Report: EMWLatrine Construction Project for Tam Anh Nam Commune, Nui Thanh District, and Que Phu Commune, Que Son District -Quang Nam Province - Vietnam

Drinking water projects have already been implemented by EMW in the proposed beneficiary communities who will have access to subsidized improved household sanitary latrines. They will hav e the choice of either a standard pour-flush latrine with double vault septic tanks, or an EcoSan latrine. EMW will provide a 25% subsidy of the total cost to interested households.

Water has already provided to the school by the East Meets West Clean Water Program under separate funding.

200 families getting household latrines. Thus, this initial $5,000 research grant will support EMW’s efforts to expand and refine its pilot sanitary latrine program, and to assess beneficiary preference and subsequent interest in adopting the EcoSan latrine, once they understand the potential benefits of doing so. EMW representatives have already met with representatives of the Stockholm Institute to discuss their EcoSan program, and will discuss further details about customer preference, and relative costs. As such, this will serve as an informal initial pilot study about customer preference between the two types of latrines.

Hygiene and sanitation behavioral change will be a component of this project to encourage people to more effectively use their latrines to reduce water borne diseases. The basic sanitary latrine in this part of rural Vietnam is a one-hole, pour flush double vault (septic tank) latrine, with a shelter (typically brick ventilated walls, and a corrugated iron roof) for privacy. However, an increasing number of HHs prefer to upgrade their basic latrines to a bathroom that contains the latrine and bathing facilities, along with improved aesthetics (tiled walls are popular for those who can afford them). The EMW design is based on designs that were promoted by International Development Enterprises (IDE) during their recent multi-year market-based hygienic latrine promotion project in Quang Nam. EMW’s latrines have been constructed mainly in Quang Nam Province, which is also the main focus of the EMW Clean Water Program thus far. The EMW program takes advantage of the availability of trained latrine builders whom IDE had trained-up during their program, as well as IDE’s promotional and marketing activities that helped to identify and expand the market demand for hygienic latrines.

Alternative latrine designs – EMW also intends to initiate a pilot program for the promotion of Eco San latrines. Ecological sanitation (also called 'EcoSan') is structured on recycling principles that keep the eco-cycle in the sanitation process closed. This system uses human excreta as a resource: human waste is processed on site until they are free of pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms. After this process, the sanitized excreta can be used for agricultural purposes. EcoSan toilets have several advantages over standard pour-flush latrines, including an EcoSan toilet can solve problems like bad odors, flies and poor hygiene, and is a comfortable and safe alternative to pour flush latrines. However, as this is not a common design in Vietnam, EMW will promote the EcoSan toilet as a useful alternative to the standard pour-flush latrine. The extent to which they are financed under this project will depend upon the willing of families to adopt the new technology.