Rugerero, Rwanda A village tap is located in the center of the village Housing units have been equipped with rainwater catchment systems.

Rugerero, Rwanda• A village tap is located in the

center of the village • Housing units have been equipped

with rainwater catchment systems

Why Rugerero?• Barefoot Artists, a Philadelphia based NGO, started working in the area

in 2004 to build a genocide memorial• JeffHealth, first year medical students from Jefferson medical school,

started working in the area in 2006• JeffHealth requested the assistance of Engineers Without Borders

Assessment Trip – February 2008• Jan 27 – Feb 5, 2008• Traveling Team:– Lora Markley (Project Lead)– Bob DiFilippo– Bob Hankin– Linford Martin

• Stayed in Guest House in Gisenyi (~4 miles from Rugerero)

Assessment Trip• Met with Rugerero’s health

committee– Discussed challenges related to water

supply and sanitation– Sanitation improvements were

expressed as the top priority by committee members

• Evaluated Status of Septic Systems for all 100 homes

• Assessed water sources:– local tap– rainwater catchment– river

Rugerero, Rwanda Latrines• Each home has a pour flush

“toilet” with a pipe connected to a 6’ by 10’ septic pit with four cement lids.

Rugerero – Current Latrine Design• Typical Plot Layout– Buildings are

duplexes with two homes

– Each home has a septic pit in patio area

• Latrines– Pour-flush from

Bathroom to septic tank

• Septic Tank Design– Concrete lids– ~ 6 m3 volume

Cement Lids on Many Latrines Collapsed

Results of Assessment~30% latrines not functional

Green = functioning

Yellow = in use with broken lids

Red = not functioning

Design Constraints/DesiresDesirable Features of New Design• Eliminate need for water to flush• Increase patio area for cultivation• Plan for future when pits are full• Use mud-brick construction for out-

house• Minimize purchase of new

materials• One latrine for each household• Involve community in construction

Requirements for New Design• Eliminate long spans in slabs• All components can be moved by

hand• Robust support of latrine platform• Repair of septic pit aprons – as

foundation for outhouse structure• Plan for moving latrine if pit

becomes full

Convert from Pour-Flush Latrine with Septic Pit to a Pit Latrine Utilizing Portion of Current Septic Pit

Several Design Options Considered

• Convert Septic Pit into Pit Latrine

1. Build Walls to Subdivide of Pit• fill remainder of pit for garden

use

2. Fill Entire Pit • Dig pit latrine• Move when full

3. Install 2 Circular Pits• Fill remainder of Pit• Add support beam across middle

• With all designs, a platform covers the pit and supports adobe outhouse.

Design Features• Ventilated Pit Latrine

(VIP)– Reduction of odors,

flies• Outhouse – Constructed from local

materials• Cement slabs– Fabricated on-site– Forms will remain in

community• Pit wall– Constructed with

cement block

Final Latrine Construction Design

• Install a wall splitting each current Septic Pit into halves – Use cement block available locally– Wall supports outhouse

• Lay cement slabs on the existing Septic pit apron and newly installed wall – Constructed locally with metal forms– Movable if pit fills

• Install Ventilation Pipe• Build adobe house structure

Final Design• Need Picture from Bob D

Supplies NeededFabrication required by local metal shop:• Metal forms for concrete slab construction

Supplies:• Cement • Adobe bricks• Blocks• Tin • PVC Pipes• Re-bar• Screen• Black paint• Fill• Wood

Supplies NeededGeneral tools:• Shovels and sledgehammers for leveling the latrine hole• Tape measure• Mixing pans, shovels, troughs, rakes, hoes, to mix and finish concrete• Shovels and wheel barrels to transfer and pour sand and concrete into forms• Wheel barrels and shovels to move dirt• Ropes for moving slabs• Cement mix pans and troughs to mix mortar when mortaring stones for latrine• Hammers and chisels to fit stones• Tools to compact fill dirt around latrine and prevent settling around latrines

Project Economics and Budget• Travel

– $12,000 (6 people)• Lodging/Food

– $2520 (2 weeks) • Translator

– $200• Supplies

– ~$4000• Material Total

– $775 per unit– $31,000 for 40 units

• TOTAL = $50,000

Project Schedule

Construction Schedule for Latrine Construction September

Task Duration Who 4 - 8 11 - 15 18 - 22

Construction          

Material Procurement - tin 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - adobe bricks 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - cement 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - rebar 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - Fill material 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - PVC 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - Screens 2 Weeks Team 1      

Material Procurement - Wood 2 Weeks Team 1      

Fabrication of molds - for cement slabs 1 Week Team 1      

Fabrication of cement slabs 2 WeeksTeam 1/ Team 2/

Community      

Identify units for implementation 2 Weeks Team 1/ Community      

Identify skilled labor in the community 2 Weeks Team 1      

Prepare the bottom of the tanks 2 Weeks Team 1/ Community      

Hire a foreman 2 Weeks Team 1      

Setup a staging area 2 Weeks Team 1/ Community      

Construction - Work with foreman/community to build first latrines 2 Weeks Team 2/ Community      

Additional Material Procurement 2 Weeks Team 2      

Implementation Metrics• 40 septic pits are currently non-functional

– Conversion of at least 10 septic pits are to be initiated during the implementation trip

– Completion of at least 5 latrine installations is expected during the implementation trip

– Remaining pit conversions will be completed by villagers after EWB-MAP has left

– Supply sources for all pit conversions will be identified and arranged during implementation trip

• Metrics– Number of septic pit conversions started– Number of septic pit conversions completed– Number of villagers involved in each septic pit conversion– Amount of supplies acquired for future pit conversions

Project Safety PlansBefore the trip: Members of the group will get the required shots and take the appropriate medications. Monitor the media for local unrest and check for state department warnings

During the trip: Care should be taken when working with tools, especially when a high risk of infection exists in the work

area, such as a latrine. • Care should be taken to kill all bacteria prior to construction if possible. If not all cuts, blisters and

scrapes should be immediately tended to.• A safety discussion with everyone involved or in the area of the construction should be held each

morning. The purpose of the safety discussion will be to identify what safety risks may arise during construction and how injuries can be avoided. Suggested topics of the safety discussion are suggested below.– What is the order of construction, what happens first, second, etc? Why is the order in that way?– What is the proper method to use a tool, what training is required?– What PPE is required when doing each part of the construction?– What can go wrong?– How do you prevent accidents during the night hours when construction has stopped and light does not exist?

What barricades are required?– What happens if someone gets hurt, who takes care of them, where, what medicine or bandages exist.

Community Ownership of Project• Labor from community required for

implementation.• Community will be trained in the design,

construction, and specifications for project.• Community will continue to construct

latrines after implementation trip.• Community will own all the latrines and

should be able to transfer technology to other villages.

NGO Partner & Collaborators• Red Cross

– Communication– Transportation & Lodging logistics

• Rwanda Village Concept Project – Medical students from local univeristy– Helped with translation

• Jefferson Medical Students– Working with Rugerero on health projects– Will help prepare community for our project – Will acquire supplies prior to implementation trip

• Barefoot Artists– Installed rainwater catchment systems

Potential Future Projects in Rugerero and Nearby Communities

• Issues in Rugerero to be Assessed during Implementation Trip– Water Supply & Treatment– Indoor Air Pollution from Cook Fires

• Nearby Communities– Health Clinic – no running water– Many other communities with similar

challenges

Travel Plans

Travel & Personal Safety Plans