Pit latrines are the most common type of toilet facility, especially in rural areas, where infrastructure lags behind necessity. They range from clean and modern to crude, makeshift, and downright revolting.
At their most basic, a pit latrine is nothing more than a hole in the ground. This design, though simple, fosters an unbearable stench and attracts swarms of flies, which in turn spread disease. The damp, anaerobic conditions also create an ideal breeding ground for pathogens, making contamination of nearby water sources a serious risk, particularly during the rainy season.
A step up in design, common in more thoughtfully constructed latrines, is the ventilated improved pit latrine (VIP latrine). This model includes a vent pipe with a screen, which helps reduce odor and traps flies before they can escape. Covering the hole (and having a door) when not in use is also crucial, not just to keep insects at bay but to deter bats, rats, and other creatures that seem to relish the dark recesses of human waste pits. Many latrines, however, leave the hole exposed, making them a free-for-all for critters of all types. Please, let your imagination go wild.
At our field camp, our latrines are relatively well constructed VIPs, but they come with their own hazards. On two consecutive nights, first a scorpion, then a snake, nestled themselves beneath the wooden slab that covers the hole. We spotted them just in time, avoiding what would have been an undignified disaster. And while we’ve been fortunate that the snakes have all been non-venomous, the real horror is when one vanishes into the depths of the latrine, leaving the unsettling knowledge that it is down there, somewhere, waiting.
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| The hazards |
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| A closer look |
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