Rosy Singh, Resource Centre Manager, ENPHO

Background
Sanitation is the basis for healthy, productive and dignified life. It is the fundamental right of every citizen and is essential for sustainable development. The Constitution of Nepal recognizes access to safe water and sanitation as a fundamental right as follows:
• Right to Clean Environment, Article 30: (1) Every person shall have the right to live in a healthy and clean environment. (2) The victim of environmental pollution and degradation shall have the right to be compensated by pollutant as provided for by law.
• Right to Health, Article 35(4): Every citizen shall have the right of access to safe water and sanitation.

The sanitation promotion initiatives accelerated and scaled-up to nation-wide level following the promulgation of the National Sanitation and Hygiene Master Plan in 2011. Furthermore, it was realized that unless open defecation is not ended by the proper use of toilet for excreta disposal, water bodies will continue getting contaminated and many water borne diseases will be transmitted to human bodies. Hence, nation-wide sanitation promotion and Open Defecation Free campaigns were intensified by implementing focused programs, advocacy and campaigns. As a result, Nepal succeeded to declare as Open Defecation Free nation on 30 September 2019.

Open Defecation Free Nepal declaration program (Source: nepalitrends.com)

For the period 1990-2014, Nepal was one of the top ten fastest urbanizing countries in the world, with a rate of urbanization of 3 percent (UN DESA, 2014). For the period 2014-2050, Nepal will remain amongst the top ten fastest urbanizing countries in the world with a projected annual urbanization rate of 1.9 percent (UN DESA, 2014). This rapid urbanization will certainly have a significant pressure on environment and urban water supply and sanitation services in the years ahead.

One of the primary factors contributing to urban growth is the increased rural-urban migration for better job opportunities, search for livelihood options and displacement due to natural disaster. Other important factor is the formation of new municipalities which resulted in the increment of the number of municipalities from 58 (2011) to 293 (2017). Around 48 percent of the urban households with access to toilets are connected to septic tanks. But this untreated sewerage and faecal sludge are being disposed haphazardly into the environment without any proper treatment which ultimately jeopardizes the environment, water bodies and public health.

Basically, there are two types of sanitation systems. One is the non-sewered or on-site sanitation system and the other is sewered or off-site sanitation system. Onsite sanitation systems are prevalent mostly in the outskirts or peri-urban areas of the Valley. The study shows that 30% of households in urban areas of Lalitpur, 8% in Bhaktapur and 18% in Kathmandu District still use septic tanks for disposal of excreta while in the peri-urban areas more than 50% of the households use such onsite systems (HPCIDBC, 2011). In on-site sanitation system, the faecal sludge accumulated in pits or septic tanks require regular emptying.

Nepal is one of the members of the global initiative for sustainable development and one of the key elements for meeting SDG 6 is achieving safely managed sanitation services. However, on one hand, the septic tanks which are already built are not as per the standard guideline whereas on the other hand, those which are to be built are also not planned in accordance to the prescribed standards.

After the provincial government are in the lead role to formulate policies, the Local Governance Operation Act (2017) states the sanitation function of the Municipality and mentions to ensure new house design permits have in-built toilets and standard designs of septic tanks and soak away system (Article 29, pg. 64). The Faecal Sludge Management Institutional and Regulatory Framework (2017) issued by the Ministry of Water Supply states that households without sewer network are mandated to construct standard septic tanks. But most of the so called septic tanks are often found to be the holding tanks or pits.

Mahalaxmi Municipality and Implementation of ISO 24521
In this context, Mahalaxmi Municipality, located along Southern periphery of Kathmandu Valley, has shown the leadership role in managing the sanitation services and initiated for safe containment. The Municipality consists of approximately 28,000 households. But, day by day, new buildings are being constructed in the Municipality. Each working day, the Municipality issues design permits to about five new houses for construction. Realizing the adversity of the upcoming rapid urbanization upon human health, Mayor of Mahalaxmi Municipality Mr. Rameshor Shrestha committed to establish safe sanitation solution for the entire municipality.

As a result of the commitment, Mahalaxmi Municipality in coordination with ENPHO, Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology is implementing the project to implement ISO 24521 for the management of domestic wastewater services. This project, which is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) under grant assistance, is the first of its kind in Nepal and globally.

