Engineering Student James Madison University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Consistent access to clean water and the disposal of human waste are two crucial attributes of a developing country. The Building Latrines in Tanzania team aims to address both of these challenges by improving upon latrines within Ifakara, Tanzania. Currently, Ifakara has a high-water table because it is situated in the Kilombero Valley in eastern Africa. There have been instances when the water comes to the surface without digging into the ground. This causes a problem for latrines and boreholes. There are frequently reported cases of cholera and other pathogens in the water that is extracted from groundwater sources through the boreholes. These pathogens come from human waste and fecal matter. The source of the problem is latrines are not sealed which allows harmful bacteria to leak into the water table. The latrines and boreholes are in close proximity to one another, allowing for a leaking latrine to potentially contaminate the groundwater. As many parts of the community obtain water from similar locations, this problem can potentially affect an entire community. The major challenges encountered during construction and solution generation are the constant challenge of water refilling the hole, avoiding solutions including filtration systems and boiling water before use. Once the hole for the latrine has been dug it immediately begins to fill with water due to the high water table in the area. This creates a need for the water to be constantly pumped out. Another challenge caused by the water is that it does not allow for the plaster (latrine lining) to cure properly to its final hardness. Some latrine bases are only lined with plaster (lime, sand, and water mixture used form smooth, hard surfaces) or nothing at all, making it more likely for pathogens to leak into the water table. Due to cultural and social practices, the community does not like to boil the water before drinking it. They have stated that it has a bad taste. Similarly, the community is untrusting of filters as they do not believe a water filter can truly remove all the harmful bacteria. This was clearly expressed to a group member during their study abroad in Ifakara when speaking with multiple community members. Thus, the focus of the problem is on the design of the latrines. The latrine designed by the team includes an aboveground twin pit made of brick, a shelter with a rainwater collection roof, and ventilation for both the shelter and the pits. These design decisions were made based on research into Tanzanian culture and other latrine designs. The twin pit design is made to approximately last 5 years and minimize the amount of times it needs to be emptied. The roof is slanted which results in rainfall collection that is stored in a tank, allowing the user to wash their hands. The ventilation system is used to release fumes and moisture to allow for a better latrine experience. We currently have a full Fusion 360 CAD model of our design.
