8 finalists selected!
FINISH Mondial Sanitation Contest
Since April, the FINISH Mondial (FM) Technical Working Group (TWG) which supports the global FM programme on developing technical construction manuals for sanitation systems, institutionalising artisan training, and advising and sharing innovations in design and construction of sanitation systems, has been hosting a sanitation design contest. We were overwhelmed to receive 60 applications from 14 countries but finally, 8 finalists have been chosen to move forward and be judged by our esteemed international panel of jurors.
The goal of this sanitation contest was to challenge innovators to invent methodologies, ideas and refine processes that will help to reduce the cost of (part of) a few selected on-site sanitation systems. We were not looking for new technology breakthroughs, but small, incremental improvements to reduce the cost of 3 selected sanitation systems which are widely applied by the FM programme across all 6 countries.
We’d like to thank everyone for participating and congratulate the following 8 proposals for making it to the final round of judging. The winners will now be announced in mid-September, thank you to all applicants for your patience! We want to know what you, the reader, thinks: Which proposal summary do you think shines through and should be implemented under FINISH Mondial?
You can join the conversation and participate in our social media polls here!
1. Simple & scalable: Labour and cost savings with PVC drums
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilet linked with septic system
The solution proposed replaces masonry (concrete and bricks) type of septic tank construction with 2 PVC water drums, 500 litres each, connected in series by 4-inch size PVC pipe. The first drum will be connected to toilet pipe. The second drum will be placed 1 foot lower by excavating the pit.
2. Recycling waste and locally available construction material
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilet linked to double leach pit
The solution proposed replaces masonry (concrete and bricks) type of leach pits construction with old track tires of 1200 mm diameter. Old track tires are recycled by stacking as a replacement of the masonry structure. In addition, the super-structure is made in such a way that has short brick walls with long and steep roofing.
3. Increasing local work and cheap construction with hollow interlocking blocks
Type of on-site sanitation system: Ventilated Improved Double Pit (VIDP) toilet
The solution proposed replaces normal blocks used in sanitation system construction with Hollow Interlocking Concrete Blocks (HICB). A plastic mould is filled with a concrete mix and left to dry. The mould will produce an exactly accurate hollow-core block while reducing the amount of cement and sand needed for construction.
4. Plastic moulds decreasing capital expenditure for pre-cast concrete panels
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilets linked to double leach pit; Ventilated improved double pit toilet; Toilets linked to the septic tanks
This solution proposes high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic moulds to produce concrete panels that can be used to make the toilet superstructure, meso-structure, and sub-structure. Plastic moulds offer a viable solution because they can be fabricated to produce panels of different sizes and shapes. Furthermore, HDPE has a high durability consideration as it is not prone to corrosion.
5. Safe and quality latrine construction to complement natural solutions
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilets linked to double leach pit
The solution proposed to replace traditional pit latrine construction (concrete and bricks) with PVC barrels and Vertiver grass. The PVC barrels will contain the solids while liquid effluent is treated by Vertiver grass. The innovator proposed three concept designs including, (i) dry pit, (ii) wet pit, and (iii) advanced wet pit and notes that this simple technology can easily be replicated and quality assured.
6. Pre-cast Ferrocement slab saves large quantities of cement and reduces labour costs
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilets linked to double leach pit
The solution proposed builds a toilet with all components made by precast Ferrocement slab which has 10 mm thickness. The Ferrocement has a high strength to weight ratio. Furthermore, construction of a toilet using Ferrocement slabs takes only a day. Quality of construction can better be assured with this simple and scalable design.
7. Ready-made interlocking jointed blocks for structural improvements and reduced labour costs
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilets linked with septic system; toilets linked to double leach pit; Ventilated improved double pit toilet
The solution proposed replaces manually produced hollow blocks with mechanically produced hollow blocks that have ready-made interlocking joints. The L-shaped blocks are used in the corners of the toilet walls, while a flat slab is inserted between them to build a wall. This way, a toilet can be built in 2 to 3 days—implicating huge savings for labour when compared to the normal duration, up to 14 days. The machine is produced from sheet metal, U-Bar, and dynamo using electric energy. The machine can produce 400 L-shape hollow blocks per day.
8. Modular pre-cast upgrades to improve and extend life of pit latrines
Type of on-site sanitation system: Toilet linked with septic system; toilet linked to double leach pit
The solution proposed is an up-gradable precast pit latrine. Its modular design means the toilet can be upgraded to a pour flush toilet linked to a septic tank using the same superstructure and substructure. By using the existing systems, construction upgrades saves wastage and uses a limited surface area.
*The summaries have been slightly modified and/or made anonymous to protect the privacy and intellectual property of applicants.