Inefficient technology or misperceived demand: the failure of Vacutug-based pit-emptying services in Bangladesh
Demand is growing globally for appropriate technology and viable business solutions to pit-emptying and transportation services. There is a growing body of experiments on technological innovations in different contexts to find an effective solution. However, there is no one technology or business model that can be applied everywhere because of contextual difference and varied demand. A Vacutug-based emptying and transportation service has been introduced in an urban context in Bangladesh by WaterAid. However, this study suggests that despite enormous demand, this mechanical emptying and transportation service has not been successful because of technological inefficiency and other demand-related factors.Cairncross, S., Bartram, J., Cumming, O. and Brocklehurst, C. (2010) ‘Hygiene, sanitation, and water: what needs to be done?’ PLoS Medicine 7 (11): e1000365 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000365〉.
Chowdhry, S. and Kone, D. (2012) Business Analysis of Fecal Sludge Management: Emptying and Transportation Services in Africa and Asia, Seattle, WA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Eales, K. (2005) Bringing pit emptying out of the darkness: a comparison of approaches in Durban, South Africa, and Kibera, Kenya, Sanitation Partnerships Series, London: Building Partnership for Development in Water and Sanitation.
Esrey, S.A. (1996) ‘Water, waste, and well-being: a multicountry study’, American Journal of Epidemiology 143 (6): 608-23.
Esrey, S.A., Potash, J.B., Robers, L. and Shiff, C. (1991) ‘Effects of improved water supply and sanitation on ascariasis, diarrhea, dracunculiasis, hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, and trachoma’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization 69 (5): 609-21 〈www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264〉. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264
Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992) Guide to the Development of On-site Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Howard, G. (2002) Healthy Villages: A Guide for Communities and Community Health Workers, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Ingallinella, A.M., Sanguinetti, G., Koottatep, T., Montangero, A. and Strauss, M. (2002) ‘The challenge of faecal sludge management in urban areas: strategies, regulations and treatment options’, Water Science and Technology 46 (10): 285-94.
Jonathan, P. and Masudul, Q. (2008) ‘The challenge of servicing on-site sanitation in dense urban areas: experiences from a pilot project in Dhaka’, Waterlines 27 (2): 149-63 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2008.017〉.
Opel, A. (2012) ‘Absence of faecal sludge management shatters the gains of improved sanitation coverage in Bangladesh’, Journal of Sustainable Sanitation Practice 13 (10): 4-10 〈www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf〉. www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf
Opel, A. and Islam, K. (2013) Faecal Sludge Management: An Emerging Challenge for the Cities in the Developing Countries, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Opel, A., Bashar, M.K. and Ahmed, M.F. (2011) Landscape Analysis and Business Model Assessment in Faecal Sludge Management: Extraction and Transportation Models in Bangladesh, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Shordt, K. (2006) Review of Safe Disposal of Feces, The Hague, Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
Thye, Y.P., Templeton, M.R. and Ali, M. (2009) ‘Pit latrine emptying: technologies, challenges and solutions’, paper presented in EWB-UK Research Conference, The Royal Academy of Engineering, London, 20 February.
Trémolet, S., Kolsky, P. and Perez, E. (2010) Financing On-Site Sanitation for the Poor: A Six Country Comparative Review and Analysis, Washington, DC: Water and Sanitation Programme, World Bank.
Yousuf, T.B. and Mahmud, W. (2011) A Study on Situation Analysis of Business Model Development of Faecal Sludge Management of Faridpur Municipality, Dhaka: Practical Action and WaterAid Bangladesh.
Cairncross, S., Bartram, J., Cumming, O. and Brocklehurst, C. (2010) ‘Hygiene, sanitation, and water: what needs to be done?’ PLoS Medicine 7 (11): e1000365 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000365〉.
Chowdhry, S. and Kone, D. (2012) Business Analysis of Fecal Sludge Management: Emptying and Transportation Services in Africa and Asia, Seattle, WA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Eales, K. (2005) Bringing pit emptying out of the darkness: a comparison of approaches in Durban, South Africa, and Kibera, Kenya, Sanitation Partnerships Series, London: Building Partnership for Development in Water and Sanitation.
Esrey, S.A. (1996) ‘Water, waste, and well-being: a multicountry study’, American Journal of Epidemiology 143 (6): 608-23.
Esrey, S.A., Potash, J.B., Robers, L. and Shiff, C. (1991) ‘Effects of improved water supply and sanitation on ascariasis, diarrhea, dracunculiasis, hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, and trachoma’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization 69 (5): 609-21 〈www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264〉. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264
Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992) Guide to the Development of On-site Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Howard, G. (2002) Healthy Villages: A Guide for Communities and Community Health Workers, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Ingallinella, A.M., Sanguinetti, G., Koottatep, T., Montangero, A. and Strauss, M. (2002) ‘The challenge of faecal sludge management in urban areas: strategies, regulations and treatment options’, Water Science and Technology 46 (10): 285-94.
Jonathan, P. and Masudul, Q. (2008) ‘The challenge of servicing on-site sanitation in dense urban areas: experiences from a pilot project in Dhaka’, Waterlines 27 (2): 149-63 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2008.017〉.
Opel, A. (2012) ‘Absence of faecal sludge management shatters the gains of improved sanitation coverage in Bangladesh’, Journal of Sustainable Sanitation Practice 13 (10): 4-10 〈www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf〉. www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf
Opel, A. and Islam, K. (2013) Faecal Sludge Management: An Emerging Challenge for the Cities in the Developing Countries, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Opel, A., Bashar, M.K. and Ahmed, M.F. (2011) Landscape Analysis and Business Model Assessment in Faecal Sludge Management: Extraction and Transportation Models in Bangladesh, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Shordt, K. (2006) Review of Safe Disposal of Feces, The Hague, Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
Thye, Y.P., Templeton, M.R. and Ali, M. (2009) ‘Pit latrine emptying: technologies, challenges and solutions’, paper presented in EWB-UK Research Conference, The Royal Academy of Engineering, London, 20 February.
Trémolet, S., Kolsky, P. and Perez, E. (2010) Financing On-Site Sanitation for the Poor: A Six Country Comparative Review and Analysis, Washington, DC: Water and Sanitation Programme, World Bank.
Yousuf, T.B. and Mahmud, W. (2011) A Study on Situation Analysis of Business Model Development of Faecal Sludge Management of Faridpur Municipality, Dhaka: Practical Action and WaterAid Bangladesh.
Cairncross, S., Bartram, J., Cumming, O. and Brocklehurst, C. (2010) ‘Hygiene, sanitation, and water: what needs to be done?’ PLoS Medicine 7 (11): e1000365 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000365〉.
Chowdhry, S. and Kone, D. (2012) Business Analysis of Fecal Sludge Management: Emptying and Transportation Services in Africa and Asia, Seattle, WA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Eales, K. (2005) Bringing pit emptying out of the darkness: a comparison of approaches in Durban, South Africa, and Kibera, Kenya, Sanitation Partnerships Series, London: Building Partnership for Development in Water and Sanitation.
Esrey, S.A. (1996) ‘Water, waste, and well-being: a multicountry study’, American Journal of Epidemiology 143 (6): 608-23.
Esrey, S.A., Potash, J.B., Robers, L. and Shiff, C. (1991) ‘Effects of improved water supply and sanitation on ascariasis, diarrhea, dracunculiasis, hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, and trachoma’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization 69 (5): 609-21 〈www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264〉. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264
Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992) Guide to the Development of On-site Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Howard, G. (2002) Healthy Villages: A Guide for Communities and Community Health Workers, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Ingallinella, A.M., Sanguinetti, G., Koottatep, T., Montangero, A. and Strauss, M. (2002) ‘The challenge of faecal sludge management in urban areas: strategies, regulations and treatment options’, Water Science and Technology 46 (10): 285-94.
Jonathan, P. and Masudul, Q. (2008) ‘The challenge of servicing on-site sanitation in dense urban areas: experiences from a pilot project in Dhaka’, Waterlines 27 (2): 149-63 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2008.017〉.
