Open Pit Latrine

Preparing the Cement Foundation

Making Earthen Bricks

Setting the Base

Covering the Brick Chambers

Proud Owners with PCV Josh Russcol

Community Sanitation and Pride

In El Aguacate, a linear town near Nagua in the northeast built along a road through the rice fields, 46 latrines were constructed with Challenge Fund help to replace failing open pit latrines that were constantly filled with ground water. The high water table from normal flooding of the rice fields essentially filled the latrines to within 6 to 24 inches of the top, rendering them unsanitary and almost useless. As a result, community health standards were extremely low as the waste leached into canals used for bathing/washing.

The innovative solution of PCV Josh Russcol was to develop enclosed latrines of mortared brick to prevent water intrusion and human waste from leaking into the canals. Community members built brick and cement latrines with two seats over two separate chambers. Only one seat/chamber is used at a time. After one year, the seat/chamber is closed and treated while the families use the other seat/chamber. At the end of the second year, the first chamber is emptied and the contents (which are no longer contaminated because of treatment and drying up) can be safely used as fertilizer.