Septic Tank Latrine As A Treatment Unit For Human Excreta in rural India Pros & Cons By Dr. S. V.

Mapuskar Appa Patwardhan Safai W Paryawaran Tantraniketan, Dehugaon, Tal. Haveli, Dist, Pune, Maharashtra 412 109 (INDIA) In India and other developing countries, septic tank is being used for individual household latrine as an on site human excreta treatment facility where conventional sewerage system is not available. This design is very extensively used in India in rural area as well as in peri urban areas, slums and the municipal areas where conventional sewerage system is not available. The appropriateness of this design in relation to rural sanitation programme in rural India is being discussed intensively. Therefore it may be useful to discuss this design in relation to waste management and health impact and its suitability or otherwise in rural sanitation programme. The role of septic tank, as described in relevant literature, is to stabilise sewage and waste water. The final treatment / bio digestion of faeces is not expected in the tank. As such, the hydraulic retention time (HRT) is usually kept at less than ten days. With this HRT, bio digestion and pathogen kill or deactivation are not achieved fully. Therefore it has been advised that the effluent from such septic tank should not be allowed to flow in the open. It should be kept underground and absorbed in the soil though the soak away system with perforated pipes or some similar system. The following drawing represents one such arrangement

(Reproduced from Excreta disposal for rural areas and small communities by Wagner and Lanoix, Published by WHO)
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However, while constructing septic tank latrines, in most of the places in India, such a system is virtually not established. The effluent simply flows in open at random or in open surface drains in the case of most of the septic tanks. In rural and peri urban India, whenever it is used for on site management of human excreta for household latrine, it is used as a treatment facility and not as a stabilization facility. Obviously, the parameters for i) stabilization and ii) final treatment will defer. Further, when treatment is expected, the faeces get digested by anaerobic bio digestion process as the tank is an enclosed tank where air (oxygen) is not available. Therefore, while designing septic tank for treatment purposes, consideration for proper anaerobic digestion will be necessary. At the same time, as the septic tank is expected to treat the faeces, the end products should not carry pathogens, from health and sanitation point of view. As far as the bio digestion process is concerned, in anaerobic bio digestion, the degradation process follows the steps as in the chart shown below. From this chart, it will be clear that the bio digestion will not be complete in the tank with a retention period of about 5-10 days. The slurry will only be liquefied and partially acidified with some separation of suspended solids which will settle down or float depending on the specific gravity of the particle.

When septic tank is expected to only stabilise the faeces, the hydraulic retention time is usually kept at 5-10 days. However, with this much retention time, the pathogen kill or deactivation is not achieved. In fact, Salmonella Typhi bacteria survive in anaerobic conditions for about 6 weeks. Therefore, when septic tank is expected to treat the faecal matter for full bio digestion as well as pathogen kill or deactivation, it will be necessary to design septic tank with about 45 days HRT. Only then the end products,that is the effluent from the septic tank will become harmless from health point of view.

When septic tank is designed for an HRT of 5-10 days, the effluent from that tank is harmful
from health point of view. Therefore, while designing septic tank for stabilization it is advised that the effluent is not exposed to the surroundings. Under such circumstances, it is advised to manage the effluent in some sort of soak away or absorption system or fully covered leach pit. Unfortunately, while designing and constructing the septic tank for household latrine, this fact is overlooked in most of the cases. The effluent either stagnates in a cesspool adjacent to the septic tank or it is allowed to flow into open surface drains in the village. This obviously creates insanitary and unhealthy conditions. Below are the examples from the field.

SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT STAGNATING IN A CESSPOOL

SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT FLOWING IN OPEN

SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT IN BLOCKED DRAIN

SEPTIC TANK EFFLUENT STAGNATING IN SURFACE DRAIN

In anaerobic bio digestion, the degradation process follows the steps as shown in the chart above. In septic tank, all these steps are taking place simultaneously as a continuous process because the latrine is used daily. With such inputs, it is likely that there may be some short circuiting of the faecal matter. In order to avoid this, it would be necessary to make arrangements to avoid such short circuiting. With this in view, the septic tank should be divided into multiple compartments. It is
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usually advised to partition the septic tank into three compartments. Further, in order to minimize short circuiting and to ensure complete anaerobic digestion, it is advisable to maintain a certain width and length ratio. It is advised that the length of the septic tank may be three times the width depending on the availability of land. This may be reduced to the ratio such as length to be at least twice the width. Further, the inter connections between the compartments should be placed in such a way in the partition walls, that a zig-zag passage for the digesting slurry is established. These provisions help in maintaining horizontal plug flow pattern in the movement of digesting slurry.

Inlet

Outlet Lay out - plan

The height at which the placing of interconnections is done, is also important when the faecal matter comes in the septic tank. It is usually divided vertically into three layers. The lighter solids (suspended matter) float to the top, heavier particles settle down at the bottom and middle one third usually has minimum suspended solids. In the biochemical process, it is expected that the process of hydrolysis or liquefaction should take place in first compartment as far as possible. Minimum suspended solids may be allowed to travel to the second compartment. In order to achieve this, the interconnection between first and second compartment is placed in the middle one third of the first partition at the level of approximately 40% of the fluid height from the bottom. The interconnection between second and third compartment should be placed in the partition wall at the height of 40% of the fluid level from the top. Further, the outlet from the third compartment may be placed at the height of four inches below the inlet level. Tee fitting may be used for outlet. The lower arm of the tee should be extended up to the middle one third of the fluid height. With placing of inter connections in such a way, the short circuiting will be virtually totally avoided and effluent from the septic tank will not have any undigested particles. The design of septic tank which has been shown here, includes these aspects. This is based on the concepts included in the publications from World Bank etc. which are based on recent studies by the experts in the field.

