Sanitation: Rehab of Existing
Planning for Sanitation Rehabilitation (Rehab):
Every existing sanitation facility, toilet stall, and urinal space at a site should be fully rehabbed to meet all of Splash’s quality standards to the same level of quality as a newly constructed sanitation facility, toilet stall, and urinal space (the list of quality standards is at the bottom of this standard).
However, there are two exceptions to the above rule:
- Splash will never rehab existing sanitation that is inside an unsafe structure (more details on this rule are in the Demolition section below).
- Also, if a campus has more than two times the number of toilet stalls or urinal spaces that they need based on their population and Splash’s minimum ratios, then Splash should not rehab any toilet stalls or urinal spaces beyond double the minimum required number.
For example, if a site has 200 female students and 10 female student toilet stalls, then Splash should only rehab 3 to 6 of the toilet stalls because the site only needs 3 female student toilet stalls (200 / 70 = 2.86).
Definition of Sanitation Rehab: Repair, improvement, or other rehabilitation of any sanitation fixture that existed prior to Splash's intervention on the site. It does not matter the extent of the rehabilitation that is required or completed. It does not matter who paid for or completed the work. Examples of rehab: If we add a window to an existing toilet stall, it is a rehab of the toilet stall. If we replace a door to an existing toilet stall, it is a rehab of the toilet stall.
Timing for Sanitation Rehab Work: In certain cities (such as Addis Ababa) most sanitation rehab work must be completed when schools are not in session during the summer break. For sanitation rehab work in these cities, the local Infrastructure Team should calculate the number of sanitation fixtures needed at each site and then use the below table to determine when each site’s sanitation rehab work should be completed:
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Following the above guidelines will ensure that students at each site have access to sanitation even when some schools must have sanitation rehab work completed during the school year. Also, at sites with very little existing sanitation (as shown in the first row of the table above), new sanitation should be constructed before the rehab work begins. At these sites, the existing sanitation would be in constant use and are even more difficult to maintain. If Splash did rehab the sanitation at a site with very little existing sanitation, then it would be highly likely that the rehabbed sanitation would be damaged or destroyed through overuse and lack of maintenance.
Note on doors: Any and all existing doors (both stall doors and sanitation facility doors) that are not corrosion-resistant must be replaced with doors that are corrosion-resistant.
Note on underground sanitation components: If any existing underground sanitation components (including septic pits, septic tanks, drain fields, soak away pits, and sewer pipes) need to be repaired or expanded based on the needs of the site, then Splash must complete the necessary work on the underground components as well. This work would be technically classified as rehab of existing sanitation if the underground components are connected to existing sanitation fixtures.
Note on Existing Coed Sanitation: Coed sanitation is defined as a toilet stall or sanitation facility that is shared by both female and male users. Splash only allows coed toilet stalls and sanitation facilities for KG students. If there are any coed toilet stalls or sanitation facilities with users older than KG, then Splash must designate the existing coed toilet stalls as either male or female and full height privacy must be ensured between the two genders. For any recording and reporting, the rehab of previously coed stalls would be counted as rehab of whichever gender the stalls were designated to be (either male or female, NOT coed). So, there should never be rehab of coed toilet stalls recorded or reported for users older than KG.
Sanitation Quality Standards:
On a global scale, all Splash implementations should be completed to the same high level of quality. This is much more easily achieved for drinking water and handwashing implementations than sanitation implementations. Some sanitation implementations can require heavy construction, underground labor, and/or hazardous material handling. Meanwhile other sanitation implementations require none of those categories of work. Each partner site is unique due to a large number of variables: site size, site type, quality and quantity of existing infrastructure, etc. These variables can have very large impacts on the costs and timelines of our planned sanitation work. However, regardless of the variables, we maintain that every Splash sanitation implementation, regardless if it is new construction or just rehabilitation, should provide access for all to the same high level of quality of sanitation as any of our other implementations around the world. A list of necessary categories and components for every Splash sanitation facility (rehab and new) can be found below:
All Splash New Construction and Rehab of Existing Sanitation Facilities Must Include or Account for each of the following:
Access for All - Access to the sanitation facility must be cleared and walkable with no hazards (standing water, large holes, etc.) or impediments to access.
Aesthetic Improvements -All sanitation facilities should be visually child-friendly and inviting. This is to be achieved through painting, landscaping, and the design of the structure. Positive messaging can also be added.
Behavioral Nudges - In concert with the local and global Behavior Change Teams, the local and global WASH Infrastructure Teams will determine what behavioral nudges to install at each sanitation facility. Sanitation behavioral nudges can include: footsteps to handwashing stations, mirrors, stall doors that stay open when not locked, and janitorial logs.
Child Friendly Design - Every aspect and component of the sanitation facility must be designed and installed with the user in mind. One example, only toilet pans that are the proper size for the users should be installed, and the flushing mechanism must be able to be reached by the shortest user.
Cleaning Starter Kit -A cleaning starter kit consisting of cleaning supplies and tools must be provided to the cleaning staff at the school site at the end of every sanitation implementation. This kit will contain cleaning solutions, bucket, mop/broom, gloves, and any other items deemed necessary by the Local Infrastructure Team.
Contractor Oversight - Sanitation implementations often require external contractors to complete the complex work. The local WASH Infrastructure Lead is responsible for the oversight, inspection, and management of all contractors at the site.