International Standard ISO 24521

This International Standard provides guidance for the management of basic on-site domestic wastewater services, using appropriate technologies in their entirety at any level of development. It includes the following:
– guidelines for the management of basic on-site domestic wastewater services from the operator’s perspective, including maintenance techniques, training of personnel and risk considerations;
– guidelines for the management of basic on-site domestic wastewater services from the perspective of users;
– guidance on the design and construction of basic on-site domestic wastewater systems;
– guidance on planning, operation and maintenance, and health and safety issues

Brief Overview of Sanitation Situation in Mahalaxmi Municipality
Under this project, in 2019, ENPHO with the support from Innovative Solution Pvt. Ltd. conducted sanitation situation assessment in Mahalaxmi Municipality. The census survey showed that 61.36 percent of the houses have containment (where the all faeces are collected), of which 55.49 percent have septic tank, 4.31 percent holding tank and 1.56 percent pit.

The census survey also showed that about 71.7 percent of the houses in Mahalaxmi Municipality have a water well in their premises as one of the sources of water. A further breakdown of the data shows that 66.22 percent of the houses with the septic tanks have well in their premises. Similarly, 51.59 percent of houses with holding tanks and 23.99 percent of the houses with pit have well in their premises.

Moreover, a sample survey of 400 houses was undertaken to assess the existing situation of the containment in Mahalaxmi Municipality. As per the survey, out of 400 houses, 362 houses consisted of septic tank, 31 houses holding tank and 7 houses consisted of pit. The containment was verified by physically observing the containment and fitting it into the containment criteria.

Accordingly, out of 400 houses, the sample survey identified that 10.75 percent actually have the septic tank, 64.75 percent have the holding tanks and 24.5 percent have the pits.
This data further shows that it is imperative to raise public awareness about actual septic tank and clarify misconception of considering holding tank or pits as the septic tank.

Similarly, 75.5 percent of the houses responded that they have not emptied their containment as it had not been filled and 2.5 percent of the houses were not sure about it. Considering the age of the containment of all those houses which have either never emptied containment or not sure, 32.8 percent of the houses have containments constructed six years ago and most of them are holding tanks and pits.

This study and the findings clearly show lack of public awareness about standard septic tank and also that the septic tanks have not been properly designed and constructed. Furthermore, people are unaware on performance of proper septic tank and its required size which is making it unnecessarily expensive as well. Other major challenges are lack of technical knowledge amongst technicians about designing and constructing standard septic tanks and lack of enforcement from the Municipality on construction of proper septic tanks. As a consequence, the infiltration of untreated wastewater from the containment is polluting the ground water thereby jeopardizing the environment and overall public health with various waterborne diseases.

Institutionalization of Standard Septic Tank in Mahalaxmi Municipality
Generally in sanitation, only the user interface or the toilet is considered. In fact, the entire sanitation service chain needs to be addressed. It is the responsibility and duty of the Municipality to formulate necessary policies and regulations, implement them and provide information to the city dwellers on safe management of municipal wastewater and faecal sludge. In this regard, Mahalaxmi Municipality has played a leadership role in institutionalizing the standard septic tank in its Municipality.

 
Key Achievements
In line with the provisions made in Local Governance Operation Act (2017- Article 29, pg. 64), the FSM standard project, which is being implemented in Mahalaxmi Municipality, has supported to include a two-page guidelines on standard septic tanks and soak away system as an integral component to the new house design permits. The Sanitation Cell established in the Municipality is providing necessary support for this.

Faecal Sludge Management By-Laws (left) and Standard Septic Tank Design Manual (right)

Conclusion and Way Ahead
Sanitation is not just about toilet construction. The entire sanitation value chain needs to be addressed and it starts with safe containment. Mahalaxmi Municipality has taken the step forward with formulation of FSM By-Laws and making the standard septic tanks mandatory in all new house design permits. Now, effective operationalization and regulation of this By-Laws has become a crucial factor. Furthermore, the Municipality must formulate an oversight system to ensure regular supervision and monitoring of the compliance to provisions of this By-Laws. While the construction of standard septic tank is mandatory in new houses, the existing containments which do not meet the criteria of standard septic tank also require upgradation either through installation of new septic tanks or a retrofitting process.

The regulation on standard septic tanks and its institutionalization in the Municipality are definitely Mahalaxmi’s exemplary step for safe containment and a major initiative to move ahead for faecal sludge management and contribute to achieve its vision of “Clean, Hygienic, Prosperous and Beautiful City”. This model initiative has a huge potential to be out-scaled and replicated in similar other municipalities which are currently under tremendous pressure of urbanization and need for better public health initiatives.

Special Acknowledgement:
Mr. Rameshor Shrestha, Mayor, Mahalaxmi Municipality, Lalitpur • Dr. Roshan Raj Shrestha, Deputy Director, BMGF • Mr. Sanjaya Adhikary, FSM ISO Project Team Leader Ms. Bhawana Sharma, Executive Director, ENPHO • Mr. Rajendra Shrestha, Program Director, ENPHO