away pit also provide for the effluent from the aqua privy tank. The important point about the maintenance is that the tap water level must be maintained constantly to prevent the tip of the drop pipe from being exposed; to achieved this about 4 litres of water should be added daily to the bathroom so as to ensure that the correct top water level is maintained (Sherman, 2012).

Merits

Prevent fly and insect infestation.
Prevent unpleasant odour.
Can be used in all environments.

Demerit

It requires skills for its operation.
It is expensive.
Septic tank requires dislodging when filled up.

Chemical latrine

Augustine (2013), chemical toilet is an ideal method of excreta disposal for people especially people living in a river-rine area like e.g. Caravans, boat, buses, train and plane etc. the content of the toilet is discharge on interval. It consists of a container holding bactericide liquid with a strong solution of sodium hydroxide and formaldehyde. That is place inside the toilet in such a way as to decompose the excreta inside the toilet and minimize the odour emitting from the toilet during operation. The toilet constructed in such a way for easy squatting of individual during passing of excreta into the pit.

Merit

It is a simple method.
It does not require skilled for its operation.
It is an alternative method of disposing excreta in the riverine area.

Demerit

It is expensive to maintain because its uses chemicals.
It requires technical expert for it maintenance.
It is not effective all the time.

Importance of proper disposal of excreta in the environment

According to Unuraye and Olojoba (2005), states that the following are importance of proper disposal of excreta in the environment;

It helps to prevent the transmission of disease through regular maintenance of facilities.
It prevents unsightliness due to proper disposal of excreta.
It reduces the rate of flies and rodent infestation in the environment.
It prevents emission of offensive and unpleasant odour which may cause irritation, discomfort and suffocation.
It creates an enabling environment for man inhabitant.
It prevent dispute between two neighbours living in the environment.

Factors responsible for indiscriminate disposal of excreta in the environment

According to World Health Organization (2002), states that inadequate sanitation facilities are problems of the rural area and excreta disposal problems, are clearly the results of unhygienic practice due to;

Inadequate latrine and hand washing facilities.
Inadequate water supply.
Lack of health and hygiene awareness.
Lack of sanitation facilities.
Increase in population and waste generation.
Lack of fund (finance).

Conclusion

In the course of this study, we have find out that there are factors responsible for indiscriminate disposal of excreta such as inadequate latrine, hand washing facilities and inadequate water supply. There are also various disposal method such as water closet latrine, pour flush latrine, aqua privy latrine, chemical closet latrine, ventilated improved pit latrine. If they well constructed and designed it will help to prevent the problems of faecal oral disease in the environment and also make the environment conducive for human habitation.

Recommendations

Regular maintenance of latrine should be highly encouraged.
Provision of portable source of water supply for maintenance of latrine.
Effective environmental sanitation should be carried out in order to maintain hygienic standard.

References

Augustine, A. B. (2013). Contemporary Issue on Excreta Disposal method for Developing Country. Lagos: Vecent Educational Press.

Gupta, P. & Ghai, O.P. (2009). Text Book of Preventive and Social medicine (2^nd ed). New Delhi: B. S Publishers

Olojoba, A.O. (2009). Occupational Safety Service and Public Health. Ughelli: Ama Ohoror Printing Press.

Olorunda, O., Olowoparija, O., David, O., Samuel, K., Mercie, O. & Adams, S. (2007). Monitoring and Modelling Techniques of Environmental Pollution. Akure: His Mercy Publishers.

Porter, D. H. (2008). A Comprehensive Approach on How Excreta is to be Dispose off. Osogbo: Associated University Press Inc.

Unaraye, L. O. & Olujoba, A. O. (2005). Fundamental of Industrial and Environmental Health Management. Ughelli: Ama Ohoror Printing Press.

Sharman, G. (2012). Design of Aqua Privy. Journal of Environmental Health 24 (4): 463-467.

World Health Organization (2002). Guidelines for the Safe Use of Waste Water Excreta and Grey Water. Geneva: WHO pp. 22.