LINKING TECHNOLOGY CHOICE WITH OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
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perform these tasks themselves. If these tasks are carried out by the private (often informal) sector, the labourers should also be educated in the concept of the system and its O&M requirements.
8.6.3 Actors and their roles Actors
Roles
Skills required
User.
Use the latrine, flush it, keep it clean, and inspect it and perform small repairs.
☺
Sanitation worker.
Use the latrine, flush it, keep it clean, and inspect it and perform small repairs.
Local mason.
Build and repair latrines.
Health department.
Monitor latrines and the hygienic behaviour of users, train users in hygienic behaviour.
☺ Simple (often requires gender-specific awareness-raising, and training activities to change behaviour and build capacity); Technical skills. Highly qualified.
8.6.4 O&M technical requirements Activity and frequency
Materials and spare parts
Tools and equipment
Water, soap.
Brush, water container.
— unblock the U-trap, PVC pipes or diversion box;
Water.
Flexible stick or other flexible tools.
— repair the squatting pan or seat, U-trap or shelter.
Cement, sand, water, nails, local building materials.
Bucket or bowl, trowel, saw, hammer, knife.
— close a full pit with soil and dig a new pit (in the case of a single-pit system);
Soil, several local building materials, and nails.
Shovels, picks, bucket, hammer, knife, saw, etc.
— or, empty the pit;
By hand: water.
By hand: shovel, bucket.
By mechanical means: water, spare parts for machinery.
By mechanical means: pit-emptying equipment.
Water, sand, cement, bricks, clay etc.
Shovel, bucket.
Daily — clean the squatting pan or seat and shelter. Monthly — inspect the floor, squatting pan or seat, and U-trap for cracks; — inspect the diversion box for blockage. Occasionally
Depending on size and users
— divert excreta flush to the other pit (in the case of a double pit).
8.6.5 Potential problems — the U-trap becomes blocked because of bad design or improper use; — the U-trap is damaged because the unblocking was not done correctly (sometimes U-traps are broken on purpose to prevent blockage);