title: [Dry toilets: a means of alternative sanitation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluating dry toilet use in a rural area of Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen families were selected by convenience sampling from the rural area of a municipality in the Cundinamarca department in Colombia. A dry (composting) toilet was installed in one house and used for demonstration purposes over a five-month period. An ex-post evaluation was made concerning technical and economic matters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A dry toilet is easy to construct/install and has environmental benefits associated with less contamination of water sources reduction and a reduced amount of chemical fertilizer. Dry toilets construction and operating costs may represent savings of Col$616973456 (US$308487) in the municipality being studied, compared to the costs involved in conventional toilet use. However, cultural barriers were found regarding their use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large percentage of households in many countries rural sectors do not have a sewerage system for disposing of human waste. This situation creates significant challenges regarding environmental health and ecosystem conservation. Dry toilets represent an environmentally-acceptable solution from a technical and economic perspective; however, work is required concerning social and cultural factors producing cultural perceptions and prejudices about handling excreta to provide the necessary coverage and produce a significant impact on peoples awareness.
authors: Facultad de Tecnológica, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia, cagarciau@udistrital.edu.co.
authors: César A
authors: CA
authors: García-Ubaque
authors: Investigadora Independiente, Bogotá, Colombia, ml.vaca68@uniandes.edu.co.
authors: Martha L
authors: ML
authors: Vaca-Bohórquez
authors: Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, jcgarciau@unal.edu.co.
authors: Juan C
authors: JC
authors: García-Ubaque
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003105:Colombia; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D012423:Rural Health; D012499:Sanitation; D012987:Soil; D014038:Toilet Facilities / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D012987:Soil