ARI's pilot project for schools

ARI has completed a pilot project consisting of an innovative, efficient, and user-friendly design that requires waste removal/cleanout only once every six months, compared with once or twice a day for systems currently in use in Haiti. UNICEF intends to use this model as a prototype for future latrine construction at 120 plus schools, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

The initial site was an 800-student school in Port-au-Prince. ARI designed a fiberglass bowl to insert into the toilet opening that converts the UNICEF provided portable toilets to water sealed toilets. The sealed toilet has a trap that prevents flies and reduces odor, two main reasons why pit latrines are not used. The final product was eight water sealed toilets, with a sealed septic system and water supply for flushing and hand washing.

At a second site, ARI completed similar work, except for replacement of the fibreglass bowl with less expensive porcelain toilets, and the addition of a 27-meter well and manual pump (due to lack of access to electricity at the school). ARI installed the same Vergnet treadle pump we have been installing in Indonesia. The treadle pump can easily be used by children and is well known for its ease of maintenance.

With donor funds and private donations, ARI is currently providing: