ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
LOCAL PARTNERS: LWSC, MCC, EPA, WASH CONSORTIUM
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS: ICRC UNICEF,
IN CONSULTATION WITH: WHO, CDC
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
THE PROBLEM STATEMENT:
The national strategy:
• Detect and isolate Ebola cases for treatment and
• Prevent further infection.
To this end, Government and the partners have constructed a number of Ebola
Treatment Units (ETUs) and Community Care Centers (CCCs).
The high volumes of infectious waste generated dictate that safety protocols for waste
management be put in place.
Two broad types of waste are generated from the ETUs – solid and liquid wastes.
Protocols are in place for infection prevention in hospitals. UNICEF has developed a
document to guide the planning of WASH packages for ETUs.
The solid waste is basically segregated and disposed-off in incinerators.
The biggest challenge is with the collection and disposal of the sewage, including feces,
waste water from showers and laundry.
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Based on research and publications on the Ebola virus and its survival rates
outside the body of an infected person, a plan to safely remove and stare liquid
wastes from ETUs has been jointly developed by partners in the WASH Consortium
taking into account the following:
• The sewage from the infected person is highly contagious and must be handled
with care.
• The virus is inactivated when exposed to temperatures between 58oC – 60oC for
1 hour or 75oC for 30 minutes.
• The high chlorinated water used for flushing the toilet and disinfection is able to
reduce the viral load in the flushed toilet.
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
PROPOSED SOLUTION
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
FECAL WASTES AND SEPTIC DESIGNS AT ETUS
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
FECAL WASTES AND SEPTIC DESIGNS AT ETUS
• Sewage is stored in a septic tank or lined latrine where it can be desludged by a
sewer truck.
• Sewage is well handled in the ETUs. The Plan aims at safe handling and
management from the septic tank or lined latrine to a final disposal site.
• The septic tank must be located in an area outside the Red Zone and fenced to
avoid unauthorized access, with clear unobstructed access.
• The septic tank or the lined pit must have a 4 inch PVC suction pipe with a
connector inserted in it and at least 6 inches above the base of the tank, to avoid
opening the manhole during the desludging process.
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
COLLECTION OF WASTES AT ETU-PRFOTOCOLS
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY
Physical structures
 Changing Room
with shower at
Fiamah
 Truck disinfection
area (at ETUs and
Fiamah)
 Septic tank with 4
inch pipe inserted
and capped
 1 drum
incinerator
located at the
Equipment
 1 desludging truck
 1 escort pickup
 2 No. 200 liter
Drum for 0.5%
chlorine water
 1 Drum of clean
water
 1 Backpack sprayer
 2 Hand sprayers
 3 Hand sanitizer
 1 Basin for footbath

Human Resources
 Chemist
 Sewer Manager
 Technician
 Sewage truck
Operator
 Plumbers
 Drivers

Personal safety gear
Consumables
 Rubber boots
 60 liter
 Reusable hand gloves
disposable
 Water proof
plastic waste
protective dress
bags (many)
 Rubber apron
 HTH 70%
 Safety goggles/eye
shield
 Face mask
 Nose mask
 Safety helmet
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
TRAINING
• Overall Objective: To train cesspit emptier truck crew members to adequately
handle and dispose of fecal waste from Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs)
• Specific Objectives: provide adequate information on EVD for cesspit emptier
truck crews and personnel dealing with liquid waste; train cesspit emptier truck
crews and personnel on safe use of PPE; train relevant staff to prepare various
chlorine solutions and safely handle chlorine, HTH; and train cesspit emptier
crews on safe transportation and disposal of liquid waste.
• Number of participants : 25 persons - participants will come from the following
agencies: LWSC 16; N. C. Sanitors -4; Libra Inc. -4; EPA – 1
• Date: 27 to 28 November 2014
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
COLLECTION OF WASTES AT ETU-PROTOCOLS
Layout principles of the structures and physical facilities
Septic tanks and holding tanks at the ETUs/CCCs
• All holding pits or septic tank sites should be prepared to allow easy and safe assess for the
sewage and utility truck
• All the sites should be sealed and clearly labeled as danger zone to prevent unauthorized
access
• Only the desludging crew and ETU supervisors are allowed access during the dislodging
process
• All the tanks should have a suction pipe installed into it and capped, allowing easy access to
suction without opening the manhole.
