Page 23 - WATER SECTOR MAGAZINE VOLUME 3
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Scaling up sanitation through Corbelled
Latrine Technology
By SMORDEN TOMOKA and affordable sanitation facilities that sub structure, superstructure and roofing,
UNITED PURPOSE meet the needs of most rural and poor all made using local materials. Previously,
communities. a leading barrier to the construction of
Despite great Community Led Total improved latrines was the household’s
Sanitation (CLTS) advances, there are still Since 2014, over 300 households in Dowa over estimation of the construction costs.
concerns about households continually and Kasungu Districts have adopted the The Corbelled Latrine does not require
struggling with basic latrines that collapse Corbelled latrine, thereby improving use of cement, which has proven to be the
after a short time, especially during the access to sustainable sanitation facilities biggest motivating factor for households
rains. and practices for over 6,000 people. to construct the Corbelled Latrine.
Most communities continue to construct Since they were constructed in 2014, all The pit is 140cm in diameter and two
basic latrines that require regular of these 300 Corbelled latrines remain meters deep; it requires 400 to 450 bricks
improvements and maintenance for functional and intact, with no cases of for lining. The superstructure can be
a community to be sustainably Open collapsing. In addition to their low cost made of bricks or grass, depending on
Defecation Free (ODF). Furthermore, and durability, they have proven to be the available materials and resources. A
those willing to improve their latrines are environmentally friendly as they do brick superstructure would require an
often faced with only expensive options not require wood, their lifespan is 6-7 additional 1,000 bricks.
offered on the market, prompting them years and do not require other materials
to opt for unsustainable basic latrines or for annual reconstruction like basic pit In order to reduce overall costs of a
even resort to open defecation. latrines so often do. complete Corbelled latrine, consumers
are encouraged to mobilize construction
In view of these challenges, United UP has trained 50 sanitation masons in material from their own locality such
Purpose (UP) partnered with Local the construction of the Corbelled latrine as bricks for lining and walling, and
Sanitation Entrepreneurs to promote to enhance their capacity in providing plastic sheeting or grass for thatching the
durable latrines that do not require sustainable and improved sanitation to roof. The entrepreneurs charge between
cement. This innovation is what is called their communities beyond the lifespan MK1,500 and MK3,000 per pit for the
‘Corbelled Latrine’ (Chimbudzi Cha of the project, in addition to providing construction, in addition to MK1,500
ZakaZaka). income. Furthermore, these sanitation for pit lining and MK1,500 for the
masons have gone on to train their peers superstructure.
The Corbelled latrine was recently in latrine construction, to further expand
developed and successfully tested by the the reach of the financial and health The Sanitation Entrepreneurs who have
Mzuzu University’s Smart Centre. The benefits of this initiative. been trained through the program
latrine’s durable design reduces risks of are placed strategically within the
collapsing, while facilitating access to safe The Corbelled latrine is composed of lined communities to support construction and
installation of Corbelled latrines.
Each entrepreneur is assigned a number
of villages under his or her jurisdiction.
The sanitation entrepreneurs take orders
for constructions directly from the
communities. The entrepreneurs also stock
some sanitation products such as drop-
hole cover, plastic sanitation slabs that
can be distributed to communities upon
request. These Sanitation Entrepreneurs
have push bikes to support their mobility.
Benefits of Corbelled Latrines include:
Saving time and money from
rebuilding each year
Improving respect amongst
neighbours and visitors, particularly for
women
The latrine stays dry and
withstands adverse conditions during the
rainy season
Reducing risks of falling inside
a poorly constructed pit latrine
Corbelled Latrine under construction
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