latrine

The word "latrine" is derived from the Latin {{Lang|la|lavatrina}}, meaning bath. Today it is commonly used in the term "pit latrine". It has the connotation of something being less advanced and less hygienic than a standard toilet {{citation needed|date=February 2021}}. It is typically used to describe communal facilities, such as the shallow-trench latrines used in emergency sanitation situations, e.g. after earthquakes, floods or other natural disasters.

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Many forms of latrine technology have been used, from very simple to more complex. The more sophisticated the system, the more likely that the term "toilet" is used instead of "latrine".

{{Main|Pit latrine}}

A pit latrine is a simple and inexpensive toilet, minimally defined as a hole (pit) in the ground. More sophisticated pit latrines may include a floor plate, or ventilation to reduce odor and fly and mosquito breeding (called ventilated improved pit latrine or "VIP latrine").Tilley, E., Ulrich, L., Lüthi, C., Reymond, Ph. and Zurbrügg, C. (2014). [http://www.eawag.ch/forschung/sandec/publikationen/compendium_e/index_EN Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies (2nd Revised Edition)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526192956/http://www.eawag.ch/forschung/sandec/publikationen/compendium_e/index_EN |date=2015-05-26 }}. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Duebendorf, Switzerland Many military units, if intended for extended use, place basic shelters and seating over the pits. A pit is typically sited well away from any water sources to minimize possible contamination. After prolonged use, a pit is typically buried.{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}

Other types of pit latrines may include the Reed Odourless Earth Closet, the arborloo or treebog (very simple types of composting toilet), or the twin pit pour-flush pit latrine, popularized by Sulabh International.

The shelter that covers such a pit latrine is known in some varieties of English as an outhouse.

In a location without longer term sanitation infrastructure, such as for emergency sanitation, a trench latrine is a workable solution. It typically consists of a pit or a trench in the ground, {{convert|4 to 5|ft|m}} deep and {{convert|4 to 20|ft|m}} long.

A slit-trench latrine consists of a relatively shallow trench which is narrow enough to stand with one leg on either side (see defecation postures). This type of latrine is used either by squatting, with the users' legs straddling the pit, or by various arrangements for sitting or leaning against a support structure. Such support may be simply a log, plank, branch or similar arrangement placed at right angles to the long axis of the pit. This type of latrine is not commonly found in developing countries, but can be used for emergency sanitation.

The shallow-trench latrine is similar to the slit-trench latrine but is wider ({{convert|20-30|cm||abbr=on|disp=or}} wide) than the latter. It is also shallow, with a depth of about {{convert|15|cm||abbr=on}}. This type of latrine is often used in the initial phases of emergencies and is a simple improvement on open defecation fields.{{cite book|last1=Harvey|first1=P. A.|title=Excreta Disposal in Emergencies: A field manual|publisher=WEDC, Loughborough University, UK|isbn=978-1-84380-113-9|pages=232|url=https://wedc-knowledge.lboro.ac.uk/details.html?id=14282|year=2007|access-date=2014-10-27|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225211/https://wedc-knowledge.lboro.ac.uk/details.html?id=14282|url-status=live}} A rule of thumb in emergency sanitation provision is to allow {{convert|0.25|m2||abbr=on}} of land per person per day. This means {{convert|2500|m2||abbr=on}} per 10,000 people per day, or nearly two hectares per week. Men's and women's areas should always be separated.

An aqua privy is essentially a small septic tank located directly below a dry toilet squatting pan or bowl which has a drop pipe extending below the liquid level in the tank to form a simple water seal to minimise odors.{{Cite web|url=http://akvopedia.org/wiki/Aqua_privy|title=Akvopedia Aqua Privy|date=22 October 2014|publisher=Akvo|access-date=23 August 2016|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104182834/http://akvopedia.org/wiki/Aqua_privy|url-status=live}}

• Campers refer to a cathole – a one-use, shallow scrape.
• Bucket

{{commons category|Latrines}}

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• Emergency sanitation
• Reredorter, medieval monastic latrine

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{{Toilets}}

Category:Toilets

Category:Appropriate technology

Category:Sanitation