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WaterAid

Hi, Technically, if the pit is 10m away from the swamp/water source then there is very little possibility of water source contamination in lateral direction. It also depends on ground water table at that specific location. If ground water table is high and pit construction is difficult, try raising the toilet above/near to ground. It is advisable to have lining in the pit always. Moreover, if you use twin pit technology, the problem of de-sludging can be overcome. And there is no way to think using sludge tanker in the rural faecal sludge management as it is pretty much simpler to handle sludge if you select twin pit instead of single pit. You may consider safe burial at the nearby place also when the pit will be full. There are some other options to consider like compost toilet or even eco-toilet but twin pit option is more sustainable in rural context of Zambia than any other options. If you need more support, please be in touch. By the way, please be informed that the ground water table is not the same as water level of swamp. I hope that it helps you to select appropriate toilet option at the end.