This story is from September 9, 2017

How chemical toilets change habit in Delhi slums

Chemical toilets are Delhi government's solution for slums where there is neither sewerage, nor water supply. Compared to a regular toilet which uses three to nine litres of water for flushing, this one uses only 0.1 litre.
How chemical toilets change habit in Delhi slums
Key Highlights
  • Chemical toilets are Delhi government's solution for slums where there is neither sewerage, nor water supply
  • Compared to a regular toilet which uses three to nine litres of water for flushing, this one uses only 0.1 litre
NEW DELHI: A mud path, with potholes filled with water and stones, leads to a black granite platform at the far end of a cluster of huts made of plastic, bamboo and metal sheets. Located at Yamuna Khadar, on the floodplains, these huts house 500 people. The cluster is visible from the Mayur Vihar phase-I metro station. On top of this platform, accessible by stairs and a ramp with steel railings, stand 12 units of portable toilet cubicles in two rows.
These have an inbuilt biodegradable chemical treatment mechanism for liquid sewage. A solar panel charges the LEDs installed inside. Open a door and you find an Indian toilet unit with a sink and taps and a flush mechanism that initiates the segregation of solid and liquid waste and treatment of the latter with biochemicals.
This model, based on similar units in European countries like Italy, is Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board’s (DUSIB) solution for slums where there is neither sewerage, nor water supply. So, permanent toilet complexes, pre-fabricated toilet units and mobile toilet vans have been ruled out.
Twenty more — 10 each in two clusters — have been installed at Shalimar Bagh by YLDA India Private Limited, the company hired by DUSIB, on a build-operate-transfer-maintain basis for a two-year period. On the success of these toilets hangs the fate of 600 more that will be put up at 25 similar locations across the city. The slums around Okhla, Bhatti Mines and Vasant Kunj are some of the areas. The government hopes that this will help it achieve its target of making slum clusters free of open defecation.
But the numbers are far from adequate. It’s a welcome relief for the residents of Yamuna Khadar, particularly women, but obviously far short of what’s needed for 500 people, even if you go by the DUSIB formula of one seat for 30. DUSIB says the headcount was about 250 when these people were removed from the road along the highway and relocated here since construction work on road and metro projects had started.
Residents say long queues form in the morning and there are daily squabbles over water usage. The caretaker and cleaner, both from the slum, say they are on the job all day long, not just trying to keep the toilets clean but also handling ego battles.
According to the slum-dwellers, the toilet's key function of treating liquid sewage through biodegradable chemicals is getting impaired by shortage of water and large number of users.

Compared to a regular toilet which uses three to nine litres of water for flushing, this one uses only 0.1 litre. Every time the flush is used, the solid and liquid wastes get segregated in two chambers. After each cycle of 100 users, the liquid is automatically treated by biodegradable chemicals replenished regularly by the maintenance agency. The water thus treated can be used for flushing. The solid waste collects in a tank from where it is mechanically sucked out daily.
However, the flush is not being used by many because of lack of water in the tank chamber. DUSIB sends a tanker daily to fill two tanks of 1000 litres each. Each user should ideally be able to use the flush and wash hands at the sink inside, but that is not possible here for the tank for the flush unit in each toilet will require about 100 litres of water and the tank for the sink, 20 to 30 litres. Lack of toilet training and water consumption habits only compound the situation. So, often, users are given only a litre of water to carry with them for their ablutions and to clean the toilet afterwards.
“We give them more water or pour water ourselves to clean the toilets if one litre of water proves inadequate,” said one of the caretakers.
A resident, Indira Devi, and others claimed they often go home to wash their hands.
After TOI contacted DUSIB, officials visited the spot and said directions have been issued for arranging additional water to ensure the recycling mechanism works properly.
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