This case study is on sanitation and water supply at a rural secondary school near Kalungu in the Masaka District in Uganda. The construction work of the project started in 2003 and focused on the upgrading of water supply and sanitation facilities for 350 students and 50 teachers. The construction and consultancy costs were approximated to be EUR 70,000. Before 2003, wastewater from the teachers' quarters and sisters' house was drained in soak pits. The students used 35 pit latrines. Greywater from showers and the kitchen was discharged in a creek outside the school’s compound. The situation was dangerous for human health because the groundwater table was high, and the soak pits and pit latrines were located near the spring used by the school and local villagers as drinking water. During the project the existing pit latrines for the students were replaced by 45 UDD toilets built in blocks which allow the operator, who is employed by the school, to empty the faeces chambers from the back of the building. For the teachers, a UDD toilet building was constructed which also serves as a demonstration unit for visitors. The remaining wastewater is treated in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. Since the project has been implemented, the school has become famous in Uganda and worldwide for its innovative sanitation concept, and even featured in a documentary in 2005. The project was planned by the EcoSan Club Austria in consultation with Technisches Büro Lechner (TBL). The construction was done by a local company.

Bibliographic information

Müllegger, E., Schlick, J., Werner, C. (2009). UDD toilets at a rural secondary school Kalungu, Uganda Case study of sustainable sanitation projects Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA)

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Constructed wetlandsUrine diversion dehydration toilets (UDDTs) Faeces or faecal sludgeRuralSchoolsCase studies in SuSanA templateEnglish

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