Lahan Municipality is located in Siraha District in the Province Number 2 of south-eastern Nepal. The municipality is extended into 167.17 square kilometres and politically divided into 24 wards. It is home to 91766 population residing in 17182 households. The population has increased gradually with rapid urbanization over a period of 20 years. The municipality has evolved as trade and industrial center from its agrarian economy.
Sanitation Status
The municipality was declared Open defecation free zone in 2018. However, an approximately 6.6% of the households, majority with poor and underprivileged squatters living in the unregister plots of land does not own toilet.
Containment
Twin pits and single pits constructed by concrete rings are prevailed in rural areas of the municipality for collection of faecal sludge (FS). Anaerobic biogas digester, designed for integrated treatment of human faeces, animal manure and organic waste at household have been promoted in rural areas nearby Chure Hills. Similarly, a septic tank which functioned as collection and primary treatment unit were installed at core urban centers. Whereas, households located at fringes of core urban and newly urbanized area have installed a fully lined tanks.
Emptying and Transportation
Regular emptying and transportation of FS is essential for proper functioning of the containment and preventing contamination of groundwater through overflow of the FS. The data revealed irregular emptying practices, such that 68% of the containments have never been emptied since installation. Also, emptying frequencies varies highly across the type and locations. Traditional manual scavengers, municipality and private entrepreneur are providing emptying and transportation services. Currently, in an average 19 m3 and 46 m3 FS per day is emptied both manually and mechanically respectively.
Treatment and Disposal
There is no faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) in the municipality. The collected FS is dumped in the pit constructed within the solid waste treatment plant by the municipality. While, the private desludging vehicle disposed in barren land.
Overview of Faecal Sludge Flow Status
The overall status of faecal sludge is represented by the Shit Flow Diagram (SFD). Only 3% of FS collected in an anaerobic biogas digester has been treated while 31% of FS collected in the fully lined tank is considered safely managed until it is emptied and rest being disposed haphazardly to environment. It increased threat on groundwater contamination resulting degradation of human health upon consumption of contaminated water.
