Bore-hole latrine can be seen as a sanitation milestone in India. It pioneered the advancement from service type to sanitary latrines.
• First introduced in the 1930s by the Rockefeller Foundation as part of a campaign against hookworm infestations
• It involved digging a vertical hole with a
o Diameter of approximately 30 to 40 cm (12–16 inches) and a
o Depth ranging from 4 to 8 meters (13–26 feet), with 6 meters (20 feet) being the most common.
• To create this borehole, a specialized tool called an auger was required.
• In areas with loose or sandy soil, bamboo matting or earthenware rings were used to reinforce the hole’s structure and prevent collapse.
• To make the latrine functional, a concrete squatting plate with a central opening and footrests was placed over the hole, and an enclosure was constructed to ensure privacy
• For an average family of five to six people, such a setup could remain usable for over a year.
• However, due to its limited capacity, the borehole latrine was not suitable for public use.
• Once the waste level rose to about 50 cm (20 inches) below the surface, the squatting plate was removed, and the hole was sealed with soil, after which a new borehole was dug.
• Over time, anaerobic digestion helped break down the waste into a harmless substance, with estimated sludge accumulation ranging from 2.1 to 7.3 cubic feet per 1,000 user-days.
Advantages
• They eliminated the need for daily waste removal,
• minimized fly breeding due to the darkness inside the pit, and,
• When located at least 15 meters (50 feet) from water sources, posed little risk of water contamination.
Despite these advantages, they gradually fell out of favor due to several limitations:
• Limited capacity: The borehole filled up quickly, requiring frequent relocation.
• Specialized equipment: The construction process relied on an auger, which was not always readily available.
• Soil and water table constraints: In areas with high groundwater levels or loose soil, digging a hole deeper than 3 meters (10 feet) was often impractical.
As a result, borehole latrines have largely been replaced by more efficient and sustainable sanitation solutions.
References:
• Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 26th ed. Jabalpur: M/S Banarsidas Bhanot; 2021. Environment and Health; p. 799-883.
• Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 27th ed. Jabalpur: M/S Banarsidas Bhanot; 2023. Environment and Health; p. 832-915.
• Bhalwar R. Textbook of Community Medicine. 5th ed. New Delhi: Wolters Kluwer; 2023. Chapter 8, Excreta Disposal; p. 89-101.
• Series 3, Sanitation; WHO website. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/66334/WHO_EOS_96.4_2.p1... accessed on 28th March 2025
Excreta Disposal: https://ihatepsm.com/blog/proper-excreta-disposal-necessity-health-and-d...
Video on Sewage Treatment: https://youtu.be/M3iMq4-iFHg
Bore-Hole Latrine: https://ihatepsm.com/blog/bore-hole-latrine#google_vignette