Opel, A. (2012) ‘Absence of faecal sludge management shatters the gains of improved sanitation coverage in Bangladesh’, Journal of Sustainable Sanitation Practice 13 (10): 4-10 〈www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf〉. www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf
Opel, A. and Islam, K. (2013) Faecal Sludge Management: An Emerging Challenge for the Cities in the Developing Countries, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Opel, A., Bashar, M.K. and Ahmed, M.F. (2011) Landscape Analysis and Business Model Assessment in Faecal Sludge Management: Extraction and Transportation Models in Bangladesh, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Shordt, K. (2006) Review of Safe Disposal of Feces, The Hague, Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
Thye, Y.P., Templeton, M.R. and Ali, M. (2009) ‘Pit latrine emptying: technologies, challenges and solutions’, paper presented in EWB-UK Research Conference, The Royal Academy of Engineering, London, 20 February.
Trémolet, S., Kolsky, P. and Perez, E. (2010) Financing On-Site Sanitation for the Poor: A Six Country Comparative Review and Analysis, Washington, DC: Water and Sanitation Programme, World Bank.
Yousuf, T.B. and Mahmud, W. (2011) A Study on Situation Analysis of Business Model Development of Faecal Sludge Management of Faridpur Municipality, Dhaka: Practical Action and WaterAid Bangladesh.
Cairncross, S., Bartram, J., Cumming, O. and Brocklehurst, C. (2010) ‘Hygiene, sanitation, and water: what needs to be done?’ PLoS Medicine 7 (11): e1000365 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000365〉.
Chowdhry, S. and Kone, D. (2012) Business Analysis of Fecal Sludge Management: Emptying and Transportation Services in Africa and Asia, Seattle, WA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Eales, K. (2005) Bringing pit emptying out of the darkness: a comparison of approaches in Durban, South Africa, and Kibera, Kenya, Sanitation Partnerships Series, London: Building Partnership for Development in Water and Sanitation.
Esrey, S.A. (1996) ‘Water, waste, and well-being: a multicountry study’, American Journal of Epidemiology 143 (6): 608-23.
Esrey, S.A., Potash, J.B., Robers, L. and Shiff, C. (1991) ‘Effects of improved water supply and sanitation on ascariasis, diarrhea, dracunculiasis, hookworm infection, schistosomiasis, and trachoma’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization 69 (5): 609-21 〈www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264〉. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2393264
Franceys, R., Pickford, J. and Reed, R. (1992) Guide to the Development of On-site Sanitation, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Howard, G. (2002) Healthy Villages: A Guide for Communities and Community Health Workers, Geneva: World Health Organization.
Ingallinella, A.M., Sanguinetti, G., Koottatep, T., Montangero, A. and Strauss, M. (2002) ‘The challenge of faecal sludge management in urban areas: strategies, regulations and treatment options’, Water Science and Technology 46 (10): 285-94.
Jonathan, P. and Masudul, Q. (2008) ‘The challenge of servicing on-site sanitation in dense urban areas: experiences from a pilot project in Dhaka’, Waterlines 27 (2): 149-63 〈http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2008.017〉.
Opel, A. (2012) ‘Absence of faecal sludge management shatters the gains of improved sanitation coverage in Bangladesh’, Journal of Sustainable Sanitation Practice 13 (10): 4-10 〈www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf〉. www.ecosan.at/ssp/issue-12-faecal-sludge-management/SSP-13_Oct2012.pdf
Opel, A. and Islam, K. (2013) Faecal Sludge Management: An Emerging Challenge for the Cities in the Developing Countries, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Opel, A., Bashar, M.K. and Ahmed, M.F. (2011) Landscape Analysis and Business Model Assessment in Faecal Sludge Management: Extraction and Transportation Models in Bangladesh, Dhaka: WaterAid Bangladesh.
Shordt, K. (2006) Review of Safe Disposal of Feces, The Hague, Netherlands: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.
Thye, Y.P., Templeton, M.R. and Ali, M. (2009) ‘Pit latrine emptying: technologies, challenges and solutions’, paper presented in EWB-UK Research Conference, The Royal Academy of Engineering, London, 20 February.
Trémolet, S., Kolsky, P. and Perez, E. (2010) Financing On-Site Sanitation for the Poor: A Six Country Comparative Review and Analysis, Washington, DC: Water and Sanitation Programme, World Bank.
Yousuf, T.B. and Mahmud, W. (2011) A Study on Situation Analysis of Business Model Development of Faecal Sludge Management of Faridpur Municipality, Dhaka: Practical Action and WaterAid Bangladesh.
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