SANITATION SITUATION IN CENTRAL DAVAO CITY SLUM AREAS A SPORADIC INDICATIVE SURVEY
Field observations and sporadic surveys in some of Davao City central district slum areas. Part of Bachelor of Built Environment Third year internship research water management at Rotterdam University of Applied Science. Project Document name Version Organizations Website Author Data gathering Date
Sanitation assessment Davao City C.02 4.2 HELP Davao, TropICS, Ateneo de Davao, DOST XI http://davao.vincentoskam.nl Vincent Oskam In cooperation with Sean Ligtvoet 21 December 2012
Region XI Davao
Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey
I. INTRODUCTION Hygienic habits, like using proper toilets and hand washing prevent the spreading of deceases from human extoileteta, which otherwise contaminate water and food. This contamination is a major cause of diarrhea which is the second biggest killer of children in developing countries. It can also lead to other major diseases as cholera, schistosomiasis and trachoma (WHO/UNICEF, 2008). To assess the state of sanitation in Davao City, the following dense populated areas, and informal settlements within Davao City central district are visited. 17-October 2012 1.) Brgy 22-C, Quezon Boulevard 2.) Brgy 40-D, Poblacion 3.) Brgy 23-C, Isla Verde 4.) Brgy 31-D, 18-October 2012 5.) Brgy 2-A, Bagong Lupa 6.) Brgy 37-D, Trading Boulevard 7.) Brgy 76-A, Bucana
questions were therefor sometimes leading or suggestive and answers can be untrustworthy caused by embarrassment.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PAPER Chapter one (1) covers the results from the interviews and chapter two (2) results from field observations. This paper ends with conclusions and generalizations and as attachment the survey outcomes are added.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The research results in this paper where only possible with the help of Marife Anunciado who coordinated our with the Barangay captains and helped us with interpretation. Sr. Ben Co who provided us with safe transportation and Sean Ligtvoet who prepared and performed the interviews.
II. METHODS Field observations and interviews, to indicate, not to quantify. Observations in the field are compared to the definitions by WHO/Unesco. Goal 7 from the millennium development goals: to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The United Nations describes sustainable basic sanitation as “…access to facilities that hygienically separate human excreta from human, animal and insect contact…” and “…any of the following types of water supply for drinking: Piped water, public tap, borehole or pump, protected well, protected spring or rainwater.” (United Nations, 2003)
Illustration 1.1
The results of this research are only to be used as indicative data. Areas are chosen on non-further substantiated recommendations. The few interviewees are chosen by Barangay captains and can be biased. Communication was difficult caused by the language barrier,
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According to Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report sanitation facilities are considered “improved” as they are either connected to public sewer or a septic system, a pourflush latrine or simple pit latrine, as long as it is not a public latrine, open pit latrine or service/bucket latrine. (World Health Organization & UNICEF, 2000)
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Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey Especially for kids parents name cough and cold. It is not possible to check if these are indeed caused by the open sewer.
1. SURVEY NUMBER OF USERS PER TOILET Private toilets can be used by up to three families or eleven people per toilet. While some houses have two toilets for only four people. People without toilet can often use a public toilet that accommodates up to 50 people. Cost of using a public toilet varies between three and five peso per visit. People without private toilet also often use the toilet of neighbors or family in the neighborhood.
CONTACT WITH HUMAN EXCREMENT
TOILET HABITS AND TYPES
SEPTIC TANK
Most people use the “splash” method, they use water to clean after toilet visits. Some use paper napkins. The types of toilet vary between squat and sit toilets. Most toilets are manually flushed with a water bucket. According to one inhabitant people defecate under the house. Some houses in tide affected areas or houses permanently above sea water only have hole in the ground that is used as toilet. According to a barangay official people also use the wrap and through method, they defecate in a plastic bag or piece of paper and throw this in a public area.
HYGIENIC CONDITION Both private toilet users and public toilet users claim that the hygienic condition of the toilets is “OK” or “Clean”. Observations indicate this is questionable (Illustration 2.8)
ACCOMMODATION For both private and public toilets, users claim it can effectively accommodate all toilet users, up to 15 people for a private toilet. The reported waiting time for public toilet visits is a maximum of 5 minutes.
NUISANCE FROM OPEN SEWER Reported nuisance from the open sewer varies between “not at all” / “never” to nuisance from odor, headaches, and rashes.
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People from the same Barangays contradict each other, some report to experience exposure to human excrement in streets or open sewer daily, other claim they never experience exposure. As most households do not have a septic tank and sewer/drainage runs in small overflowing canals next to the streets, exposure is to be expected to all people.
