Study of two aspects of FS emptying and transport (Côte d’Ivoire)

The management of faecal sludge in Korhogo, located in the north of Côte d’Ivoire, is a crucial issue for sanitation. The management of faecal sludge is currently informal, and those in charge of its disposal are faced with unfavourable living and working conditions. In addition, there is no regulation on the price of mechanical emptying. The objective of this study is to enhance the technical and financial components of the sanitation value chain in Korhogo. Surveys were conducted to assess the living and working conditions of emptiers, as well as the management and organizational systems of the intermediate link, among stakeholders involved in sanitation facility management. The results showed that the cost of mechanical emptying differs based on several factors, such as the distance between households and the faecal treatment plant, the accessibility of households, employees’ wage bills, fuel costs, and emptying fees. It also indicated that 80% of emptiers are not vaccinated, 40% have work-related accidents, 60% are not registered with social insurance, 80% have not received training, 40% do not have PPE, and 57% of businesses are still informal. We recommend a perfect rate of 2,000 FCFA/m3 for mechanical emptying in Korhogo after conducting an economic analysis. The rate is affordable for households and will guarantee the sustainability of the mechanical emptying activity.