training of selected spis and mmdas on household toilets gama sanitation and water...

TRAINING OF SELECTED SPIs AND MMDAs ON HOUSEHOLD TOILETS

GAMA SANITATION AND WATER PROJECT

JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY:

THE PROJECT COORDINATING UNIT OF THE GREATER ACCRA

METROPOLITAN AREA SANITATION AND WATER PROJECT (GAMA SWP)

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE MINISTRY OF SANITATION AND WATER

WITH THE FACILITATION OF DR. PETER OWUSU-ANTWI

MARCH, 2018

1 | S P I a n d M M D A T r a i n i n g R e p o r t

SPI AND MMDA TRAINING ON HOUSEHOLD TOILET REPORT

Held on 14th - 16th March, 2018 at Institute of Local Government Studies, Ogbojo Madina

1. Introduction

The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project (GAMA SWP) has

currently constructed over 3,000 household toilet facilities. About 98 % of these household

installations comprise of bio-digesters with the remaining 2 % made up of the traditional toilets

such as septic tanks, pit latrines etc. Peculiar ground conditions such as limited space for

installation, complex layout making homes inaccessible, high water table area etc. have

necessitated the use of these bio-digesters predominantly on the project.

With the growing trends, it was necessary to conduct this training workshop to equip

participants with knowledge and skills to address some identified and reoccurring challenges

with the construction of household facilities and education of users on proper operation and

maintenance of the facility.

The Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) as the coordinators of the process appointed Dr. Peter

Owusu-Antwi to facilitate the training of SPIs and MMDAs under a 3-day training workshop

and the key stages of the process included the following:

i. Initial consultative meeting between the PCU to agree on the framework for the

training workshop,

ii. Selection of thematic areas on household toilet construction, operation and

maintenance,

iii. Preparation of demonstration materials for the training workshop,

iv. Conducting of training workshop for SPIs and MMDAs,

v. Presentation of report on training workshop.

This report focuses on the proceedings of the training workshop conducted for key

stakeholders1. The Validation Workshop had three main objectives as follows:

a) Review of excreta management options and the basis for their applicability

b) Overview of Bio-digesters

c) Designs and costing of bio-digesters

d) Siting and installation considerations

e) Operation and maintenance of bio-digesters

After going through these key objectives, the training was expected to achieve the following:

I. Review and understand key issues associated with construction of household toilets;

II. Equip SPIs and MMDAs to be able to understand the rationale behind building

sustainable household toilets;

1 The list of stakeholders who participated is attached as an appendix


III. Address issues associated with construction of bio-digesters in particular;

IV. Understand the Do’s and Don’ts when using bio-digesters;

2. Key challenges associated with bad construction of bio-digesters

Based on past constructions, it was observed that poorly constructed bio-digesters had the

following problems; and the training workshop sought to address these practically:

I. Bio-digesters getting full

II. Bio-digesters getting flooded

III. Poorly constructed drain fields discharging effluent into the open.

IV. Number of users exceeding the stipulated designed number of users e.g. 10 users/day

for standard digesters

3. Brief Description of the Biofil Toilet Technology

The Biofil Toilet System is an on-site faecal matter

treatment system. It was designed and developed

by Mr. Kweku Akuam Anno of Biological Filters

and Composters Ltd (BIOFILCOM). It comes as a

flush and microflush unit. As a flush unit, it

typically replaces the septic tank by receiving and

treating faecal matter directly from the water

closets or pourflush seat. As a microflush unit, the

superstructure sits on top of the biofil digester and

faecal matter is directly discharged into the

digester by the microflush seat with the release of

a foot flap and/or a pourflush seat. The microflush

seat is uniquely designed to use wastewater from a

hand washbasin; first as a water seal and secondly

as flush water to discharge faecal matter into the

digester. The operation of the biofil digester

whether used as a flush unit or microflush unit has

similar operational functions: flush water

undergoes rapid solid-liquid separation through a

porous filter; the solid waste is retained in a

‘digester’ chamber where it accelerates

decomposition into biosolids by the activities of

micro and macro-organisms.

The effluent (liquid) after solid-liquid separation undergoes bio-filtration via sub-surface

infiltration or through a sand media before being discharged into open drains.


