Cost of Facilities
Unique location characteristics, mannerisms and norms that influence the appropriate WASH solution for individual schools
Understanding the costs of WASH facilities and services in schools is one essential piece for policy makers to utilize when budgeting for schools and helping to make WASH programs more sustainable.
The table below provides estimated costs of the school sanitation solutions laying out potential Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Operational Expenditure (OPEX), and 20-year design life costs of the solutions alongside brief rationales that may guide consideration of available solutions by school authorities.
This cost estimation, however, does not take into account the fact that the same sanitation technology can have varying costs depending on geographical context, as seen with VIPs (and other dry technologies) being more expensive in sub-Saharan Africa than in Asia.
| Solution(s) | CapEX | OpEX | 20-year design life | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pit Systems e.g. VIP | $ | $$ | $$$ | Recurrent OpEX and potential rehabilitation over time |
| Water-based systems with blackwater treatment & effluent management | $$$ | $$ | $$ | Rarely requires additional structural upgrade and can have constant OpEX for years |
| Dry system without sludge production e.g. Ecosan, Tiger Worm, etc. | $ | $ | $ | Renovations and OpEX remain at the minimum (can be emptied just once in 7 years), if structural integrity is observed |
| Dry system with urine diversion e.g. CBS | $$ | $$ | $$$ | Concerns over scale of service – it may end up being costlier for a school context. Further research required to confirm/ dismiss current concerns. |
| Blackwater treatment with urine diversion e.g. EOOS Urine Trap | $$$ | $ | $ | Too novel and so potentially costly to acquire, but comes with minimal OpEX |
| Biogas system | $$$ | $ | $$ | High CapEX, low OpEX, but relatively high subsequent operational commitment |
| Urinals | $ | $ | $ | Easy to install and use, efficient and long lasting resource recovery. |