“Application of Eco-toilets for Improvement of Sanitary Condition in Needy Rural Residential Areas”
Sanitation
2000
Public information alone doesn’t change behaviors
Move people up the sanitation ladder
This field has not been completed
Application of advanced technologies for the poor.
Eco-toilets have not been applied yet in Armenia. The idea is to replace the village’s school’s open pit-toilet with four eco-toilets (four sections), which will allow providing sanitary norms, preventing health problems, reducing environmental pollution. Nutrients (N, P) collected in eco-toilets’ tanks can be used as fertilizer.
Eco-toilets have the following advantage:
• comfort and hygiene;
• don’t smell;
• don’t need a connection to water supply and sewerage;
• don’t pollute groundwater and soil;
• produce excellent fertilizer;
• can be built inside (warm in winter);
• reduce risk of bladder infections
The selected village of the project implementation is located within mountainous region, which being one of the poorest regions in the country, is included in the National program of poverty reduction.
The following activities are planned:
1. Selection of eco-toilet type, its design, construction
2. With the purpose of explaining the idea of eco-toilets and for behavioral changes, implementing campaign and explaining rules of eco-toilet use in the school
Being the first experience in Armenia, positive experience of eco-toilets can be an attractive example for expanding experience in villages. The possibilities increase because of the fact that they are cheap and do not require great costs, water or electric energy. Eco-toilets can also be applied in other facilities in villages (hospital, kinder-garden, village authority, village products processing private enterprise). It can result in availability of sewerage system in the village, improving sanitary-hygienic, health condition of population and environmental protection.
The project outcomes can be expanded in similar residential areas in Caucasus countries, transferring the obtained experience and outcomes.
We cooperate with NGOs for public awareness raising (namely - Country Water Partnership NGO, Armenia and Sustainable Water Management NGO, Armenia ), as well as international organizations and networks, such as Global Water Partnership, CACENA.
Through installing eco-toilet in school, the health and sanitary problems of schoolchildren and teachers, particularly for women and girls will be solved.
Obtaining the consent and interest of the selected community can be a challenge.
Through installing eco-toilet in school, the health and sanitary problems of 500 schoolchildren and 40 teachers will be solved. Particularly for women and children the risk of bladder infections and sexual harassment will be reduced. Absence of girls from lessons during winter season will reduce, which will make stable education-related gender balance. Through expanding the project idea after its successful implementation, the population in similar villages with similar conditions of sanitation (that is the common case in Armenian villages) can be served.
This field has not been completed
This field has not been completed
This field has not been completed
This field has not been completed
Schoolchildren and teachers
Population of the village
Local self governing authority
We expect some co-financing from GWP CANENA. A certain financial input will be provided also from the part of the organization itself.
2005 2006 2007
Total annual turnover, USD 202.150 200.250 500.400
Our current sources of revenue are the consulting/design projects implemented by the order of national/international organizations.
This field has not been completed
This field has not been completed
Most of the villages in Armenia lack sewerage system. Important facilities of villages (school, hospital, kindergarten, local authority), have pit-toilets, which, particularly in cold winter, creates serious problems for population, particularly for schoolchildren and teachers. Girls suffer more from inadequate sanitation. In winter toilets and their surrounding freeze, sanitary conditions do not meet standards that creates serious health problems.
Eco-toilets have not been applied yet in Armenia. However, we are aware of the tangible positive results and advantages of application of eco-toilets in other post-soviet countries.
Eduard Mesropyan is Water and Wastewater Engineer. He is director of JINJ Ltd. engineering-consulting company, Armenia, acting in the filed of water supply and wastewater for more than 15 years. During his working activity Mr. Mesropyan has been engaged in scientific, operational, design and consulting problems and issues in the fields of water supply and wastewater, as well as water resources protection and management.