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Human-powered Emptying and Transport refers the different ways in which people can manually empty and/or transport sludge and septage.
Human-powered Emptying and Transport of pits and tanks can mean one of three things:
Some sanitation technologies can only be emptied manually, for example, the Fossa Alterna or Dehydration Vaults. These technologies must be emptied with a shovel because the material is solid and cannot be removed with a vacuum or a pump. When sludge is viscous or watery it should be emptied with a hand-pump, a MAPET or a vacuum truck, and not with buckets because of the high risk of collapsing pits, toxic fumes, and exposure to the unsanitized sludge. The type of emptying that can, and should be employed, is very specific to the technology that needs emptying.
Manual sludge pumps like the Pooh Pump or the Gulper are relatively new inventions and have shown promise as being low-cost, effective solutions for sludge emptying where, because of access, safety or economics, other sludge emptying techniques are not possible. The pump works on the same concept as a water pump: the handle is pumped, the liquid (sludge) rises up through the bottom of the pump and is forced out of a tap (sludge spout). Hand-pumps can be made locally with steels rods and valves in a PVC casing. The bottom of the pipe is lowered down into the pit/tank while the operator remains at the surface to operate the pump, thus removing the need for someone to enter the pit. As the operator pushes and pulls the handle, the sludge is pumped up through the main shaft and is then discharged through the V-shaped discharge spout. The sludge that is discharged can be collected in barrels,
bags or carts, and removed from the site with little mess or danger to the operator.
A MAPET consists of a hand pump connected to a vacuum tank mounted on a pushcart. A hose is connected to the tank and is used to suck sludge from a pit. When the hand pump is turned, air is sucked out of the vacuum tank and sludge is sucked up into the tank. Depending on the consistency of the sludge, the MAPET can pump up to a height of 3m.
A well-sealed Jerrycan is an effective way of transporting urine short distances. It is inexpensive, easy to clean and re-useable. This type of transport is only appropriate for areas where the points of generation and use (i.e. home and field) are close together, otherwise a more formalized collection and distribution system is necessary.
Jerrycans can be used in cold environments (where urine freezes) as long as they are not completely filled. Stored frozen urine can be then used in warmer months when it is needed for agriculture.
Because of safety concerns and difficulty with transport, no other liquids (blackwater or greywater) should be transported in Jerrycans.
There should not be any health risks to those carrying a Jerrycan as urine is generally sterile and the Jerrycans seal well. While
carrying a Jerrycan may not be the most pleasant activity, it is likely more convenient and less costly emptying a pit.
In some locations, urine has an economic value and it may be collected from the household for free. Families who invest the time to transport and use their own urine may be rewarded with increased agricultural production improving the families health and/or increasing their income.
If urine is viewed as a commodity, locally run businesses may collect and transport it for free or for a small fee.
To minimize bacterial growth, sludge accumulation and unpleasant odours, Jerrycans should be washed frequently. [1]
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