Durable Functional Fixtures -All toilet pans and urinals must be durable enough to last for over 10 years in the environment in which they are installed. At damage-prone sites, ceramic (aka Turkish) fixtures should never be installed. If metal fixtures are to be installed, then they must not be able to rust or corrode even in the highly corrosive environment of the sanitation facility. In order to reduce water usage and increase durability, cistern (aka pull) flush toilets should never be installed.
Fecal Sludge Management - The local WASH Infrastructure Team must consider the path of the fecal sludge and how it is to be transported. Connection to a city sanitary sewer system that includes safe off-site treatment is preferred where available. If on-site septic tanks or pits are to be used, then Splash must make sure that they are not leaking and that the school has pumper trucks able to empty the septic system when needed. Hand-emptying is never acceptable.
Gender Segregation - All sanitation facilities serving users older than kindergarten must be gender specific. The sanitation facility must have separate entrances for each gender and must have clear signage indicating gender restrictions.
Handwashing Stations - Every sanitation facility must have at least 1 handwashing tap per every three sanitation fixtures. These taps must be located within 5 m of the sanitation facility exit and placed in the direct line of sight and path of the average user as they exit the facility.
Inside Every Stall - Every stall must have an automatic shut-off tap, a bucket for flushing, a hook for hanging clothing or bags, a waste basket (specifically an MH waste basket in female stalls), durable pan, lighting (incl. natural), and ventilation.
Lighting - Natural lighting through the use of wall openings or translucent roofing is preferred to electrical lighting. Regardless of the source of light, all stalls must have sufficient light when the door is closed. An easy test is to check if a normal paper can be easily read when standing inside the stall with the door closed.
Menstrual Hygiene Management - Every female toilet stall at every site serving female beneficiaries age 10 or above must include the following components: tap, soap dish, wall-mounted hook, menstrual waste bin, and vessel for water. A full-length mirror must be installed inside each female sanitation facility as well. Separate MHM rooms or MHM designated stalls are not acceptable. The global and local MH teams will define if any other MH related infrastructure is to be installed in each specific city.
O&M Agreements - For every site, an operations and maintenance agreement must be written and signed with the school management. This agreement outlines the responsibilities of the school to clean the sanitation facilities, and to seek technical assistance if those facilities become clogged or otherwise non-functional.
Pest Prevention - The local WASH Infrastructure Team must determine the prevalence and type of pests that may be present at a site. For example: if insects are typically present, then placing fly-screens (mesh) over the pit vent-pipes is one measure to prevent insects from colonizing the septic pit.
Privacy - Walls, Doors, Locks - Every stall must have a door (with no holes) that closes completely and is able to be locked from the inside of the stall. All walls and doors of every stall must be high enough to provide privacy to the user. Doors, frames, and door hardware should always be corrosion-resistant, and uncoated corrugated sheet metal doors should never be used.
Safe Structures - Splash never repairs or rehabilitates the toilets inside a structurally unsafe building. The local WASH Infrastructure Teams are responsible for certifying the structural safety of all sanitation facilities. Splash should always try to demolish structurally unsafe sanitation facility structures, and our Local Infrastructure Teams should work with the site management for permission to demolish.
Secondary Interior Drainage - All sanitation facilities with an interior room or hallway leading to the stalls must have at least one floor drain in that interior room or hallway. This drain must have a diameter of at least 1.5” and be protected with a drain cover.
Site Improvements - The local WASH Infrastructure Lead must inspect the site surrounding the sanitation facility in consultation with the site management to determine if there are other improvements that need to be made while the contractors are on site. In the past, these have included: creating a second school entrance, moving water storage tanks, and maintaining drainage channels.
Stormwater Management - All sanitation facilities must have a functional, non-leaking, and durable stormwater management system. Typically, this consists of the roof, gutters, downspouts, and a defined flow path and destination for the stormwater.
Staff Sanitation - Every site must have a sufficient number of sanitation fixtures to meet Splash’s minimum ratios for staff. Splash is responsible for rehabbing existing staff sanitation and constructing new staff sanitation as necessary. Staff sanitation fixtures can either be located alongside student sanitation or it can be physically separated.
Stalls for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) - Every site must have at least one stall for each gender that will be specially fitted for users with mobility limitations. The local WASH Infrastructure Team will determine if more than one CWSN stall is needed at specialty or very large school sites. These stalls must have grab rails placed along the walls, a seated toilet, and a ramped access path from the special needs classroom to the stall.
Surfaces that are Easy to Clean - Every toilet stall must have a smooth, easy-to-clean surface installed on the floor and at least the lowest 1 m of the three non-door walls. The surface installed on the floor must be non-slippery, even when wet. Surface options include tiling and high polish/finish concrete. All tiles, corners, and floor-wall edges must be caulked or grouted to eliminate cracks/gaps, to prevent mold growth, and to facilitate cleaning.
Urinals - Whenever culturally appropriate and physically possible, urinal spaces are to be installed at a site in a quantity between 1 to 1.5 times the number of toilet stalls. All urinal walls must be covered in tile, or made from a different smooth, easy-to-clean material. All urinals must have drain covers, cleanouts, and equipment for easy flushing.
Ventilation - All stalls must have at least two wall openings, preferably on different walls, to allow for airflow. The total wall opening area on each wall must be equal to or greater than the area of a standard (A4) sized sheet of paper.
Water Supply - Every sanitation facility must be connected to a water storage tank. In water scarce cities such as Addis Ababa and Kathmandu, a secondary source for flushing water must be included. This could be a barrel or other vessel located in a hallway of the sanitation facility.