AN ASSESSMENT OF AN INSTITUTION'S SANITARY DISPOSAL SYSTEMS

Abstract

This research project dealt primarily with the assessment of the sanitary disposal system of human wastes, for The Federal Polytechnic, Bida Campus, situated in Niger State of Nigeria, using socio-cultural, technical, institutional and economic factors, which impact on the potential of providing sustained services to all sectors of the campus. The criteria for evaluation of several existing systems were formulated using the factors determined through physical and attitude surveys conducted on the campus. The selection of appropriate systems were carried out to ensure acceptability and adequacy. From the study, it was discovered that most of the existing sanitation facilities on the campus were not appropriate in terms of adequacy and acceptability. The systems, that were eventually selected and designed for different sectors of the campus, which satisfied the criteria for evaluation, in terms of adequacy and acceptability were: Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines, around the workshops and laboratories, due to socio-cultural factors; septic tank and soak-away pits for office buildings and residential quarters, where the topography of the terrain and the sparse population do not encourage a centralized facility; and sewerage and central sewage treatment system for the student hostels, where there is high population density and suitable topography for gravity flow. . Cost comparisons were carried out for these alternative sanitation systems, using the Total Annual Cost per Household (TACH) criterion. The cost implication would enable the users to decide on what service level they were willing to pay for, without sacrificing adequacy and acceptability.