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Report 2 (of 6): A Clean
Concern - Jamaica
Introduction
In the period 1986 to 1990, the population of Jamaica
grew by an estimated 1% per annum. The 1991 census
showed that the population stood at 2,374,193. Increased
urbanisation has resulted in over half of the population
now living in cities and towns. Tremendous pressure
has been placed on the island's supply of housing
and the growth in squatter settlements is accelerating
rapidly. They are developing in vulnerable areas
without access to acceptable sewage disposal, garbage
collection and domestic water facilities.
Improper sewage disposal facilities are a serious
threat to vital water systems. There is no clean
water to drink due to contamination and the risk
of contracting typhoid, cholera and other water born
diseases is high.
Informal Settlements in Jamaica
Norwood and Rose Heights are two squatter settlements
situated on the outskirts of Montego Bay. These communities
are hidden in the hills, behind the town, on rocky
terrain. The basic water supply and sanitation infrastructure
has been non-existent. Children have the burden of
carrying water to the homes which they collect two
or three times a day. It is a difficult and heavy
task, especially if the local pipe is dry, and they
have to go to a tank further away.
The communities have, in the past, used plastic
bags or the bush as a substitute for a toilet and
these poor hygiene and sanitation practices have
presented a further danger to good health.
The Construction Resource and Development Centre
and the Sanitation Support Unit
The Construction Resource and Development Centre (CRDC)
organised a branch office - the Sanitation Support
Unit (SSU) - to carry out the sanitation programme
in the Montego Bay area. One of the key components
of the project was the development and construction
of sanitary facilities which would meet the requirements
of the Public Health Inspectors of the Jamaican Ministry
of Health.
Absorption Pits
The absorption pit works like a natural filter and
whatever is put into it filters through the sides
into the soil where it breaks down and becomes harmless.
Faeces, toilet paper, urine and soot from the chimney
can all be put into an absorption pit and will be
broken down effectively. Rubbish such as plastic
bags, diapers, sanitary towels, waste water left
over from the kitchen or bath or washing and other
household garbage, must not be placed into the absorption
pit because it will block up the sides and nothing
else will be able to filter out.
Construction of an Absorption Pit
An absorption pit only takes three days to construct.
First, the ground is blasted to loosen the soil and
then the digging begins. Each pit must be at least
three metres deep. Before the top of the pit is sealed
with bamboo and cement, a "soak away" test is carried
out to check that if the pit is filled with water,
it will be absorbed into the soil. Absorption pits
are not always the best solution and will not be effective
if the soil is not permeable. Soil percolation tests
are performed only when there is concern that the absorption
pits will not absorb wastes at the appropriate rate.
Where this is the case, they become holding tanks which
require periodic extraction of the wastes by specialised
septic tank pumping equipment. If the soil proves to
be permeable, then a small, enclosed building can be
constructed over the pit to allow the occupant privacy.
Absorption pits are sealed with concrete covers eight feet in diameter. Each
one has an eighteen inch by eighteen inch lid which is tightly sealed to the
pit structure. The tight seal acts as a safety measure to prevent children
gaining access to the ten feet deep absorption pits. If necessary, the seal
can be broken by using a chisel.
Any large crevices in absorption pits are sealed in case they are connected
to sinkholes. Sinkholes are natural passages or tubes in limestone which function
as a direct channel for transporting waste to the sea. If a sinkhole is hit
directly during construction, a new excavation site must be found.
Quality
There are four main criteria which must be fulfilled to ensure that an absorption
pit will be effective:
dig deep enough,
do not make the bottom of the pit too narrow,
measure the pit, and
use adequate amounts of cement and reinforcement.
In the event of a pit being rock to a depth of ten feet, the contractors must
excavate to deeper depths to access permeable soils.
The concrete curing rates are dependent on the weather conditions.
Cost
The typical cost of a contractor-installed absorption pit is J$40,000. The
services of the SSU cost about J$4,500 and other construction materials, including
the toilet, the door, piping, a steel reinforcement bar, concrete block, sand,
cement and stone cost about J$14,500. Therefore, J$60,000 (approximately US$1,670)
needs to be made available in order to finance the complete construction of
a pit.
GBP£1 = J$58.7052 and US$1 = J$36 @ May 1998
Tips for Staying Healthy
Absorption pits can alleviate the problems of health hazards. However, education
is the key to successful long term sanitation and hygiene. The SSU has set
up a programme for educating children and it provides advice for staying healthy.
