Use of technology and alternate techniques for Rural Sanitation and Waste Management

Sanitation denotes a comprehensive concept, in fact, it is way of life, which is expressed in clean home, community, institutions for better health and safe environment. Moreover, safe sanitary practice is a crucial indicator for qualifying improvement in standards of living. This concern is triggered by the fact that approx. 55 per cent of the rural population still reported practicing open defection. Excreta disposal is an important part of overall environmental sanitation. Inadequate and unsanitary disposal of infected human excreta leads to the contamination of the ground water and sources of drinking water supplies. Waste water is considered as a breeding ground for most water borne diseases. It provides shelter to breed ies to lay their eggs and to carry infection from faeces to other human beings. Faecal borne diseases and worm infestations are the main cause of deaths in areas without proper sanitation and waste disposal methods. It is estimated and experienced that about 75% to 80% of water supplied through piped water supply schemes comes out as grey water. If it is not managed properly, it flows indiscriminately through habitations and becomes a serious health hazard due to its pathogenicity. This hazard is however, preventable through good sanitary barriers and waste disposal practices with better solid and liquid waste management. In today's highly advanced world it would only make sense to treat them with various technologies. In this documentary, we will explore such mechanisms that help rural households and communities, improve their sanitation and waste management conditions. The Domestic Leach Pit is a mechanism that doesnt take up much space, yet effectively handles the problem of waste disposal. Leach pits hold solid fecal material in the same way as the pit of a pit latrine, while allowing wastewater to percolate into the ground it is a brick lined circular pit constructed in a honeycomb masonry, which has a diameter of approximately 1 metre. Its important for the pit to have a proper insect proof cover. The water is led into the pit through a water seal trap, which prevents insect movement and mosquito breeding. (Pic references: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=domestic+leach+pit&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.51495398,d. bmk,pv.xjs.s.en_US.M4-36_38X9A.O&biw=1280&bih=909&um=1&ie=UTF8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=6XkgUvK6Cci3rgeQv4HICg#hl=en&q=leach+pit&tbm= isch&um=1&imgdii=_)

The Soak pit is another technique that can be used to control grey water. It is a simple and inexpensive option. A soak pit is a cubical pit dug in the soil with dimensions of approximately 1 metre length, 1 metre width and 1 metre depth. The surfaces of pit walls and the bottom surface of the pit enhance the surface area of the soil for absorption of water in the soil. The pit should be filled with stone rubble of graded sizes. At the top, the pit should be covered with material like tree twigs or gunny sacking etc. and topped up with murrum, so that the inflowing water doesnt remain exposed. In the centre, an inlet with a filter, like grass filled perforated matka should be placed, through which water is allowed to flow in the pit. Video reference: (but its too long - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwdvuZVWzvM) Pic reference: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=SOAK+PIT&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.51495398,d.bmk,pv.xjs .s.en_US.M4-36_38X9A.O&biw=1280&bih=909&um=1&ie=UTF8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=L3wgUsWXAoLUrQfm5YD4BQ

Household sanitation is also integral to maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in rural areas. However, some rural areas either dont have the resources for a proper latrine like the ones in urban areas, or at a scarce for water.

The Conventional pit latrine is latrine, which does not require water for functioning. This type of latrine is suitable in water scarce areas or where community uses dry cleansing materials. Therefore, the introduction of an unlined or lined pit with a squat plate with or without a super structure can be the second option. This will be particularly applicable for those communities who have open defecation practice. Its an affordable practice which involves simple technology and helps to develop practice to use latrines

(take a screen shot of this pic, from this link: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Technology%20Options%20for%20Ho usehold%20Sanitation%20_%20Ministry%20of%20Rural%20Development%20_%20%20UNICEF.pdf) Pic references: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=conventional+pit+latrine&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei =5ZwgUrGcJcKGrgellYHgBA&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=909

The VIP latrine is also a non-water dependent latrine. It is an improved conventional pit latrine, slightly offset from the pit and has a tall vertical vent pipe with a y-screen tted outside the superstructure to trap ies and reduce odour nuisance. It reduces the chances for transmission of excreta related disease than lid or cover latrine. It promotes good health and hygiene practice. It can also be used as fertilizer after one year of composting. It is affordable and can be built with local materials. Its construction and maintenance is easy.

(Pic references: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=vip+latrine&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3p0gUpCbGo blrAeKqIDwCQ&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=909)

In view of widespread practice of open defecation, the technological options presented above will help in accelerating the sanitation drive and liquid waste management technologies for rural areas. The choice of technology will depend on the situation at each place. These technologies, if used extensively in rural areas will help change the face of villages. It will be a march towards clean, healthy and prosperous villages in India.