The Gulper
This manually-operated pump solves one of the biggest challenges in providing sanitation in crowded urban environments: emptying latrine pits when they get full.
In many cases, private contractors run collection services, taking the waste away to municipal treatment works. Emptying
and disposal happens on a regular basis, keeping urban environments cleaner and providing business opportunities.
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The Gulper is fitted onto a valve in the middle of a concrete apron at the top of the riser pipe. Wearing protective garments, the operator lifts the handle and 'pulls' waste up and into the container.
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Mozambique
A 'vacutug' machine
A 'vacutug' machine empties pit latrines in a slum in Maputo, Mozambique. In 2002, before the community had latrines, there was a major outbreak of cholera here.
WaterAid then
supported local partner organization ADASBU to improve sanitatio and access to water.
The biggest problems of this area were the difficulty
in constructing latrines because of a high water table and flooding. WaterAid supported ADASBU to put in a
drainage system to stop flooding, build shallow pit latrines, and buy the vacutug machine to
empty the latrines when they got full.
As there is no car access in the community,
the waste collection is done on foot with trolleys by collectors like Hilario, pictured above.
Photo: WaterAid / Eva-Lotta Jansson