The Biofil system brings together the benefits of the traditional flush toilet/septic tank system

and the ecological sanitation (ECOSAN) concept whilst eliminating the drawbacks of both

technologies (the need for large amounts of space, regular emptying, challenges with high water

table, and constant awareness raising on appropriate use).

4. Workshop proceedings, decisions and recommendations

The workshop was facilitated using the following key thematic areas:

i. Review of excreta management options and the basis for their applicability

ii. Overview of Bio-digesters

iii. Designs and costing of bio-digesters

iv. Siting and installation considerations

v. Operation and maintenance of bio-digesters

The outcome of the workshop discussions have been presented below.

i. Review of excreta management options and the basis for their applicability

The stakeholders particularly the MMDAs were taking through the various household toilet

technologies currently being used in the communities. The need to understand the design

principles of such household toilet facilities (e.g. number of users) and their applicability

were outlined. Plate 1.0 shows examples of onsite sanitation technologies currently being

used.

Plate 1: occurrence of on-site household toilets in urban areas

Stakeholders knew of the various technological options. They understood improved sanitation

and the construction of traditional facilities such as the VIP, KVIP and septic tanks.

Notwithstanding, their principles of operation was still not understood. The stakeholders who

they knew some details on the components of the facility did not understand the operations of

the bio-digesters and how it worked at the start of the training sessions.

Bucket latrine Pit latrine VIP KVIP ECL WC/septic tank Bio-digester


Observations and deductions from workshop:

The training reviewed that most of the Environmental Health Officers of the MMDAs

who have the mandate for approving household toilets lacked understanding of the

operating principles, design considerations and operation of the prevailing on-site

sanitation technologies

Though EHOs knew of the KVIP and septic tank design, their principles of operations

were not understood.

Key recommendations

There needs to be a detailed training on the occurrence and trends of on-site household

sanitation; their design principles, siting considerations, operation/maintenance, post-

construction issues for EHOs and the technical teams of the MMDAs.

A detailed training program targeting the EHOs and technical teams of the various

MMDAs is very on the Bio-digesters (rate of fill, principles of bio-solids accumulation

and reduction, effects of household chemicals on the operating processes, determination

of the lifespan, and how to revise bio-digesters that have been abused).

ii. Overview of Bio-digesters

The genesis of the bio-digesters and their operating principles were explained during the

training workshop. The Bio-digester is locally produced and the production does not lead to

adverse effect on the environment. With respect to the discharge of the filtered liquid waste

from the digester, it was noted that the effluent could only be discharged into the sub-soil in

areas with low water table with a clearance of approximately 1.5m from the groundwater table.

In the event where installations have to be done in high water table areas, there is the need to

incorporate a sand filter before discharge into drains or the open. It was established at the

workshop that the effluent from the bio-digester was rich in nutrients after removal of some

contaminants and could be used for other purposes such as irrigation. It was noted that

BIOFILCOM has also developed various treatment options for wastewater polishing which

could be used together with bio-digesters and failed septic tanks in particular in high water

table areas.

At the end of the training workshop, the stakeholders gained appreciation of what bio-digesters

are and how they work.


Plate 2: Presentation on the overview of bio-digesters and related topics

iii. Designs considerations of bio-digesters

It was established that user satisfaction was high because it takes comparatively less time to

install, it requires far less space requirement, generally no experiences of odour and it can be

installed in areas with high water table. However, some stakeholders were not convinced that

the bio-digester could last up to 10, 20, 30 years to get full because of its relatively small size.

It was established that there are various configurations of the bio-digester per a number of

users/day. It was also established that the standard digester in particular was designed for 10

users/day and you need not desludge as a result of fill up if applied as such. However, it was

established at the workshop that low-income households particular understate their user

population which led to some bio-digesters filling up. In the event where households exceeded

this number, it was inevitably to provide multiple bio-digesters.

The workshop established key considerations for design of bio-digesters as:

I. Stocking density

II. Solid loading

III. Bulking material for effective vermicomposting

IV. Effective solid/liquid separation for vermicomposting

V. Effluent management


Key recommendations

There is the need to conduct a study on the determination of the optimum household

hydraulic loading rate for Bio-digesters

iv. Siting and installation considerations

The workshop revealed that the following key factors were crucial to the performance of bio-

digesters during their installation:

I. Water table

II. Type of toilet seat

III. Venting

IV. Number of users

It was observed that all but the “number of user” was considered strictly during installation.

