Key indicators (to be read in conjunction with the guidance notes)

Guidance notes

1. Acceptable facilities: successful excreta disposal programmes are based on an understanding of people's varied needs as well as on the participation of the users. It may not be possible to make all toilets acceptable to all groups and special toilets may need to be constructed for children, older people and disabled people e.g. potties, or toilets with lower seats or hand rails. The type of toilet constructed should depend on the preferences and cultural habits of the intended users, the existing infrastructure, the ready availability of water (for flushing and water seals), ground conditions and the availability of construction materials.

2. Safe facilities: inappropriate siting of toilets may make women and girls more vulnerable to attack, especially during the night, and ways must be found to ensure that women feel, and are, safe using the toilets provided. Where possible, communal toilets should be provided with lighting or families provided with torches. The input of the community should be sought with regard to ways of enhancing the safety of users.

3. Anal cleansing: water should be provided for people who use it. For other people it may be necessary to provide toilet paper or other material for anal cleansing. Users should be consulted on the most culturally appropriate cleansing materials and on their safe disposal.

4. Menstruation: women and girls who menstruate should have access to suitable materials for the absorption and disposal of menstrual blood. Women should be consulted on what is culturally appropriate (see Non-food items standard 2).

5. Distance of defecation systems from water sources: the distances given above may be increased for fissured rocks and limestone, or decreased for fine soils. In disasters, groundwater pollution may not be an immediate concern if the groundwater is not consumed. In flooded or high water table environments, it may be necessary to build elevated toilets or septic tanks to contain excreta and prevent it contaminating the environment.

6. Hand washing: the importance of hand washing after defecation and before eating and preparing food, to prevent the spread of disease, cannot be over-estimated. Users should have the means to wash their hands after defecation with soap or an alternative (such as ash), and should be encouraged to do so. There should be a constant source of water near the toilet for this purpose.

7. Hygienic toilets: if toilets are not kept clean they may become a focus for disease transmission and people will prefer not to use them. They are more likely to be kept clean if users have a sense of ownership. This is encouraged by promotional activities, having toilets close to where people sleep and involving users in decisions about their design and construction, rules on proper operation, maintenance, monitoring and use. Flies and mosquitoes are discouraged by keeping the toilet clean, having a water seal, Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine design or simply by the correct use of a lid on a squat hole.