Uganda is still one of the poorest countries in the world and is faced with an abundance of economic, social and environmental problems. Even the will and the motivation for development are remarkable and lead to significant success. Dry toilet facilities are an appropriate solution to the sanitation problem, since they improve sanitation provision where required, reduce respectively inhibit water pollution, encourage water conservation and recover and recycle nutrients and organic matter. In order to support recent developments regarding alternative water and sanitation concepts many research scientists work on different strategies, aiming new concepts for a self-sustaining and affordable sanitation systems which also meets the acceptance of the users. One of these new methods of solutions is based on the separation of urine and faeces and is indicated as dry toilet. This technology is part of a closed loop system, where human excreta are handled as a resource and where these excretions are stored and treated on site. But the storage and treatment of human excretions on site also causes various problems, such as an unfavourable distribution of contaminated air towards the user area. Therefore, the main focus of this work was on finding solutions with which it should be possible to reduce respectively to eliminate the odour in the user-chamber of the dry toilet and its surrounding area. Thus, various facilities in the south-western part of Uganda, such as Kabale, Kisoro, Kalungu and Mbarara were visited and observed over a period of three month, from the 12th of March to the 12th of June. Series of measurements and close-ups of existing installations gave an over-view about the quality and efficiency of the implemented ventilation schemes. The observed toilets were categorized as “Type Kabale” and “Type Enviro-Loo”, whereas the ventilation technique of the first mentioned type can roughly be described as simpler, cheaper and less advanced in comparison with the aeration technique of the Enviro-Loo toilet. Due to the quantification of recorded data and interviews, it was possible to find specific solutions with the aim of finding new components and the adaptation of already existing parts, regarding facility design and technical applications as follows: Technical applications: • Flow accelerator (with/without power supply) • Shaped pieces/capture elements • Vent pipe cover • Squatting-pan lid (standard, mechanical, electrical) Facility design: 73 Building Technology and Management • Storage above the ground • Consideration of the exhaust air direction • Situation of the toilet according to the main wind/sun appearance • Vent pipe diameter With these measures and deliberations it should be possible to improve future dry toilet implementations in view of aeration techniques and related design purviews, whereas it has to mentioned that only the observation of practical implemented constructions allow statements about their functionality and feasibility. However, the further development of the dry toilet in view of aeration-technologies and other purviews with the consideration of social, financial and technical parameter is highly important to create a product, which is able to meet the requirements of modern conventional sanitation facilities in order to be an accepted alternative option to them.

Bibliographic information

Groth, F. (2005). Ventilation of dry toilets Case Study: Close-ups of various installations in Uganda MSc Thesis. Burgenland University GmbH, Building Technology and Management, Pinkafeld, Germany

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Urine diversion dehydration toilets (UDDTs) Case studies in other formatsEnglish

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Uganda

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