Latrine Building: A Handbook to Implementing the Sanplat System

This book describes a practical solution to the lack of basic sanitation facilities in the form of a 'Sanplat': a specially designed concrete platform which can be installed easily in rural latrines to improve sanitation and safety. It has footrests to help users find the right position to avoid fouling the latrine; the drop hole is large enough to use comfortably and small enough to be completely safe, even for a child; and it is easy to keep clean. The latrines described here can be built using locally available materials and skills, and are affordable and appropriate to the needs of rural communities.

The book gives practical recommendations with the overview as well as the details, not only on how to build but also on how to set up and implement a latrine programme - including how to work with people. It gives straightforward answers to most questions, though there will always be a need for alternative solutions.

Ingvar Andersson Head of Africa Division Dept of Natural Resources and the Environment Sida Stockholm.& Gourisankar Ghosh Head of Water and Sanitation Unicef New York