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The Green Outdoor Toilet for Rural Developing Areas




A Toilet enclosure made inside a green hedge
While it has been recognized that using the outdoors as a toilet is a very poor idea leading to pollution of the environment and water sources, there is a need to come up with low cost alternatives. Depending on the location, different solutions are required. There cannot be one size fit all solution.

There are four areas of expenses

  1. The toilet seat and associated piping
  2. The septic tank
  3. The enclosure
  4. Water piping

In earlier posts of this blog very low cost alternative to item 1 (see) and 2 have been discussed and as regards item four it is also possible to improvise with a bucket of water drawn from a hand pump nearby thrown in the toilet. The cost of the enclosure however remains. In rural areas where open land is available next to the dwelling it is possible to build an enclosure with a green hedge too as shown in the figure. It may be argued that this does not provide full privacy but it has to noted, this is being proposed for those used to the open with no privacy at all. It is also true that a hedge can develop dry patches from time to time but such areas can be covered temporarily with a cloth thrown over it until the growth revives.  The main limitation of this method aside from the extra land coverage is that, green growth takes time to grow and such a toilet may not come up overnight. It is suggested that until the growth comes up, a sheet of plastic wrapped around bamboo sticks be used on the inner sides of the hedge. The sheer may be left in until the elements destroy it but in the meantime the hedge should have come up. The choice of the hedge plant would depend on what grows best in the area, and as every hedge, this hedge too would require clipping from time to time.



OTHER ATTRACTIVE GREEN OPTIONS

There are several other green options for constructing enclosures for rural toilets. In Rajasthan, India huts are at times constructed on farms out of panels made from millet stalks. These as well as other grass mats tied to four wooden poles at four corners can easily make an enclosure. A jute or plastic curtain on one side may improvise a door. In other areas panels made out of bamboo sticks are available easily and these too can be used to make enclosures. These are in fact a fashion item in big cities.


Yet another idea four the four corner pillars is to plant seven feet high cutting of trees like drumstick, that would eventually grow to provide a roof for rain and sun and can even create a support for an overhead plastic water tank, supported in a manner similar to tree house3s. The trimming from this tree are excellent fodder for cows and goats.

Cleaner exhibition is better than open defecation
Image from:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E2%80%9CThis_is_a_movement_against_open_defecation._Cleanliness_is_going_to_be_our_identity%E2%80%9D._%2810656649943%29.jpg
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