During the process of anaerobic digestion a mixture of gases will be produced. This mixture usually contains about 60-65% methane, 30-35% carbon dioxide and about 4-5% of mixture of gases like hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen, nitrogen etc.. For expelling these gases, a vent pipe of 3-4 inches diameter is provided. The top end of the vent pipe should be covered with a nylon mesh so as to avoid the entry of mosquitoes, flies etc in the vent pipe.

NYLON MESH ON TOP OF VENT PIPE PREVENTS MOSQUITO & FLY MOVEMENT
Mosquito trying to enter vent pipe

Even if the septic tank is designed by keeping these factors in mind, the fact remains that from environmental point of view, the gases which are expelled from septic tank are harmful to the environment. Methane, which is let out into air, is about 22 times more harmful for global warming and ozone depletion than carbon dioxide. AS has been mentioned earlier, biogas is generated in septic tank. This gas accumulates under the scum formed in compartments. Periodically the scum breaks open, letting out the gases. Depending on the availability of HRT, this gas may contain H2S, Indol, Scatol as well as fumes of fatty acids like Acetic Acid etc. This gives out a repulsive odour in the vicinity of the septic tank. The operation and maintenance of the septic tank is a very misunderstood and problematic issue. This is mostly wrongly done, creating very inconvenient and unhealthy conditions. Further, desludging of the septic tank is a major problem area. While commissioning the septic tank latrine, initially the tank should be filled with water till it overflows. After this, if possible, a few bucketfuls of digesting slurry from the functioning septic tank latrine may be added. This helps to speed up the biodigestion process. If it is not possible, the use of latrine can be started without it. The faecal matter contains anaerobic bacteria. However more time may be taken to develop adequate concentration of these bacteria. Bio digestion process will progress satisfactorily after this. When the bacterial cultures are established, the digesting slurry need not be disturbed. If one litre of slurry is added from inlet, one litre of digested slurry will flow out as effluent from outlet. During the use of latrine, some dust, mud etc. are likely to enter the tank. Also, some insoluble particles in faeces are likely to separate out. All these will settle down in the tank over some time. This sludge will accumulate at the bottom and lighter component from this will form the scum at the top. Therefore, desludging of this sludge and scum will be necessary occasionally. The periodicity may vary from 2-3 years to 10 years. This desludging will not be possible unless the partially digested slurry is also removed. It will also contain highly infective faecal matter. Therefore, proper final management of this slurry and sludge is very important. The septic tank will have to be filled up with water again after desludging. Thus, it will be realised that commissioning and desludging of septic tank latrine are very important and critical issues. Unfortunately, it is not realised in most of the cases.The septic tank is hardly ever filled up with water before commissioning it or after desludging it. It is virtually used as a storage tank rather than a bio digestion tank. The use is started with empty tank and when the tank is full it is emptied. This is totally wrong. When the tank is empty, flies get an access to the faecal matter and in due course, maggots start crawling out from all the openings. Flies also move in and out of the tank and spread infection from the faeces in the tank. There is a bad odour in the vicinity of latrine as the faeces remain open to the atmosphere through several openings and the vent pipe of the tank. Further, bio digestion process also does not start properly. By the time bacterial cultures get properly established, the tank fills up and it is emptied again. This happens because the beneficiary and some times even the concerned technical person treat the septic tank as a storage tank. They are not aware of the status of involved bio digestion process and when & how of de sludging. Also, while emptying, only the liquid slurry is removed. The settled sludge is hardly ever removed, although the purpose of emptying is supposed to be the de sludging.
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As the emptied contents contain undigested infective slurry, the contents should be composted hygienically. In most of the cases, this is not done. These are simply thrown into open a little away from the habitat. The situation in rural areas is even worse. Mechanical emptying devices may not be readily available there. In that case, emptying and de sludging will have to be done manually. This is positively problematic. In spite of all these shortcomings for the use of septic tank for household latrines, majority of technical personnel have been advising the use of septic tank as one of the best options for household latrines. It has to be realised that it is not correct. Further, in rural areas, use of septic tank for household latrine is considered as a status symbol. The presumption is that the facility which costs more must be better. In addition, thereis a feeling that the ability to spend more for the facility adds to the prestige of the beneficiary. It is necessary to remove this misunderstanding through IEC efforts. The cost factor also attains significance in a programme which visualises the maximum possible or total coverage of the population of the country irrespective of rural / urban and poor / rich divide. In the case of septic tank, the initial capital cost is more and operation & maintenance cost is also more. The de sludging also is cumbersome. In view of the abovementioned facts, it is felt that the use of septic tank as an on site technology for household latrine should be discouraged. If anaerobic digestion process is to be used, biogas plant technology, wherever appropriate, would be a very environment friendly, non polluting, hygienic, clean and energy yielding option. Here, the generated gas, containing Methane, can be used as an energy source in the household. When Methane is used as a fuel and burnt it will give out CO2 and water vapour which are positively less harmful to the environment. For bio methanation of human night soil, two designs, namely, i. floating dome water jacketed design and ii. Malaprabha design have been found to be most suitable. Wherever possible, these options will be very appropriate. In reality, two pit pour flush latrine is one of the most appropriate, very hygienic, sanitary, low cost, aesthetically acceptable, odourless latrine design for household latrine use in rural India and in selective urban situations. If, in some situations, it is found to be inappropriate, other technologies like compost latrines etc. are also available. In India, sanitation programme is being implemented in a massive way under the campaigns like Total Sanitation Campaign and Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan. While implementing these programmes, it is essential to decide as to which technologies would be appropriate in given situations. The place of septic tank latrine in these programmes has been debatable. The scientific analysis and the field experience have shown that the septic tank latrine is really not a very appropriate technology for WASH activities in rural India. ---------------xxx---------------