Glossary/Pour-flush latrine
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WHO-Definition
Latrine where a small quantity of water is poured in to flush excrete through a water seal into a pit (WHO 1992).
Explanation
Pour-flush leaching pit latrines overcome the problems of flies, mosquitoes and odour by having a pan with a water seal (a U-shaped conduit partly filled with water) in the defecation hole. Excreta deposited in the latrine pan is flushed by pouring 2 to 3 litres of water into it. Water remains in the U-shaped conduit blocking air flow and odour. The mixture is directed into a pit and organic wastes are biodegraded (WHO 2003). Sludge has to be regularly emptied from the pit. The use of two adjoining pits alternately enables the sludge in a full pit to undergo further decomposition while the other pit is being used, and enables manual sludge emptying after further sludge decomposition. More water percolates through the soil surrounding the pit, and the potential for groundwater pollution is higher. A pour flush toilet with a pit is therefore not suitable when groundwater table is close to the surface (UNEP 2000).
References and Links
WHO (1992) A guide to the development of on-site sanitationUNEP (2000) International Source Book On Environmentally Sound Technologies for Wastewater and Stormwater ManagementWHO (2003) Linking technology choice with operation and maintenance in the context of community water supply and sanitation: A reference document for planners and project staff
IRC, WHO (2000) Operation and maintenance of rural water supply and sanitation systems: A training package for managers and plannersWHO (2002) Healthy villages : a guide for communities and community health workers
WHO Lexicon page (translations and examples)
