Pit latrin impact on groundwater quality

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I am looking for some document, case studies, scientific standards related to pit latrine construction and its impact on ground water. Mrs. Rajput can you share some pl?

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2 Answers

  1. good information

  2. Sameer, as we know Pit latrines are one of the most common human excreta disposal systems in low-income countries, and their use is on the rising as countries aiming to meet the sanitation-related target of the MDGs. Properly built and maintained pit latrins can decrease the spread of disease by reducing the amount of human feces in the environment from open defecation

    According authors of a research paper “Pit Latrines and Their Impacts on Groundwater Quality: A Systematic Review” globally 1.77 billion people around the world use some form of pit latrine as their primary means of sanitation.

    Liquids leach from these pit and pass the unsaturated soil zone . Subsequently, these liquids from the pit enter the groundwater where they may lead to groundwater pollution

    During the passage in the soil, pathogens can die off or be adsorbed significantly (say all most 40-50%), mostly depending on the travel time between the pit and the well.

    The degree of pathogen removal strongly varies with soil type, aquifer type, distance and other environmental factors.For this reason, it is difficult to estimate the safe distance between a pit and a water source.

    I am sharing here some links for you

    1. MANUAL FOR SAFE USE AND DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER, GREYWATER AND EXCRETA - a report by WHO

    2. Groundwater Protection manual

    3. Assessing the Risk to Groundwater from On-site Sanitation - A report by British geological Survey and DFID

    4. Pit Latrin Construction Manual

    5. Pit Latrines and Their Impacts on Groundwater Quality: A Systematic Review a paper by Jay P. Graham and others

    6. Assessing the Risk to Groundwater from On-site Sanitation


    You can also read some useful discussion on the water network on Pit latrines here.

    Sameer let me know if you need some more info. Group members are also suggested to add their inputs to the discussion.