Michigan Technological University Digital Commons @ Michigan Tech Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open Reports 2015 DOUBLE VAULT COMPOSTING LATRINES IN RURAL PARAGUAY : FEASIBLE CONSTRUCTION AND OPTIMAL USE Paul T. Pebler Michigan Technological University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etds Part of the Civil Engineering Commons, Public Health Commons, and the Sustainability Commons Copyright 2015 Paul T. Pebler Recommended Citation Pebler, Paul T., "DOUBLE VAULT COMPOSTING LATRINES IN RURAL PARAGUAY : FEASIBLE CONSTRUCTION AND OPTIMAL USE", Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2015. https://doi.org/10.37099/mtu.dc.etds/892 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etds Part of the Civil Engineering Commons, Public Health Commons, and the Sustainability Commons DOUBLE VAULT COMPOSTING LATRINES IN RURAL PARAGUAY : FEASIBLE CONSTRUCTION AND OPTIMAL USE By Paul T. Pebler A THESIS Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In Civil Engineering MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY 2015 © 2015 Paul T. Pebler This thesis has been approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Civil Engineering. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Thesis Advisor: Brian Barkdoll Committee Member: David R. Shonnard Committee Member: Yue Li Department Chair: David Hand Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiv Preface ........................................................................................................................................... xv Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................... xvi Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... xvii Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2: Background of Community and Project .................................................................. 3 2.1: Community Background ....................................................................................................... 3 2.2: Sanitation and Water Sources in Santa Elena ....................................................................... 5 2.2a: Sanitation ........................................................................................................................ 5 2.2b: Water Sources ................................................................................................................. 5 2.3: Project Background/Story ..................................................................................................... 6 2.4: Pilot Latrine-PCV’s Personal Composting Latrine ............................................................... 7 2.5: Construction of Commission Member’s Latrines ................................................................. 8 2.6: Project Funding ................................................................................................................... 11 2.7: Affordability of Project ....................................................................................................... 11 2.8: Materials Chosen ................................................................................................................ 11 Chapter 3: Construction Manual of Double Vault Composting Latrine ................................ 12 3.1: Construction Schedule ........................................................................................................ 12 3.2: Loza Construction (0.5-1day) ............................................................................................. 12 3.2a: Construction Steps ........................................................................................................ 13 3.3: Vault Construction (2-3days) .............................................................................................. 15 3.3b: Construction steps ......................................................................................................... 16 3.3b: Stucco (Revoke) ............................................................................................................ 25 3.4: Housing Structure Construction (2-3 days) ........................................................................ 27 3.4a: Framework (1-2days) .................................................................................................... 27 3.5: Ventilation Tubes Installation (1-2hrs) ............................................................................... 34 3.6: Stairs Construction (1-3 days) ............................................................................................ 35 3.6a: Wooden Stairs (2-3days) ............................................................................................... 35 iii 3.6b: Rock Stairs (1-2days) .................................................................................................... 36 3.6c: Brick Stairs (1day) ........................................................................................................ 37 3.7: Urine Diverting Seat Fabrication (0.5-1day) ...................................................................... 38 3.8: Close Vaults and Install Urine Divertion Tubing (2 hours) ................................................ 43 3.8a: Urine Soak Pit ............................................................................................................... 43 3.8b: Preparing and Closing Vaults ....................................................................................... 44 3.9: Recommendations for Improvement of Construction ......................................................... 45 3.10: Recommended Use of Double Vault Composting Latrine ............................................... 46 Chapter 4: Mechanics of Aerobic Composting, Pathogen Destruction and Recommendations on Use and Maintenance Practices to Maximize Pathogen Destruction. 48 4.1: Parameters ........................................................................................................................... 48 4.1a: Moisture Content ........................................................................................................... 49 4.1a.1: Recommendation/Field Observations for Moisture Content.................................. 49 4.1b: Temperature .................................................................................................................. 49 4.1b.1: Recommendation/Field Observations for Temperature ......................................... 50 4.1c: Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio .................................................................................................. 51 4.1c.1: Recommendation/Field Observations for Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio ......................... 51 4.1d: Oxygen Content ............................................................................................................ 52 4.2: Phases ................................................................................................................................. 52 4.2a: Mesophilic ..................................................................................................................... 52 4.2b: Thermophilic ................................................................................................................. 53 4.2c: Cooling phase ................................................................................................................ 53 4.2d: Curing phase ................................................................................................................. 53 4.3: Pathogen Destruction .......................................................................................................... 54 4.3a: Storage Time ................................................................................................................. 54 4.3a.1: Recommendations for Storage Time ...................................................................... 54 4.3b: Temperature .................................................................................................................. 55 4.3c: pH/Alkalinity ................................................................................................................ 56 4.3c.1: Field Practices/Recommendation on use of pH level for Pathogen Destruction ... 57 4.3d: Moisture Content .......................................................................................................... 58 4.3d.1: Recommendation/Field Observations for Pathogen Destruction through Proper Moisture Content ............................................................................................................... 58 iv Chapter 5: Methods Used for Date Collection ......................................................................... 59 5.1 Introduction: ........................................................................................................................