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Pit latrines collect human feces in a hole in the ground. The principle of a pit latrine is that all liquids that enter the pit – in particular urine and water used for anal cleansing – seep into the ground (the only exception are fully lined pit latrines, see below).
A latrine is a toilet or an even simpler facility that is used as a toilet within a sanitation system. For example, it can be a communal trench in the earth in a camp to be used as emergency sanitation, a hole in the ground (pit latrine), or more advanced designs, including pour-flush systems.
What is a Pit Latrine? A pit latrine is the simplest and most affordable way to improve sanitation and hygiene in a community that does not have access to indoor plumbing. There are two main types of pit latrines: urban wet pit latrines and rural dry pit latrines (or simple pit latrines).
A pit latrine is a way to deposit excreta directly or indirectly into a hole in the ground. In the pit, excreta are decomposed into gases, liquids and solids. Gases escape to the atmosphere. Liquids soak into the soil. Solids which remain become harmless after a year and can be dug from the pit and used as fertilizer.
Pit latrines, in their many forms, are still the most likely sanitary solution for low-income families in both rural and urban areas. Their simplicity and low-cost, and the possibility of improving them incrementally over time makes them an ideal choice. Design, build and maintain a pit latrine well and it can provide many years of
Discussion: We estimated that approximately 1.77 billion people use pit latrines as their primary means of sanitation. Studies of pit latrines and groundwater are limited and have generally focused on only a few indicator contaminants.
The Single Pit Latrine is one of the most widely used sanitation technologies. Excreta, along with anal cleansing materials (water or solids) are deposited into the pit. Lining the pit prevents it from collapsing and provides support to the superstructure.
