The twin pit pour flush latrine promoted widely under rural sanitation programmes in India has which principal advantage?
- A Contents of a rested pit convert into safe humus usable as manure after about two years ✓
- B Pits require mechanical emptying every six months
- C It requires connection to a sewerage network
- D It eliminates the need for a water seal
Correct answer: A. Contents of a rested pit convert into safe humus usable as manure after about two years
Explanation
In the twin pit system, excreta flows into one lined pit while the other rests. Pathogens die off during storage, and after roughly two years the contents become dry, odourless, pathogen-free humus that can be handled safely and applied as fertiliser. Pits are then alternated, so no manual scavenging or mechanical emptying is needed. No sewer connection is involved, and a water seal remains essential to block foul gases and flies.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.