Emphasis was out on the need to establish correctly the number of users during site visits prior

to installations.

Plate 3: Interactions with a Project Engineer on the siting and installation considerations


Observations and deductions from workshop:

Most SPIs do not conduct site visit prior to installations

EHOs and SPIs have been advising beneficiaries not to flush down their toilet/tissue

paper into the bio-digesters for fear that it could encourage the flushing down of all

other non-degradable materials; but most importantly there was a lack of understanding

on the need to flush down tissue paper.

v. Operation and maintenance of bio-digesters

It was established that the requirement for operation and maintenance of the bio-digesters was

minimal and can be handled by users. It was also noted that the operational challenge for the

digester to function effectively related to how to ensure that inappropriate anal cleansing

materials which are not biodegradable (e.g. cloth, plastic, sticks) are not used. This was

established as a purely behavioural issue.

There was a lot of confusion on the part of the SPIs and other stakeholders on whether to flush

down tissue paper or not into the bio-digester. It was thought that if flushed down would cause

early fill-up of the bio-digester. It was established that tissue paper is high in carbon and need

by the bio-digester for effective decomposition of faecal matter.

Additionally, issues related to the use and effect of chemical household cleaning agents were

discussed. It was established at the workshop that these chemicals only target the toilet seat

where it is applied to “kill” germs after which water is used to rinse and flush down into the

bio-digesters. The rinsing and flushing with water dilutes the concentration of the active

ingredients in these cleaning reagents there by lowering their effect on the functioning of the

bio-digesters. It was established that the bio-digester could only be compromised with for some

reason a user deliberately or accidentally pour a whole bottle of such household chemicals

through the toilet bowl. It was also established that detergents such as “powdered soap”, bar

soap etc. could be safely used for cleaning the toilet with any adverse effects.

Other operations and maintenance procedures such as how to know if a digester was working

well were discussed. This including putting a clean out on the drain field pipe as an inspection

chamber to know if bio-digesters are submerged with water.


Plate 4: Facilitator showing stakeholders how to identify problems on the bio-digester

Key recommendations

There is an urgent need to strategically package information about the bio-digester

technology particularly on the operation and maintenance.

A clear message should be disseminated on the use of only tissue paper for anal

cleansing in the bio-digester and should be flushed down after use.

5. Questions and Answers

The training workshop was very interactive with many questions centering on the following

key areas:

I. What research has been done on the volumes of water to be flushed per day into the

bio-digester?

II. Can bio-digesters be used as dry toilets as in the case of KVIPs?

III. Can other wastewater from the house (kitchen, bathroom etc.) be connected to the bio-

digester?

IV. Should tissue paper be flushed into the bio-digester?

V. What happens when bio-digesters are full and how one should desludge?

VI. What is the life span of the bio-digester?


Plate 5: Session for questions and answers

6. Summary of Discussion and Decision

At end of the discussions all participants concluded that the bio-digesters had a huge potential

of contributing immensely to improving the coverage of sanitation in Ghana and at this stage

satisfies (or at least has a high potential to overcome its shortfalls) most of the sustainability

indicators. Stakeholders had a fair knowledge on what bio-digesters are, how they works and

how to prolong their usage.

7. Recommended Action Areas

- Communitywide messaging: Strategic expansion on promotional

activities/messaging to make the technology well known and understood in the

project communities particularly among the EHU. This may require strategic

collaboration with the District Environmental Health Unit.

- User Education and Construction manual: Development of educational materials

to guide users in the proper use and maintenance of the technology. The user

education should be conducted based on properly designed Operation and

Maintenance guidelines/manual to ensure proper use of the facility.

- Training of technical team and EHU: Additional detailed training should be

conducted for the EHU of the MMDAs and Project Engineers who approve all on-

site household facilities and supervise project construction.

- Additional research on bio-digesters: Additional research needs to conducted on

the bio-digesters in the area of hydraulic loading and its effects for instance;

introduction of enzymes and other bulking material in the bio-digester and its effect

on faecal matter reduction and/or filling of bio-digesters.

training of selected spis and mmdas on household toilets gama sanitation and water...

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