PARTS OF A PIT

LATRINE AND
THEIR FUNCTIONS
Maureen Lemonious
LABELLED DIAGRAM OF A PIT LATRINE
 THE PIT LATRINE

❖A pit latrine is a deep hole partially covered by a slab, where people

go to pass their bodily wastes.

❖There is a seat for people to sit on, a simple building to enclose the
latrine for privacy, a vent for gases and flies and sometimes a tank
of water to wash away the urine and feaces.
 IMPORTANT ADVICE TO MAKE LATRINE
ENVIRONMENTALLY AND USER FRIENDLY

❖Lid must always be replaced after use to avoid the breeding of flies and bad smells in and
around the latrine.
❖Clean the slab and surroundings daily to keep rodents and roaches away.
❖Always wash your hands after using the latrine.
❖Never put disinfectant in the pit while in use as it kills the good bacteria which cause
breakdown of sewage.
❖Adding ashes to the pit once per day helps with the decomposition of sewage and elimination
of smell.
❖When the pit is nearly full, the covering and slab should be removed to new site and the pit
filled with soil. DO NOT REUSE AN OLD PIT WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
 THE SITING OF THE PIT LATRINE
⮚The site chosen should be downhill about 30m away from where water is
extracted from the ground. This ensures that drinking water source is not
contaminated by water from the latrine.
⮚Latrine should be about 5 m from the nearest dwelling. This prevents diseases
or the smell affecting the people who live there.
⮚The pit should be dug deep about 3m, this reduces smell and serves a long
period.
⮚The roof should have a slope at the back of structure to allow rainwater to
runoff and not get into the latrine building.
⮚Dig drainage channels around the latrine to avoid water settling and to protect
the walls of the pit.
 DO YOU REMEMBER?

• How does sewage contribute to water

pollution?

Source: Human and Social Biology for CSEC.

• Ann Fullick and Alexia Morris 2019 (pages 396-397)