Assessing the effectiveness of on-site fecal sludge emptying technologies in delivering safely managed sanitation services in Kampala.

Abstract

The research study investigated the effectiveness of on-site fecal sludge emptying technologies in delivering safely managed sanitation services in Kampala. The study focused on cesspool and gulper technology operations in Kampala with a sample space of 68 operators both companies and sole proprietors. The study identified the technological, human and environmental health gaps in the technologies that hinder their effectiveness in delivering safely managed sanitation services using survey questionnaires and laboratory analysis. The study identified improvements that can be adopted by the technologies to operate effectively across the sanitation service chain. These included modification of gulper technology by introducing a simple fuel-powered motor with a potable pump end that can suck the fecal sludge with minimal energy requirement from the operator. The research study discovered that both cesspool and gulper technologies do not fully empty the clients containments, considering septic tanks, ventilated improved pit latrines, and traditional pit latrines. The gulper technology takes more than one hour to empty containments, which is not the case for cesspool technology. The research identified gulper technology to be associated with more environmental and public health risks compared to the cesspool technology. The study recommended the installation of GPS equipment on all cesspool vacuum trucks and gulper technology operators' tricycles to track movement and ensure that the fecal sludge is only disposed of at the fecal sludge treatment plant to curb environmental and public health risks identified by the research study.