An environmental evaluation of urine-diverting dry toilets in Hiloweyn Camp, Dollo Ado, Ethiopia.

Safe and hygienic management of human waste is essential in humanitarian settings. Urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) can enable this management in some humanitarian emergency settings. A seeded, longitudinal environmental study was conducted in Hiloweyn refugee camp, Dollo Ado, Ethiopia, to measure Escherichia coli and Ascaris suum ova inactivation within closed UDDT vaults and to document environmental conditions (temperature, moisture content, and pH) that could influence inactivation.

Acceptability of urine diversion dry toilets in Dollo Ado refugee camp, Ethiopia.

Given the increasing frequency and duration of humanitarian emergencies worldwide, there is a need to identify a greater range of effective and contextually appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions. Typical sanitation systems may be poorly suited for some of the conditions in which humanitarian emergencies can occur, such as in drought-prone regions. Urine-diversion dry toilets (UDDTs) are one potential alternative sanitation option which can be used in these conditions.