Why individual toilets are preferable to community toilets to attain ODF status?
Community toilets and individual toilets are two of the preferred options available with the slum dwellers. Community toilets are based on septic tank technology. However, in absence of proper sewerage network and sludge treatment plant, these septic tank based community toilets may pose environmental and health hazards. If the tanks are not cleaned from time to time or if not treated or safely during cleaning and disposal process, they are more harmful than open defecation. A majority of community toilets are non-functional because of two key reasons: (i) Community has not been engaged in the process behaviour change and (ii) lack of ownership and established community centric O&M system. Moreover, they do pose safety hazards for women during use at night. In fact, many community toilets are found to be closed during the night forcing the users to go for open defecation at night.
Reinventing the toilets
The recent ‘Reinvent the Toilet’ Fair co-hosted by the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and supported by the Ministry of Urban Development witnessed some of the most disruptive toilet prototypes that may help ending open defecation in India.
Already preparing the field trials, DCI Engineering showcased its Faecal Sludge Omni Ingestor. The FSOI System, which is conceived as a solution for a business owner to use to extract contents of latrines while helping to reduce sanitary risks, is designed to fit on the back of a motor vehicle with an open-top, rear cargo area (a pickup truck or lorry) with a pumping mechanism that can reach distances of 50 metres.
Aimed to stimulate discussion and spur partnerships to improve global sanitation and bring affordable sanitation solutions to people that need it most, the show also displayed e-toilets that incorporates full cycle approach in sustainable sanitation by integrating convergence of electronics, mechanical, web-mobile technologies thereby controlling entry, usage, cleaning, exit, and remote monitoring capabilities with multiple revenue options.
The insertion of a coin opens the door of the eToilet for the user, switches on a light-thus saving energy-and even directs the person with audio commands. The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 litres of water after three minutes of usage or 4.5 litres if usage is longer. It can also be programmed to clean the platform with a complete wash down after the toilet has been used, say, five or 10 times.
To date, over 400+ eToilet units and 200 Sewage Treatments Plants have been set up across India and another 80 eToilets are in the pipeline in Kerala. It is also worth noting that eToilet has won over 25 awards nationally and internationally.
