Windhoek — Close to 400 households in Otjiwarongo were recently fortunate recipients of the environmentally-friendly dry toilets labelled the Otji-toilet in Orwetoveni.

The facilities were handed over to the households in the central town by the European Commission (EC) in Namibia, whose aim, according to Ambassador Dr Elisabeth Pape, is to help Namibia to "improve sanitation" conditions in the country.

"As Namibia is at a crucial stage of its Millennium Development Goals on sanitation with very limited left to meet the target, the Commission remains fervently committed to support the country to overcome this challenge," said Pape.

Echoing the sentiments, Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development Kazenambo Kazenambo said as "every nation aspires to have socio-economic development, Namibia should strive to pursue developmental activities that will have minimum negative impact on the environment".

The dry toilet system has the capacity to save households at least in the margin of N$100 per month through cutting-out operating and maintenance cost, said Peter Arndt, project manager of the Clay House Project. The Clay House Project is a European-funded project, which aims to provide reasonable housing made out of clay.

The dry toilet needs no plumbing for water input or evacuation, but is often coupled with some ventilation system.

It operates by separating the solids from liquid through a perforated container. The solid stays in the bin while the liquid runs through a perforated concrete panel at the bottom, from where it filters into the ground.

After a few months the container is filled up and the accumulated solids are then collected by the municipality for dumping at the sewage plant.

Access to the waste is gained through a black metal lid on the backside of the dry toilet. The concrete tank under the toilet is large enough to store up to three bins, in case one household has more users. Due to the perforated concrete panel, the tank stays clean and hygienic all the time.

The dispatch of unwanted odours is taken care of by a sun-based ventilation system at the back of the toilet which provides constant fresh air, at the same time ensuring that it is dry.

The toilets were installed at the behest of the Municipality of Otjiwarongo after the town approached the EC with the idea in the hope that it will cut costs on water and sewerage plans at the town.