WaSH
(Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) 

​A Brief Introduction to the Biodigester

A Brief Introduction to Simplified Sewerage

The Need

Having access to safe sanitation means fewer deaths from water-related diseases, equality and dignity. 

Pit Latrines

In Tanzania, 90% of people lack access to adequate sanitation, with the vast majority of these residents relying on pit latrines.

Poor Sanitation

The Tanzanian government itself loses an estimated US$206million per year due to poor sanitation
​(WSP, 2012).

Clean Water

Approximately only 50 percent of Tanzania’s population of 53 million have access to clean water (Carlitz, 2016).
  • Pit latrines are both unsafe and unhygienic: the most common method for emptying them is uncovering them during the rainy season resulting in raw sewage spillage on the streets
  • Existing waste disposal methods are prohibitively expensive for nearly all residents.
  • The lack of adequate sanitation means that the city faces a persistently high environmental disease burden. The negative health impact in turn causes negative effects on social and economic development. 
​Rapid urbanisation means that these issues will only get more severe. 

Our Work

Since 2014, the WaSH Project has facilitated the construction of four simplified sewerage routes in Vingunguti, Dar es Salaam. Simplified sewerage is a cheap and flexible system built from plastic pipes that are laid at shallow depths, which is better suited to the layout of unplanned settlements than conventional sewage systems.
Simplified sewerage is also more affordable than conventional sewerage, due to cost-saving measures:
  • The use of junction boxes or inspection chambers in place of the larger and more expensive manholes of conventional sewerage.
  • Shallower pipe gradients and depths, resulting in reduced excavation volumes.
  • More straightforward construction, which can be carried out by local technicians
  • System components which are easier to replace.​
Each simplified sewerage network route has its own Sanitation Users Association – a committee with one representative from each household that deals with problems which arise on the network. The SUAs organise maintenance of the networks once construction has been completed, giving the community full ownership of their sanitation systems. To ensure the financial scalability of this pilot, the latrines are funded by the members of the households which they will serve. 

2020 

This year the WaSH project are focusing on 2 project streams:

"The Last 100m": According to a study conducted by Lancaster University, the critical zone for contamination of drinking water occurs in the last 100m of transportation, when the water is taken from the standpipe to the household. This feasibility study will be looking at sources of the contamination and the interventions which can reduce the risk of contamination. Two interventions are planned by the team this year: the first intervention looks at chlorination. The deliverable will comprise a comprehensive research project in collaboration with BlueTap to understand current water treatment habits in Vingunguti, cultural attitudes towards chlorine, and finally to design a pilot chlorine doser project for next summer.

SWaSH (School Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene): Previous projects have identified a need to improve WaSH standards in schools. This year, SWaSH  is focusing on three areas, namely constructing handwashing facilities (which may extend to solid waste disposal facilities), organising handwashing and sanitation clubs, and providing soap to 4 primary schools in the Vingunguti district.


Our Impact

Over the course of the five summers, the WaSH project has:

Network Construction

Facilitated the construction of four simplified sewerage networks, providing sustainable sanitation to over 450 community members of the informal settlement of Mjimpya Ward, Tanzania

Community Engagement

Developed an effective method to empower the local community, organising local Sanitation Associations for each network to ensure their sustainable operation - thanks to their commitment and enthusiasm all three networks continue to function effectively.​​​

Innovation

Installed the SOWTech Flexigester, adapting it to work as a part of the world’s first integrated simplified sewerage and biogas network - we’ve since seen proof of concept with the production of burnable biogas in the community.
​For the full version of the WaSH Project's Impact Report, please see our Publications Page. ​​​

Our Vision

A strategic priority for the WaSH project is to establish an  “alumni team” of university graduates to continue working on the expansion of the project throughout the whole year, rather than only during the two months that CDI and Kite DSM volunteers are working full time. 

​The long-term goal of our biogas pilot is to fund further expansion of the simplified sewerage networks by selling biogas to members of the local community as a clean and sustainable energy source for cooking. The funds generated by these sales are intended to recuperate the original investment into the network, which will provide future funding for scaling the model. Forming a business model around biogas and simplified sewerage would incentivise the expansion of reliable sanitation access by local entrepreneurs, reducing the need for government funding and increasing the rate of expansion.