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The Blair latrine was invented by Dr Peter Morgan from the Blair Institute.[1] It features an odorless and fly-free squat toilet suitable for many villages in places like Africa where sanitation is vital and the lack of plumbing makes it difficult to install modern toilets. Here is how to build a Blair latrine.

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EditSteps

  1. Select a suitable site that is at least 30 metres from wells Step 1.jpg
    1
    Select a suitable site that is at least 30 metres from wells or bore holes. This will help to ensure that human waste doesn't end up in the water supply.
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  2. Dig a pit in the ground Step 2.jpg
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    Dig a pit in the ground. Make the pit 1.3 metres wide and 3 metres deep.
  3. Line the pit around with bricks Step 3.jpg
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    Line the pit around with bricks. Mortar the bricks in place with cement. Use a trowel to neaten the mortar and remove excess mortar.
  4. Cover the completed brick pit with a round cement slab with the required holes Step 4.jpg
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    Cover the completed brick pit with a round cement slab the same diameter as the hole (1.3 metres wide).
    • The slab needs to have one hole for ventilation via a chimney and another hole to squat over. Cut these out before sealing the slab in place.
  5. Seal the gap between the slab and the pit well Step 5.jpg
    5
    Seal the gap between the slab and the pit well. Use cement mortar again. Sealing it vital because it will trap any flies and prevent them from congregating.
  6. Build brick walls around the toilet base Step 6.jpg
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    Build brick walls around the toilet base. This is for privacy.
  7. Attach chimney to the ventilation hole and bring it up Step 7.jpg
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    Attach a chimney to the ventilation hole and bring it up through the roof of the toilet. This ensures that dangerous odors and gases are ventilated upward and out into the air away from ground level.
    • Place fly screen material over the top of the chimney.
  8. Plaster the outer walls and chimney with adobe Step 8.jpg
    8
    Plaster the outer walls and chimney with adobe.
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EditThings You'll Need

  • Bags of cement
  • Bricks
  • Digging items
  • Trowel
  • Adobe

EditRelated wikiHows

How to
Avoid Common Hygiene Mistakes

How to
Take Action to Help Africa

How to
Build a Composting Toilet

EditSources and Citations

  1. ↑ Wikipedia, Blair Toilet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blair_toilet

Article Info

Categories: Sustainable Living

In other languages:

Español: Cómo construir una letrina Blair

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