June 2008

Loos in the Loop – New school latrines in Zambia

Our latrine building programme at Fiwila School is nearing completion now as these photographs illustrate

The curved blocks are made on site and used to line the pit in a lattice formation to allow soak away but prevent the walls from caving in.

A concrete slab is then cast and covers the hole.

The superstructure contains two latrines and again uses the curved blocks with roof tiles made on site.

A ventilation pipe facing north to maximise exposure to the sun ensures that air is drawn up through it thereby drawing fresh air through the loo and into the pit. This keeps the latrine smelling clean.

The design life is 10+ years and three units containing 10 latrines are being completed at the moment for the school. Last year the old latrines collapsed after heavy rains.

There has been considerable interest in the design with a local NGO called PPHP visiting Fiwila to assess the latrines. They now hope to copy this approach at one of their housing projects in Lusaka.

Fiwila School Project

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