Any information on communal toilets?

Our website offers some documents about communal toilets, link:- https://www.wateraid.org/uk/google-sea..., which you should find of help and interest. Also, there is an India NGO called Sulabh International that also have information on their website, link:- https://www.sulabhinternational.org/co....

Binaya, As well as considering the technical issues on building communal toilets can I suggest you share this booklet developed by WEDC with the project leaders about building with the community?

https://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/resources/boo...

It is a good reminder of the different needs the various community members will have of the facility, and to ensure all people are considered when carrying out the design.

Regards Harriette

Hello,

In addition to Frank's resources, I would like to recommend what are in my experience the best communal toilets: those done by SPARC in Mumbai and Pune, which since the 1980s have become enshrined in policy. You have a summary here and some details in this paper.

In short, SPARC designed these with the community and especially women's groups; they used community contractors to build them; the blocks include the caretaker's apartment (who has a very good incentive to keep it clean since s/he leaves just above!) and some communal space that can be used for community meetings (very useful in crowded areas) and to be rented out (generating income). WSUP has summarised this good approach in a 2-page practice note.

WSUP also has a short guide to decide whether communal blocks are a good idea.

The World bank guidelines on community toilets are also very relevant even if 20 years old.

Rémi

There is also this study by WaterAid India on community management and sustainability aspects of community toilets: Tiruchirappalli Shows the Way.pdf

There is an entry on communal latrines in the Akvopedia Sanitation Portal, based on a design for Sudan - https://akvopedia.org/wiki/Communal_Latrines

Check out the Gates-funded Project Sammaan, which develops "Communal Sanitation Solutions for Urban Slums" in India

Finally, on the IRC website in the Resource section you will find more publications on the topic.