EXCRETA DISPOSAL METHODS & SANITARY LATRINES

EXCRETA DISPOSAL METHODS AND SANITARY LATRINES

• Excreta disposal is one of the most essential components of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene.

• Improper disposal leads to contamination of water, soil, and food, causing the spread of fecal-oral infections such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, helminthiasis, etc.

• Excreta includes human faeces and urine.

• Ayurveda also emphasizes proper disposal and hygiene in the context of “सौचविधान” (Sauchavidhan) and “शौचकर्म” (Shauchakarma) for maintaining health.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
चरकसंहिता सूत्रस्थान 5/93
स्नानं शौचं तपः स्वाध्यायो देवपूजाविनियोगः |
आचार्यसेवनं नित्यं शौचमित्यभिधीयते ||

SUSHRUTA SAMHITA SUTRASTHANA 24/9
शौचाचारसमायुक्तं नित्यं शुद्धोदकाहृतम्।
गृहे युक्तमिति प्रोक्तं स्वास्थ्यमन्यत्कथं भवेत्॥

OBJECTIVES OF EXCRETA DISPOSAL

• To prevent contamination of water sources, food and soil.

• To prevent spread of infectious diseases.

• To ensure privacy, dignity, and safety of individuals.

• To promote cleanliness and environmental hygiene.

EXCRETA DISPOSAL METHODS

A. CONSERVANCY METHODS (MANUAL COLLECTION AND REMOVAL)

• Open defecation: Unsafe, leads to environmental pollution and disease spread.

• Bucket latrine: Faeces collected in buckets and manually removed. Unhygienic, banned in many countries due to manual scavenging.

B. SANITARY METHODS (HYGIENIC, NON-MANUAL HANDLING)
These include safe disposal and treatment of excreta without direct contact.

1. SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM

• Underground tank where excreta undergoes anaerobic decomposition.

• Connected to soak pit for effluent.

• Suitable for individual households and semi-urban areas.

2. POUR FLUSH LATRINES

• Water-seal squatting pan connected to a pit or tank.

• Requires small quantity of water (1-2 litres).

• Odour-free and hygienic.

3. PIT LATRINES

• Excreta deposited into a pit directly under or behind the toilet.

• Can be single pit, twin pit (used alternately).

• Covering the pit with soil helps decomposition.

• Economical and suitable for rural areas.

4. COMPOSTING TOILETS (BIOGAS LATRINES)

• Faeces decomposed to form manure or biogas using aerobic/anaerobic process.

• Eco-friendly and sustainable.

5. ECO-SAN TOILETS (ECOLOGICAL SANITATION)

• Separation of urine and faeces.

• Urine diverted for agricultural use; faeces composted.

• Resource recovery-based model.

6. COMMUNITY LATRINES / PUBLIC TOILETS

• Used in urban slums, high-density areas.

• Maintained by local bodies, NGOs or PPP model.

• Requires regular cleaning and water supply.

7. SEWERAGE SYSTEM (WATER CARRIAGE SYSTEM)

• Excreta and wastewater conveyed through underground pipes to treatment plants.

• Highly effective but costly; needs maintenance and infrastructure.

SANITARY LATRINES
Sanitary latrines are those that dispose of human excreta safely without causing pollution or spreading diseases.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SANITARY LATRINE

• No direct contact with faeces.

• Odour-free and fly-proof.

• Prevents water and soil contamination.

• Easy to clean and maintain.

• Provides privacy, safety and comfort.

TYPES OF SANITARY LATRINES

A. IMPROVED PIT LATRINES

• Covered pit with ventilation pipe (VIP latrine).

• Reduces fly breeding and foul smell.

B. POUR FLUSH LATRINES

• Flushes excreta to pit or tank with small amount of water.

• Prevents odour and flies with water seal.

C. SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM

• For permanent households; faeces settle and decompose in a closed tank.

• Requires periodic cleaning.

D. BIO-TOILETS / BIO-DIGESTER TOILETS

• Use bacterial culture to decompose excreta into water and gas.

• Useful in railways, defence, remote areas.

MODERN RECOMMENDATIONS (AS PER COMMUNITY MEDICINE TEXTBOOKS)

• WHO guidelines recommend “Sanitation Ladder”: basic sanitation → improved sanitation → safely managed sanitation.

• UNICEF and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) promote ODF (Open Defecation Free) status through use of toilets.

• Sanitation plays a major role in preventive medicine and is a part of Primary Health Care (PHC).

• Integration of SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• Use of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) are promoted to increase toilet usage.

AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE

• Daily routine (Dinacharya) and health maintenance include maintaining hygiene.

• Shouchakarma (defecation) should be done at proper time and in isolated, clean places.

• Emphasis on parisheka (washing) after excretion and desha shuddhi (place cleanliness).

ASHTANGA HRIDAYA SUTRASTHANA 2/25
अवश्यमेव निःसार्यं पूरयित्वा च मारुतम् |
नित्यं कालप्रमाणज्ञः शौचविध्यभिपूर्णधीः ||