• The suction pipe should be a 4 inch with a coupler at the end and inserted at least 6 inches
from the base of the septic tank
• Water should be connected from the ETU/CCC to the sewage area and a changing room
provided
• Truck platform should be in concrete or gravel layer of at least 6 inches and connected to a
soak pit
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Transporting route
• LWSC will map out the approved route
• A contingency plan to be developed in the event of an accident during
transporting
• The truck will be escorted by the utility vehicle
Holding tank at Fiamah
• The digester area is fenced and secured
• An on-site security will be provided
• Changing room, shower and toilet facilities are provided
• Waste will be held in digester and only discharged when it has been tested ad
found Ebola free
SOCIAL MOBILISATION
• The key partners for this program are :
•
•
•
•
•
•
community dwellers of Fiamah,
the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC),
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Monrovia City Corporation (MCC),
Community Development Services (CODES)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
TARGET GROUPS
• Community leaders (5 committees with 7 committee members)
• Youth of the surrounding communities (20 representatives)
• Religious groups (6 churches/ 2 mosques)
• Community Resident (Estimated population??)- Immediate
surrounding (only 1 community)
• ETU Managers and staffs
• IMS Task force
• General audience / Greater Monrovia
SOCIAL MOBILISATION
TARGET GROUPS
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
Sources of verification
Community leaders (5 committees
with 7 committee members)
MCC
Initial meeting
Pre meeting
Weekly meeting
25/10/2014
1/12/2014
Until mid January
Minutes of Meeting
Pictures
Youth of the surrounding
communities (20 representatives)
MCC
CODES
Initial meeting
Visit of plant
Weekly meeting
3 meetings in total
Minutes of Meeting
Pictures
Religious groups (6 churches/ 2
mosques)
CODES
Church/mosque announcement
Meeting
1/12/2014
Minutes of Meeting
Pictures
Community Resident (Estimated
population??)- Immediate
surrounding (only 1 community)
CODES
LWSC
UNICEF
MoPW
Developing message
(LWSC/UNICEF)
Door to Door
Hygiene promotion programs
Mapping the risks (road access)
1/12/2014
Package of messages
Door to Door reports
FGD reports
Hygiene kits distribution
plan and PMD
ETU Managers and staffs
LWSC
EPA
WASH
Cluster
Contact list (WASH cluster)
Request process (WASH cluster)
Meetings with WASH manager
(LWSC/UNICEF/WHO/EPA/ICRC)
2/12
Minutes of Meeting
Pictures
IMS Task force
LWSC
UNICEF
Presentation
24/11
Minutes of meeting (IMS)
presentation
General audience / Greater
Monrovia
UNICEF
LWSC
MCC
Developing message
(LWSC/UNICEF)
Radio Program
Press release
Mid december
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
FRAMEWORK
OJBECTIVES
Ensure that the request
process is efficient and
allow quick desludged
Ensure that safety gears,
usage and availability of the
PPE, equipment, chorine for
the staffs/workers are
adequate
INDICATORS
% of request
responding in less
than 48h (working
days)
WHERE
WHEN
ETU CCC Monthly
interviews of ETU
managers
Based on every
Request
Safety gear and
LWSC Field visit
equipment are
office
available for a period
of 1 month in the
stock
LWSC workers are
using properly the
safety gears and
equipment
Ensuring that the SOP and % of collection done
ETU CCC Every collection
safety measures are
according to the SOP
Field visit
implemented in compliance based on the numbers
with the standards during
of collection
the collection process
WHO
EPA,
UNICEF
TOOLS
MCC, Interviews
checklist
LWSC / NWSHP Database of the
Committee
request
EPA, WHO
Checklist to put on
and take off PPE
Reports on the
field visits
EPA, LWSC,
MoPW, MCC
WHO,and
UNICEF
ETU WASH
managers
SOP for collection
Reports on the
field visits
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
FRAMEWORK
OJBECTIVES
Ensuring that the SOP and
safety measures are
implemented in
compliance with the
standards during the
transport process
INDICATORS
WHERE
WHEN
% of transport /
Transpo Every transport
movement of sludge
rt
Field visit
done according to
the SOP based on
the numbers of
transport
WHO
EPA, LWSC,
MoPW, MCC
WHO and
UNICEF
Ensuring that the SOP and
safety measures are
implemented in
compliance with the
standards for the final
disposal (appropriate
discharge procedures),
safety gears and
equipment properly
disinfected and/or
incinerated.
% of discharge done
according to the SOP
based on the
numbers of
discharge
EPA, LWSC,
MoPW, MCC
WHO and
UNICEF
Final Every transport
disposal Field visit
FIAMAH
treatme
nt Plant
TOOLS
Log Book,
interviews of the
transporters,
spot check,
supporting team
on a different
vehicle to follow
the trucks
SOP for discharge
procedures
Spot check
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
FRAMEWORK
OJBECTIVES
Ensuring that feedback
(satisfaction and opinion)
of the community and the
staff is documented and
actions are taken to
redress the issues
Ensuring the
implementation of the
plan of actions
INDICATORS
% of workers
satisfied
% of community
members received
clear information
regarding the
Fiamah treatment
plant
% of request from
communities
responded
# of meetings on the
workplan
# of plan of actions
responding to the
needs identified
WHERE
WHEN
LWSC On-going /
Union periodical
feedback
Commu sessions and
nity community
members.
MCC
On-going
WHO
TOOLS
LWSC, MCC,
Interview and
UNICEF, CODES FGD with the
LWSC workers
UNION
Interview and
FGD with the
community
TASK Force
chaired by
MCC
Meeting with
minutes
ETU LIQUID WASTE MANAGEMENT
THANK YOU