Toilets and Urinals

The Himalayas are inhabited by 40 million people, most of whom are dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. The prevalent water scarcity also means a lack of water for sanitation. In this case, both open defecation and conventional sewerage pose a health risk. Conventional toilets not only consume a lot of water, but the effluent also pollutes groundwater.

Waterless urinals (WLU) save water, energy and use urine as resource ( Image courtesy: R Sakthivel)

A fundamental change in the principles, approach and strategies of water management in India has been proposed in the Twelfth Plan

Why is this paradigm shift needed ?

Biotoilets are biological toilets, named so because they convert human waste into non toxic, non contaminating water compatible with environmental standards, through application of multi strain bacteria culture, using aerobic forms of bacteria.

Gender in WASH: Misplaced perspective in WASH sector

This edition of the India WASH Forum has the following highlights:

This document by Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation , Ministry of Urban Development, is an analysis of 2011 census data on of the drinking water and latrine facilities in urban areas of the country.

Given the many problems associated with flush toilets and the sewerage system, pit toilets offer a viable solution in India. However, the use of soakpits raises the question of groundwater contamination. This paper assesses the impact of pit toilet leachate on groundwater quality in Mulbagal town (pop ~ 60,000) in Karnataka relies on pit toilets, and uses groundwater for drinking.

The briefing papers include the following: