Faecal sludge desludging practices (Tanzania)

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of the current desludging practices in hygienically separating the excreta from human contact; assessing the drivers for the choice of desludging practices and assessing the legal and institutional framework pertaining to desludging practices in planned and unplanned settlements in Dar es Salaam city. Household questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus groups discussions, physical observations and documents reviews were employed data collection methods. Data analyses were done using statistical packages and strength, weakness, opportunities and threats analysis. The collected were statistically analyzed using t-test. The results revealed that nearly half of the residents in unplanned settlements (47%) rely on traditional pit latrines, while for unplanned settlements majority (83%) rely on poor flush sanitation system. Emptying frequency is short in unplanned settlements compared to planned ones with proposition of 16% and 2% respectively. About 73% of the planned settlements and 46% of the unplanned settlements rely on faecal sludge emptying trucks. No frogs’ men practices were reported in planned settlements but they exist in the unplanned settlements (6%). The choice of desludging practice is attributed by many drivers including the convenience of the service provided. However, the emptying trucks are reported to be unfaithful as they temper with volume gauges that enables them do partial emptying. DAWASA should ensure to inspect gauges of these vehicles frequently.