Evaluation of composting latrines

This paper presents the interim findings of a sanitation research project, undertaken in an urban informal settlement, with the support of the Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council (GJMC) and the Water Research Commission. A locally developed comporting latrine called the “Enviro Loo” is being evaluated in terms of health impacts and technical performance. Thirty comporting latrines were installed in the Elias Motswaledi settlement, south of Johannesburg, for trial use and monitoring over a period of one year. Results of the monitoring and the acceptability of these latrines as compared to a control group of thirty communal chemical latrine users, is discussed.