INSPECTION REPORT

ON ECOSAN TOILETS IN THREE (3) SCHOOLS IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

ON AUGUST 4, 2011

Introduction:

The two (2) units of EcoSan Urine Diverting Dehydration Toilets (a.ka. ecosan toilets) at
Baluarte ES, Cagayan de Oro City were constructed sometime in 2008 under the German Agency for
Technical Cooperation (GTC) in partnership with Xavier University College of Agriculture. The other
two (2) ecosan toilets inspected are located in FS Catanico ES and the remaining two (2) units are
located in Balulang ES, Cagayan de Oro City. Of the three (3) schools mentioned above, only the ecosan
toilets in Balulang ES are still functioning as of the date of inspection.

Findings:
I. Baluarte ES

The toilet structure is composed

of concrete flooring and “sawali”
walls and “nipa” roofing. It was
noted that the “nipa” roofing
needs to be replaced annually
while the “sawali” walls are also
not durable.
The main door as well as the
side openings for collection of
urine and feces are also not that
durable and needs to be replaced
annually as well considering the
side openings can cause “leak” of
urine of feces if not sealed.

Figure 1: Side Elevation at Baluarte ES

The improvised urinal for male students is

made from used drinking water cans. The
urinal should be demountable for easy
cleaning. It was noted that water should not
mix with urine or feces, therefore cleaning
should be done elsewhere.
Considering the durability of the material,
it should be replaced by a standard ceramic
type to add aesthetic value as well.

Figure 2: Improvised Urinal

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 The improvised lavatory is made of GI sheet
and reinforced with cocolumber. This is where
the toilet user will wash after urinating or
defacating. It was observed that it should
be replaced with a standard handwashing
lavatory which is more durable and it will
add aesthetic value as well.
It was also observed that almost all were
made of light and cheap materials
considering the limited budget of each toilet that
were constructed.
It should also be taken into consideration the
durability of materials used in the ecosan toilets.
Figure 3: Improvised Lavatory

The ecosan toilet seat is a special type of

ceramic material consisting of two (2) holes
for urine (small hole) and feces (large hole).
It can be noted that feces and urine should
“not mix” since there are separate chambers
to store the excreta and urine.
Per interview with school officials, pupils
need to be familiarized with the proper use
of the toilet. If a user is a “wiper”, a tissue
paper should be used and to be disposed
after use. Whereas, for a user who is a
“washer”, after using the toilet, there is a
separate “wash bowl” to be used.

Figure 4: Special Type of Ecosan Toilet Seat

The toilet seat is demountable/removable.

After the first feces chamber is full,
it is moved by hand into the second feces
hole and the first hole will be covered and
wait for a period of six (6) months before
the “human manure” can be used.
It was observed that the toilet seat should
be bolted so that the toilet seat won’t move.
Proper care should be done such that
the toilet seat will not break while moving
it to the second hole.
The cleaning of the toilet seat should be
done elsewhere so as not to mix water with
human excreta.
Figure 5: Toilet Seat While Moving It to the 2nd Chamber
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 The wash bowl is improvised. It is composed of
concrete where the “washer” will wash his/her
genitalia after excretion. It was noted that pupils
are having a hard time “washing” considering they
have to move from the toilet seat to the wash bowl.
That is the reason why some students are hesitant
to use ecosan toilets since it’s not “user-friendly.
Some students are also having a hard time not to
mix their urine with their excreta especially in
cases where their excreta is “watery”.
For male students, they have to “shoot” their urine
into the urine hole. For females, it is much harder
to “shoot urine” into the urine hole.

Figure 6: Improvised Wash Bowl

II. FS Catanico ES
During visit of ecosan toilets at FS Catanico ES,
the team also observed that the said toilets are not
used due to the fact that the “nipa” roofings are
already needing replacement, so the school was
discouraged to continue using the toilets.
In figure 7, the doors, roofing, and compartments
are all broken and need replacement. Also, lime
supply is difficult to obtain in homes.
Ash can readily be secured from households while
saw dust is not recommended because it cannot
eliminate odor compared to lime and ash.
Other alternatives should also be considered in the
absence of ash and/or lime.

Figure 7: Front Side of Ecosan Toilet

The other ecosan toilet is much more

dilapidated compared to Figure 7 (please
refer to Figure 8). The wooden sidings are
already missing, exposing the coconut studs.
It is only two (2) years since it was built but
the ecosan toilets are already needing major
repair.
Proper design should be considered to prolong
the use of these toilet structures. Two of three
schools that were visited with ecosan toilets
are already not functioning since it is difficult
to maintain especially in storing urine and
human excreta.
Figure 8: Flooring of Ecosan Toilet

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III. Balulang ES

The two (2) ecosan toilets that are still functioning

are located in Balulang ES. The school principal
informed the inspectorate team that only sixty (60)
Grade 6 pupils are using the two (2) toilets, one for
male and the other for female pupils.
The ecosan toilets are situated in the rear portion of
of the school ground and it should be situated at
least 10 meters from the edge of the classroom to
make sure sanitation safety of pupils.
The toilet keeper (homeroom teacher) monitors
the daily maintenance of the toilets. The doors are
also locked after school hours to ensure intruders
won’t use the ecosan toilets improperly.
Figure 9: Front Side of Ecosan Toilets

