An Approach on Environmental Sanitation Situation and Toilets Septic Tank Design in Urban Nigeria: A Case Study of Calabar South

Abstract

In this study, the research protocol was designed for two key objectives. First, to evaluate the present sanitation situation in the fast growing population of Calabar South Nigeria and to design suitable ecological sanitation toilet septic tanks for 8 occupants household and primary school of over 150 students, as an initial awareness of ecological sanitation toilets system in the area. Results from the study showed that less than 40% households have access to good toilet system while about 70% institutions have access to good toilet system. The remaining populations use pit latrines, open toilet system, drainage and nearby rivers. Due to shallow surface water condition of Calabar-South, underground water, and drilled borehole water within every household are easily contaminated by pit latrines and poorly designed septic tanks in the area. To solve these problems, two suitable septic tanks were designed for household and institution to create awareness of the new toilet system. Over 90% respondent expressed their satisfaction about the new development in toilet septic tank. It was recommended that awareness and implementation of ecological sanitation toilets system be carried out for improved household and institutional sanitation in the area.

Microbial Spectrum on Public Toilet Seats

“…The common practice there is that many tenants are made to share one toilet alongside poor or lack of cleaning routines. This is in agreement with the work of Alepu et al [17] who reported that institutional sanitation rates are very poor in Nigeria.…”

“…The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets for sanitation was to reduce by halve the problems by 2015. The country could not meet the MDG's target up till 2016 because most people still lacked access to good water supply which is complimentary to good toilet sanitation in several parts of the country [17][18]. In Calabar South LGA, communal compounds showed high toilet seat contamination 31.6% even after washing.…”

“…Thirty five per cent of people in Calabar have access to modern sanitary facilities. However most house owners (Landlords) resort to constructing one or few toilets for many tenants to share [13].…”