Most houses report to have a septic tank, while barangay officials estimate about 30% of the households have a septic tank. Functioning of septic tanks can be doubted as they should often be cleaned for wellfunctioning.
ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER Most people have access to drinking water from the Davao City Water District, reportedly one of the best water qualities in the world. People without water connection can buy water in buckets from neighbors paying 1,- to 1.50 PHP per bucket.
WASHING HABITS Some areas have public washrooms which can be used for a fee up to 6 PHP. People report to wash 1 to 3 times a day, if there is no dedicated washing area in the house they use a bucket or a small tub inside or outside of the house.
SAFETY OF PUBLIC TOILET Public toilets might be unsafe, especially for young women. Female inhabitants using public toilets report it is safe to use the public toilet, as long there is functioning light at night.
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Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey
2. FIELD OBSERVATIONS Following are photos taken during the visits with comments.
Illustration 2.3
Canals are clogged with siltation and debris, which may cause them to flow over the streets, spreading contaminents.
Illustration 2.1
Clearly polluted canals run in the side of the streets.
Illustration 2.2
Usually the canals are passable by simple bridge constructions.
Illustration 2.4
Often the canals flow over, due to either tides or rain.
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Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey
Illustration 2.7
People often wear sandals or bear feet (mostly children), further spreading contaminants from the wet areas throughout the area.
Illustration 2.5
Children play in the polluted canals, there is nothing protecting them from exposure.
Illustration 2.8
Public toilet buildings, reportedly hygienic, do not look well maintained or clean. *This does not say anything about their actual hygienic condition, it has not been tested.
Illustration 2.6
Sometimes the waste water/open sewer runs over the potable water lines, leakage can lead to contamination of the tap water. Vincent Oskam, 2012
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Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey
Illustration 2.9
Illustration 2.11
Some houses are located on tidal affected areas. These houses often don’t have septic tanks but use holes in the floor as toilet. Human excrements are disposed under the houses, during tides and floods they get flushed into the rest of the city.
Houses are accessible by small wooden bridges, it is easy for children and elderly to fall in the polluted water.
Illustration 2.10
Some areas naturally accumulate waste, as the tides deposit them during high tide, they stay behind when the tide falls.
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Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey
3. CONCLUSIONS According to (World Health Organization & UNICEF, 2000) exposure to human excrement causes diarrhea and can lead to major deceases like cholera. Sanitation habits like proper toilet usage can reduce the spreading and exposure to these threats. Sporadic indicative survey of 7 barangays in Davao City show that have access to toilets, either their own private toilets or toilets from family or neighbors, reportedly effectively accommodating up to 15 people. While public toilets are available for a small fee for people without access to private toilets. The maximum reported waiting time for public toilet usage is 5 minutes. Inhabitants report that they are exposed to human excrement in the streets, reportedly leading to health issues like rashes and for children cough and colds. Not all toilets have a septic tank and the functioning of existing septic tanks can be doubted. It is clear that the drainage canals in the sides of the narrow streets contain human excreta. These canals often overflow during high tides or heavy rainfall. Siltation and debris also lead to overflowing canals. Children are not in any way protected from this contaminated water and are seen playing in it. Some houses are built on top of tide affected or permanent sea areas. The water underneath these houses is polluted with debris and most houses there only have a hole in the floor as toilet. The water under the houses is expected to be contaminated, while the access to these houses is by narrow wooden planks. It is easy for children or elderly to fall from the planks in the contaminated water.
Most of the inhabitants have access to a private metered water tap. Those who do not have access to water can buy water in buckets from family or neighbors. Most people have access to water and adapt regular washing habits. However, the definition of (World Health Organization & UNICEF, 2000) for proper sanitation is not met. Human excreta is not separated from human, animal or insect access, worse they flow over streets and under the houses. Furthermore, the (World Health Organization & UNICEF, 2000) definition of proper toilets is not met, people use public toilets or private toilets from family or neighbors.
III.
Work cited
United
Nations. (2003). Indicators for Monitoring the Millenium Development Goals. New York: United Nations. WHO/UNICEF. (2008). Poor sanitation threatens public health. Geneva. World Health Organization & UNICEF. (2000). Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report. Water Supply & Sanitation - Collaborative Council.
IV. ATTACHMENT C.02 1. SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESPONS
Irrespectively of these situations, most people report that the hygienic situation of their toilets, both private and public, is ok.
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Sanitation situation in central davao city slum areas A sporadic indicative survey
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