Models to Learn From

In order to gain a better understanding of past projects aimed at providing sustainable, communal water and sanitation provision within informal settlements, a few projects were examined. Each of these examples incorporate both technical and social elements previously mentioned, while also taking a unique approach toward communal water and sanitation initiatives. The Mobisan facility, consists of urine divergent toilets with a dehydrating waste system and hand washing station, also incorporates hired caretakers, one of which is always on duty, responsible for maintenance and ensuring proper care and use of the facility. These caretakers are provided with their own office. The Bio-Centre offers its own unique design because it is a multi-story building with space for more than just toilets and sanitation. Incorporating rooms for communal gatherings, this facility presents itself as a community centre, a design aspect which may be important to consider for the facility to be implemented within Langrug. The Ikotoilet, created by Ecotact, involves the same thinking as the Bio-Centre in terms of being more than just a sanitation facility. By having various shops set up around the toilet facility, the facility is successfully maintained because the fact is that if the toilets are dirty, customers will not come to the shops and their businesses will suffer. Finally we looked at Eco-beam a method of building with sandbags that was considered and implemented by past WPI project groups.

Along with mentioning these unique aspects which should be taken into consideration for a facility in Langrug, difficulties and challenges faced in each of these projects are also addressed. We hope to learn from these challenges while keeping the successes of each facility in mind.