Figure 10 shows the side opening for storing urine

after discharge and the plastic containers of filled
urine to be stored for a month before applying as
liquid fertilizer. Proper care should be done in order
not to spill the urine into the soil.
It can also be noted that urine should be stored in a
secured area where pupils could not play with it.
In the event, the containers will not be properly
sealed, it may emit foul odor to nearby classrooms
or households.
An adult (specifically a homeroom teacher) is advised
to be the “keeper” or stored urine and not let pupils
do it instead. In secondary schools, 3rd year of 4th
year students, if properly trained, can do the same.
Also, school janitors can also be tapped if there are
hired in the schools.
Moreover, it is most advantageous if the keeper will
monitor daily maintenance of the said toilets as well.
During the actual inspection, the toilet for males was
emiting a foul smell of urine. The teacher reasoned out that that pipes where
that urine transfer from the urinal to the containers are
not washed with water, thus it emits a foul smell.
Fortunately, in the female toilet, no foul smell was
observed. It is suggested to include a deodorant or
other odor-eliminating agent in the urinal to help
eliminate the stinky smell.

Figure 10: Stored Urine Containers

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Figure 11 shows the sealed opening of
the two (2) feces chamber which are
covered with GI sheets. When the team
tried to open it, the coco lumber which
reinforced the cover is already broken
which can expose the human excreta.
It is advised to improve the design of
the covers so as not to expose the
feces inside the storage bin.
It is also recommended to put a lock
so that intruders will not open it.
It is also advised to check if the area is
flood-prone, otherwise select an area
that can not be reached by flood water
It is suggested to at least elevate the
flooring of the storage bin by at least
0.60 meters from the natural ground.
Figure 11: Steel Covers of Storage Bins for Feces

If the covers will be lift up, the storage bins will look like
figure 12, wherein the light colored object shows the lime
on top of the human feces. Luckily, the inspectorate team
did not observe any bad smell of human feces. It is because
the lime/ash was properly spread on top of the feces and it
did not emit any foul smell.
The human feces, after it will be filled, will be stored in the
bin for 6 months. The bin should be properly sealed so that
no organism from outside can make contact with the feces.
By using a shovel, the “human manure” will be moved
from the storage bin and to be used as fertilizer.
As long as the surface is covered with lime or ash, bad odor
cannot be felt.
Figure 12: Exposed human waste in the Bin

The right photo (Figure 13) shows a can of

lime that should always be present inside the
toilet to be used after excreting feces. It was
observed that ash can be used as alternative
in the absence of lime. However, saw dust,
according to the users is not effective
compared to lime and ash. It cannot eliminate
the foul odor from the feces. Therefore, it is
not advisable to be used as an alternative.
There is also concern on how to eliminate
the bad odor of urine from the pipes since
the use of water is not permitted.
There should be a method on how to
properly clean the pipes.
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Recommendations:
Based on the findings previously presented, the inspectorate team recommends the following, to wit:

1. The adoption of ecosan toilets in schools should be considered if:

a. There is a whole-hearted school personnel (e.g. a homeroom teacher or janitor) available
to take charge in the maintenance of the ecosan toilet facilities;
b. Allow only disciplined pupils/students from Grades 5-6/3rd year-4th Year to use the toilet
facilities;
c. The school has limited or no supply of water; and
d. The school has existing gardening/vegetable facilities in the school where the human
fertilizer can be utilized; and
e. The distance of the toilet from the nearest classroom should be at least 10 meters.

2. Improve the design of the structure of ecosan toilets such that;

a. The structure will be durable and can last for years without any repair;
b. Nipa can be used as roofing because it is cheap but it should be replaced annually;
c. Elevate the flooring of the storage bin for feces at least 0.60m from the natural ground;
d. Provide safety locks to avoid intruders from unauthorized use;
e. Use standard sanitary pipes (orange-colored) instead of eslon blue; and
f. Provide cover for ecosan toilet seats and should always be closed when not in use.

3. On the issue of sanitation, the following recommendations should be considered, to wit:

a. Daily maintenance, such as cleaning of urinal, toilet seat and tiled flooring should always
be done so that it will not emit foul odor into the surroundings;
b. There should be a method in how to clean the sanitary pipes without the use of water; and
c. There should be available sanitary provision in the storage bin for feces in the event
human waste will leak into the ground.

4. Lastly, the ecosan toilet is not as user-friendly compared to the conventional type because of the
following:
a. Toilet users, when excreting human waste, should not mix their urine with feces. That is
the reason why ecosan toilets has two (2) holes (for feces and urine). Therefore, it is very
hard to use especially for meticulous users who are more familiar with conventional
water-based water closets from which they don’t have to look down everytime;
b. Female users are having a hard time separating urine from their feces. Males have much
easier time to shoot their urine into the urine hole while excreting feces; and
c. It is not practical that a “wiper” user will have to move from the toilet seat and wash
his/her genitalia in the wash bowl after excreting; otherwise, use only toilet paper instead
and the wash bowl should be eliminated in the design.

Prepared by: Noted by:

ENGR. ERWIN G. IGARTA ARCH. FELIX VILLANUEVA, JR.

Area Manager, Area 7 OIC, Office of the Assistant Chief for Planning