Make sure that faeces is put in the proper place for disposal, for example,
a pit laterine or flush toilet. Germs live and breed in dirt - make sure that
toilet areas are cleaned and disinfected regularly. The toilet should not be
close to the water source - germs can get into the water supply and make everyone
sick. When washing babies and nappies, the water becomes very dirty and should
be disposed of in a toilet or laterine. A separate tub should be used and cleaned
properly afterwards.
Water Handling and Storage
Water should be stored in clean, covered containers. Drinking water containers
should be poured from rather than dipping into the top - as hands or the dipping
cup can spread germs.
Water that has been in a container for more than 24 hours should be boiled
or chlorinated before drinking.
The most common way to spread germs is by the hands. Make sure that you and
your family wash your hands regularly with soap and clean water. Dry your hands
with a clean towel or air dry them.
For further information, please contact:
The Sanitation Support Unit (SSU), Ministry of Environment and Housing Office,
Albion Road, Montego Bay, Jamaica, West Indies.
Tel: +876 940 2933 4 Fax: +876 940 2935
Construction Resource & Development Centre, 11 Lady Musgrave Avenue, Kingston
10, Jamaica, West Indies.
Tel: +876 978 4061 / +876 978 8454 Fax: +876 978 4062
ITDG would like to thank the Construction Resource and Development Centre and
the Sanitation Support Unit for providing the original information on absorption
pits and USAID who provided the funding for the project.
Further reading related to this subject from ITDG Development Bookshop
Developing and Managing Community Water Supplies
Jan Davis, Gerry Garvey and Michael Wood
Based on direct field experience this book discusses the issues and stages
in the development of water supplies, from the initiation of a programme through
to the community management of the supply. The authors are experienced Oxfam
water fieldworkers.
1993 ISBN 0 85598 193 8 178pp. Pb (Oxfam) £8.95
Ferrocement Pour-Flush Latrine
Ariston Trinidad and Lilia Robles-Austriaco
A comprehensive instruction manual which aims to improve sanitation. It describes
the construction of a ferrocement pour-flush latrine especially designed for
low-income people in developing coutnries and includes relevant sanitation
concepts.
1989 ISBN 9 74820 063 9 38pp. pb (Intl.Ferrocement Info.Ctr.) £2.50
Latrine Building: A handbook to implementing the Sanplat system
Bjorn Brandberg
This book describes a practical solution to the lack of basic sanitation facilities
in the form of a 'Sanplat': a specially designed concrete platform which can
be installed easily in rural latrines to improve sanitation and safety. It
has footrests to help users find the right position to avoid fouling the latrine;
the drop hole is large enough to use comfortably and small enough to be completely
safe, even for a child; and it is easy to keep clean. The latrines described
here can be built using locally available materials and skills, and are affordable
and appropriate to the needs of rural communities.
1997 ISBN 1 85339 306 1 208pp. pb (ITP) £9.95
Low-cost Sanitation: A survey of practical experience
John Pickford
About two billion people in the world have no adequate sanitation provision.
This book is a guide to what has been learned about providing sanitation coverage
for both rural and urban low-income communities, and outlines what is appropriate,
practical and acceptable.
1995 ISBN 1 85339 233 2 176pp. pb (ITP) £9.95
Sanitation without Water
Uno Winblad
1985 ISBN 0 333 391 40 3 pb (Macmillan) £6.25
Small Scale Sanitation
R. Feachem and A. M. Cairncross
An extremely useful introduction to a range of sanitation techniques, with
abundant detail on smaller systems from pit privies to sewerage systems.
1988 ISBN 0 90099 508 4 54pp. pb (Ross Institute) £5.50
Water Treatment and Sanitation
H. T. Mann and D. Williamson
A handbook of simple methods for rural areas in developing countries. This
corrected and revised impression includes a new appendix on planning in developing
towns.
1982 ISBN 0 903031 23 X 96pp. pb (ITP) £6.95
To order any of these books from ITDG Development Bookshop, send a Sterling
Cheque (adding 15% for postage and packing to European addresses, 25% elsewhere),
or credit card details (American Express, Visa or MasterCard) to:
ITDG Development Bookshop
103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH,United Kingdom.
Tel + 44 171 436 9761
Fax + 44 171 436 2013
Email orders@itpubs.org.uk
or visit our website at www.developmentbookshop.com
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