Public toilets: Mukuru BioCentres project, Kenya, wins honorable mention in 2009 Buckminster Fuller Challenge

The Mukuru BioCentres project, submitted by Umande Trust (Kenya) and GOAL Ireland, has received an honorable mention in the 2009 Buckminster Fuller Challenge. BioCentres offer “a comprehensive solution to some of the most egregious problems of urban slums, from poor sanitation to lack of clean water to unpredictable or nonexistent energy infrastructure”, according to the jury report. “The BioCentres, of which there are already 12 in operation in Kenya, are public toilets housed above a biogas digester that produces affordable fuel from human waste, which is then made available to the local community. The facilities also provide clean water, public space, and workspace which serves as an incubator for local businesses”.

A BioCentre is a biogas generating latrine block, managed by community groups, which can be located anywhere in a slum as it treats human waste in-situ without requiring sewerage infrastructure. It comprises of the following:

•  Digester: Mixes water and human waste in anaerobic conditions to make biogas; remaining liquid effluent is 90% pathogen free and filtered on site.
•  BioGas: Used for cooking and can be linked to children’s feeding projects. It reduces carbon emissions by converting methane to CO2 and water and by substituting the need for other fuels.
•  Toilets and washrooms: Ground floor to ensure disabled access with free ‘child only’ cubicles
•  Water Kiosk: selling affordable clean water
• Upper Floors: Maximizes restricted urban space, has a hall and ancillary rooms for community and livelihoods activities eg cottage industries or restaurant. Income generated through rental can subsidize the operation of the toilets.

The BioCentre can be built with locally available technology, local unskilled labor and requires minimal maintenance as it has no movable parts.

In each BioCentre there is a room for a community health worker. These are community members, trained by GOAL to disseminate hygiene and health information

Read the full project description here.

Web site: Unimade – BioCentres

Source: Buckminster Fuller Challenge, 04 May 2009

BioCentre in Kibera, Nairobi. Photo: Unmande Trust / Buckminster Fuller Challenge

BioCentre Groundfloor Plan. Photo: Unmande Trust / Buckminster Fuller Challenge

BioCentre design. Photo: Unmande Trust / Buckminster Fuller Challenge

Plumbing: US groups join in water efficiency research

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a January 6, 2009, memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony for five national organizations that have joined forces to do further research into water efficiency in plumbing, according to the Web site of the Chicago-based Alliance for Water Efficiency, the organization leading the partnership, that further consisted of:

• International Code Council
• International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)
• Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors Association
• Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.

The organizations pledged to develop research programs to assist in the development and use of water-efficient plumbing. The research will cover efficient and sustainable products, systems and practices, including:

• high-efficiency toilet drainage
• water reuse systems
• non-water consuming urinals, and 
• sizing of water-efficient plumbing systems

Source: Water Technology Online, 06 Jan 2009

Light-Weight Concrete Composite Ecosan Pans

EEDS has successfully developed various models of light weight concrete composites Ecosan pans with the support of UNICEF, New Delhi and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Sweden. These products were unveiled at the SACOSAN conference held in New Delhi recently.

[...] These pans can be easily produced by semi-skilled artisans using table vibrators with specially designed prefabricated FRP moulds. Several other building materials like tiles, bricks, drain, slabs, wall panels, tanks, etc, also can be produced using this unit. The compact unit can be fixed at a production centre or can be mobile fitted to a small tri-cycle.

The Ecosan pans are designed to provide benefits such as cheaper cost, localized production, better appearance & greater comfort for the users like the conventional toilet pans.

EEDS can assist agencies who are willing to develop such units in their operational areas for promoting Ecosan without depending on external suppliers for procuring Ecosan pans.

Read more: India Water Portal blog, 11 Dec 2008

Practical manual for the construction of pit latrines

Dutch NGO, Foundation Connect International, has published a simple and practical manual for the construction of pit latrines with a focus on slab production. The manual has been tested by the Southern Highlands Participatory Organisation (SHIPO), Connect International’s partner organisation in Tanzania.

The manual can be downloaded here

Comments on the manual are welcome