Difference between revisions of "Double Ventilated Improved Pit"

Revision as of 22:45, 5 September 2013

Applicable in systems: 2 , {{{sys9}}} Level of Application Household XX Neighbourhood X City   Inputs Excreta, Faeces, Anal cleansing water Level of management Household XX Shared XX Public X   Outputs Compost - EcoHumus

The Double VIP has almost the same design as the Single VIP with the added advantage of a second pit that allows the technology to be used continuously and allows for safer and easier emptying.

By using two pits, one pit can be used while the contents of the second pit rests, drains, reduces in volume, and degrades. When the second pit is almost full (the excreta is 50cm from the top of the pit), it is covered, and the contents of the first pit are removed. Due to the extended resting time (at least 1 year of filling/resting) the material within the pit should be sanitized and humus-like. The Double VIP is similar to the Fossa Alterna technology with the exception that the Fossa Alterna is specifically designed to produce humus and as such, it requires regular additions of soil, ash and/or leaves.

The superstructure may either extend over both holes or it may be designed to move from one pit to the other. In either case, the pit that is not being filled should be fully covered and sealed to prevent water, garbage and animals (and/or people) from falling into the pit. The ventilation of the two pits can be accomplished using one ventilation pipe moved back and forth between the pits or each pit can be equipped with its own dedicated pipe. The two pits in the Double VIP are continually used and should be well lined and supported to ensure longevity.

Adequacy

The Double VIP is more appropriate than the Single VIP for denser, peri-urban areas. The material is manually emptied (it is dug out, not pumped out), so vacuum truck access to the pits is not necessary. The users can remove the pit material after a sufficient resting time of one or more years even though the treatment processes in the pit are not complete and the material is not entirely hygienic. The Double VIP technology will only work properly if the two pits are used sequentially and not concurrently. Therefore, an adequate cover for the out of service pit is required. Double VIPs are especially appropriate when water is scarce and where there is a low groundwater table. They should be located in an area with a good breeze. They are not suited for rocky or compacted soils (that are difficult to dig) or for areas that flood frequently.

Health Aspects/Acceptance

The Double VIP can be a very clean, comfortable and well accepted sanitation option, in some cases even more so than a water-based technology. However some health concerns exist:

• Latrine leachate can contaminate groundwater;
• Pits are susceptible to failure/overflowing during floods; and
• Health risks from flies are not completely removed by ventilation.

Maintenance

To keep the Double VIP free of flies and odours, regular cleaning and maintenance is required. Dead flies, spider webs, dust and other debris should be removed from the ventilation screen to ensure a good flow of air. The out of service pit should be well sealed to reduce water infiltration and a proper alternating schedule must be maintained.

Field experiences

Project 474

Akvo RSR Project: Health & Sanitation project SLOPB aims to improve the health of women and children in the Barisal Division. The project area is among the poorest in Bangladesh, access to health facilities and sanitation is very low. The government is not very eager to improve its performance in the project area. This programme has an integrated approach: at the preventive side, attention will be paid both to WASH (both hardware as well as software) and to health (awareness raising, education, referral systems).

Project 360

Akvo RSR Project: WASH Facilities at Kajiado Schools The Maasai communities generally do not prioritize hand washing or digging pit latrines. Natural water sources are unprotected and shared with animals, posing serious health risks. Many schools in the area do not have safe and adequate water and sanitation facilities. NOSIM aims to increase water availability for school children, to reduce incidences/impact of WASH-related disease through construction of rainwater harvesting and sanitation facilities, plus awareness raising through WASH Clubs.

References

• Mara DD. (1984). The Design of Ventilated Improved Pit Latrines (UNDP Interreg. Project INT/81/047). The World Bank+ UNDP, Washington. (A good reference for detailed Double Pit VIP design information.)

• Mara, DD. (1996). Low-Cost Urban Sanitation. Wiley, Chichester, UK. (General description of VIPs with a focus on the ventilation system.) General Information:

• Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992). A guide to the development of on-site sanitation. WHO, Geneva.

• Lewis, JW., et al. (1982). The Risk of Groundwater Pollution by on-site Sanitation in Developing Countries. International Reference Centre for Waste Disposal, Dübendorf, Switzerland. (Detailed study regarding the transport and die-off of microorganisms and implications for locating technologies.)

• The World Bank (1986). Information and Training for Low-Cost Water Supply and Sanitation (UNDP Project INT/82/002). The World Bank, Washington.

Acknowledgements

The material on this page was adapted from:

Elizabeth Tilley, Lukas Ulrich, Christoph Lüthi, Philippe Reymond and Christian Zurbrügg (2014). Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies, published by Sandec, the Department of Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries of Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.

• Alternative Compendium link.

The 2nd edition publication is available in English. French and Spanish are yet to come.