School Sanitation Systems

The provision of sanitation facilities in schools, whether rural or urban, is extremely

important for the following reasons:

Inculcating good sanitation habits and hygiene behaviours in children from a

young age. This is crucial to breaking the cycle of faeco-oral contamination that
results from open defecation. Children trained to use latrines will never defecate
in the open.
The presence of sanitation facilities has a direct impact on the attendance of girl
children
Girl children require privacy and security when using a sanitation system
The teachers and staff of a school also require a sanitation system that is efficient,
safe and affords privacy

The most common way to implement a school sanitation system is to use any
combination of ventilated pit latrines or pour-flush latrines connected to leach pits and
soak pits, septic tanks or a municipal sewerage system.

A school sanitary block with a single latrine connected to a leach pit

A school sanitary block with multiple latrines connected to a leach pit

A school sanitary block

constructed by Gramalaya, Tamil Nadu
Cost estimate for a typical School Sanitary Block
Size: 20x9, Height: 6, Total Seats- 10

S. No

Particulars

Quantity

1
2
3

Cement
Sand
Ceramic pan water closet 18 size with P trap
and footrest
Earthwork excavation charges
R. R. work foundation
Stoneware pipes 4
Basement work with R.R
White washing and painting
Ceramic tiles 8x8 size, fitting charges
Water tap connection with toilets and urinals
Pre-cast reinforced cement slab for toilet
roof, 4x2 size, 2 inch thickness
Door with iron frame and tin sheet 5x2 size
Country Bricks, 9 size
Masonry charges
Unskilled labour charges
Transport charges
Total Cost (approx.)

25 bags
2 units
1 No.

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Unit
Amount
Cost
Rs. P
160.00 4000.00
1800.00 1800.00
180.00

1 cart load
6 Nos.

350.00
30.00

8 boxes

210.00

4 Nos.
3 Nos.
3000 Nos.
10 days
20 days

180.00
750.00
350.00
180.00
1200.00
1200.00
1680.00
750.00

150.00

600.00

400.00
1.25
125.00
50.00

1200.00
3750.00
1250.00
1000.00
500.00
20390.00

Multiple latrines
Very often, sanitation facilities will be needed for an entire community. There is also a
need for multiple latrines at places where large numbers of people meet, such as schools,
restaurants, offices, etc. In some cultures there is also a preference for separate latrines
for men and women or adults and children. In these instances too, any combination of
ventilated pit latrines or pour-flush latrines connected to leach pits, septic tanks or a
municipal sewerage system can be successfully implemented.
Connecting a number of pour-flush latrines to a common pit

VIP latrines may also be constructed over a common pit but the number of toilet holes
using a single vent pipe should be limited to two. A multiple double-pit VIP latrine has
been developed where each cubicle has two holes or seats. These holes are used
alternately in the same way as double-pit VIPs. The holes are used in such a way that the
two holes which serve a pit are in use (or not in use) at the same time. The holes not
being used are sealed. The dividing walls in the pit must extend to the full height of the
pit.

Connecting a number of double-pit VIP latrines

Sanitation Solutions for Households

Individual households, whether in urban or rural areas are perhaps the most important
constituency to be addressed in any sanitation programme. While community toilets are
effective for slums and sometimes in rural areas also, the real challenge in raising
sanitation levels and public health lies in getting individual households to adopt safe and
effective sanitation systems and improved hygiene behaviours.
An additional requirement in households is for bathing and washing facilities;
fortunately, most of the sanitation options discussed till now can also be adapted to
individual households. Lets examine some of them:
Bathroom Attached Toilet, Model 1

Source: Gramalaya

An artists conception of a toilet with an attached bathroom

Cost estimate for a toilet with attached bathroom

Size: 8x4, Height: 5
S. No

Particulars

Quantity

1
2
3

Cement
Sand
Ceramic pan water closet 20 size with P trap
and footrest attached
Stoneware pipes 4
Pre-cast reinforced cement slab, 3 dia, 2
thickness
Door with tin sheet 5x2 size
Cement Hollow Blocks, Size- 16x8x4
Masonry charges
Unskilled labour charges
Transport charges
Total Cost (approx.)

2 bags
50 baskets
1 No.

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Bathroom Attached Toilet, Plinth Level, Model 2

Source: Gramalaya

2 Nos.
1 Nos.
1 No.
120 Nos.
2 days
4 days

Unit
Amount
Cost
Rs. P
160.00
320.00
3.00
150.00
180.00

180.00

25.00

50.00

150.00

150.00

250.00
6.75
125.00
50.00

250.00
810.00
250.00
200.00
50.00
2410.00

S. No
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9

Cost estimate for a toilet with attached bathroom, plinth level

Size: 8x4
Particulars
Quantity Unit
Amount
Cost
Rs. P
Cement
1 bag
160.00
160.00
Sand
30 baskets
3.00
90.00
Ceramic pan water closet 18 size with P trap 1 No.
180.00
180.00
and footrest attached
Stoneware pipes 4
1 Nos.
30.00
30.00
Pre-cast reinforced cement slab, 3 dia, 2
1 Nos.
150.00
150.00
thickness
Cement Hollow Blocks, Size- 16x8x4
18 Nos.
6.75
121.50
Masonry charges
1.5 days
125.00
195.00
Transport charges
50.00
Total Cost (approx.)
2410.00

Sanitation Superstructures
The way a toilet and/or bathroom is covered often plays an important role in its
acceptability by the user. Every type of toilet must offer complete privacy to its users,
both male and female, especially the latter. The type of superstructure used depends
largely on the financial ability of the user and on the local availability of the necessary
materials.
Common structures used with or without roofs are thatched leaves and hollow cement
blocks or bricks, with wood, tin sheets or cloth used as doors.

Thatched sidewalls and doors for a stick model latrine

Thatched superstructure for a direct pit pre-cast slab latrine

The other common type of superstructure is built with bricks or hollow concrete blocks as
depicted in the pictures of various toilet types in the preceding pages.