Dear all,
Just to underline the point Elisabeth made about VIPs being deliberately dark in order to ensure that flies are drawn into the pit and then towards the only light source there - that of the ventilation pipe.
As UDDTs also pose the problem of flies entering and leaving the chamber through the defecation hole, particularly when uncovered, I have also seen pictures of UDDTs that use a plastic bottle which protrudes from the chamber and which acts to draw the flies in the chamber into the brighter bottle and where they then eventually die.
So the question is, would a brightly lit toilet room not just serve to attract flies out of the pit or chamber and thus potentially encourage the spread of disease?
Flush toilets can be brightly lit as the faeces is whisked away and sealed behind the water filled u-bend, but in chambers and pits where faeces is completely or partially exposed the situation is very different.

Note by moderator (EvM): The Sanergy toilet was quoted by Elisabeth as an example for a well-lit toilet. Please see here in this thread: forum.susana.org/forum/categories/52-mob...posting-updates#1257


Hi Elisabeth

Yes I noticed it was one of the UDDT in South Africa, and I thought that the sheet in the door was made of corrigated iron. It is a bit difficult to tell if the sheet in the door is plastic or corrigated iron, but yes if it were plastic, that would also be a daytime lighting solution.

Rgds
Trevor

Good day!What a great article about a simple, cheap solution to light in rural toilets.I do agree that light in the toilet is one of the most essentials things it's because it makes you feel comfortable, relax, and to maintain cleanliness and orderliness.

Best wishes,
xxxx

Note by moderator: please sign with your name and put a link to your company (if you want) into the footer of the posting - but not instead of your name. The way you have done it now is too much like plain advertising.

Hi all

I just read todays Sanitation Updates, and the image in the following article:
"Time to Get Our Sh*t Together Posted: 14 Mar 2012 02:58 AM PDT":



Made me immediately think, about the darkness in the toilet when the door is closed.
And I remembered a simple lighting solution I watched a video on a while ago, and thought why not incorporate it as a simple, cheap lighting solution into such toilets.

Here is the video:



Please let me know if you see any technical reasons why such a lighting solution could not be incorporated into the design of toilets similar to the one in the picture.

Rgds
Trevor