Toolkit for District Level

ĜŒ’Š•œȱ˜—ȱŠŽŒŠ•ȱ•žŽȱ
Š—ŠŽ–Ž—
June 2021

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management i

ii Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management
Toolkit for District Level
Officials on Faecal Sludge
Management

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management iii

iv Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management
Contents
Chapter 1: What is Faecal Sludge Management? ........................................................................1

Chapter 2: Planning and Implementation of FSM ..................................................................... 10

Chapter 3: Information, Education and Communication for FSM ............................................18

Chapter 4: Capacity Building for FSM.........................................................................................20

Annexure 1: Draft District Regulations for FSM and Licensing ................................................22

Annexure 2: Procedure, Terms and Condition for License ........................................................30

Annexure 3: Checklist and Indicators for Monitoring ................................................................35

Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................................................................36

Glossary.........................................................................................................................................37

References .....................................................................................................................................38

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management v

vi Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management
 Chapter 1

What is Faecal Sludge

Management?

Q What is Faecal Sludge (FS)?

A Faecal sludge is the raw or partially digested mixture of excreta and

water, usually accumulated in the containment such as single pit,
septic tank, etc.

Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) is the emptying, transportation and treatment of faecal sludge
from septic tanks, pit latrines or other on-site sanitation systems (OSS). In general, FSM deals with
safe containment of waste from toilets, mechanized collection of faecal sludge from containment,
its transportation to the treatment facility, followed by treatment and its reuse. This sequence of
activities is also known as the FSM value chain, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: FSM value chain

TREATMENT PLANT

FSM value chain

Containment Emptying and transport Treattment Reuse/disposal

Safe containment Mechanized emptying Treatment of all Reuse of by products

of faecal waste of feacal sludge by collected waste or safe disposal
from toilet in single suction machine and its
pit, septic tank, etc. transportation to nearby
treatment site.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 1

 FSM is applicable for on-site sanitation systems such as septic tanks and pit latrines which require
periodic emptying of sludge. These on-site sanitation systems or containments get filled with faecal
sludge/human excreta over time and require to be emptied by mechanized desludging equipment
(using a suction machine, vacuum pump, cesspool vehicle or other similar arrangement). Figure
2 shows a septic tank and single pit that are filled with sludge and require emptying. It should be
noted that septic tanks lose their optimum treatment capacity or proper functioning even before
they are completely filled, implying that periodic emptying is key to proper functioning.

and soak pit

Septic tank
Single pit

Figure 2: Single pit and septic tanks in full condition

Emptying of septic tanks and single pits is
usually carried out by private desludging
operators (also known as emptier, cesspool
vehicle operator or sludge emptier) or
desludging service operated by the local
administration. Manual scavenging in any
TREATMENT PLANT
form must not be done while emptying
TREATMENT
PLANT
septic tanks and pits; and use of personal
proactive equipment (PPE) must always be
ensured and complied with.

Faecal sludge collected from the pit and

septic tank should be safely transported to a
treatment facility where the sludge is treated
to the required standards prescribed for
reuse or safe disposal in the environment.

2 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

A twin-pit system is the best form of toilet as it ensures
degradation and drying of waste within the containment,
making it safe for reuse as manure. Twin-pits do not require
FSM services as households and institutions themselves
can manage the safe emptying and reuse of waste. Figure
3 shows the mechanism for twin pits toilets.

Containment and Emptying Transport Reuse

FS management of twin-pit toilets

Q When do pits require mechanical emptying; and when can

pits be emptied by users themselves?

A Containment structures such as septic tanks and single pits store the
sludge in slurry form, which has a high pathogen load. The FS accumulated
in these containments requires to be emptied mechanically through use of
a suction pump or other similar arrangement. However, sludge from twin
pit toilets after complete drying (usually after a resting period of two years),
can be emptied by the households themselves and can be directly reused
in agricultural fields.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 3

 Q What are the key issues and challenges to be aware of while
planning for FSM?

A The following issues and challenges may be considered across the value
chain while planning for FSM

Containment Emptying and transport Treattment Reuse/disposal

FSM value chain

 Overflow/blockage  Lack of adequate  Lack of treatment  Lack of

of toilets emptying services facility results in awareness on
for cleaning of septic indiscriminate reuse potential
 Septic tanks
without soak tanks disposal of feacal and benefits to
sluge into drains, the agricuture
pits discharging  Affordabillity of
supernatant/ emptying charges open land and
effuent into drains water bodies
for poor households
 Requirement of  Poor understanding  Direct use of
periodic emptying untreated faecal
of safely protocols
of septic tanks for sluge in agriculture
for emptying septic
proper functioning tanks/single pits

A few points are detailed in the table below:

Poor awareness on FSM: Lack of awareness

on safe management of faecal waste and FSM
services may results into delay in emptying
of pits resulting in overflowing and blockage
of toilets, lack of personnel safety and very
limited use of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE), reuse of untreated septage in agriculture
resulting in environmental pollution.

Further, due to lack of awareness on FSM,

there is lack of clarity in role and responsibilities
amongst different stakeholder within FSM value
chain.
Discharge of partially treated wastewater
into drains: Septic tanks should be constructed
with soak pits for safe disposal of partially
treated wastewater (usually refer as effluent/
supernatant). It has been observed that all septic
tanks do not have soak pits discharging water
directly to drains.

4 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

 Construction of proper containment: The
septic tanks and single pits constructed do
not comply with the standard design and
specification, which hampers its desired
performance. This also effect the emptying
period stretching to more than 8 years instead of
2–3 years.

Further access hole for cleaning the septic tanks

or single pits become difficult to locate.
Emptying and transportation: Access of
emptying and transportation is not uniform. The
services are mainly provided by private sector on
demand against payment of services charges.

The services include various health hazards

against which standard operating procedure
need to be followed with use of proper PPE.

Lack of treatment facility: Treatment facilities

for faecal sludge treatment are not present in
rural areas.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 5

 How to safely empty a septic tank

Gumboots Safety goggles Helmet Mask Gloves

 Inspect the site,

break the mortar
seal and connect
the hose from the
truck to the tank.

 Park the truck within 25 m

from septic tanks. In case
of more than 25 m of linear
distance and 4 m in elevation
gain, intermediate pumping
is required.
 Break the mortar seal of the septic tank lid. Inspect the tank for cracks or damage
before and after the emptying of tank.
 Lay out and connect the hoses from the truck to the tank or pit to be emptied.

 Increase the vaccum to the proper level to take out faecal sludge out of the tank.
 Break up faecal sludge
and emptying the septic
tanks between 90%
and 95% of its contents.
 Operators shall leave
behind sludge not less
than 25 mm in depth in the bottom of the septic tank.
 Clean up any spillage using proper sorbent materials. Cover top and the area around
is sprayed with 1% of chlorine solution.

 Prepare a written report indicating: How much waste was removed; the condition of
the tank or pit; any recommendations for repairs.

 Replace & seal the cover with plaster.

Use of PPE while emptying septic tank is mandatory. However, based on requirement,
appropriate safety equipments should be adopted while emptying septic tanks.

6 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Swachh Bharat Mission Phase-II: Guidelines for
Implementation of FSM

In-situ treatment by retrofitting Linking villages up to 15–20 Clustering of villages:

of toilets: Converting all km from existing treatment Remaining villages to be
single-pit/other toilets to twin-pit facilities such as STP/FSTP clustered for establishing the
toilets available urban areas: Licensed faecal sludge management
existing private operators plants. The radius of 15–20 km
performing emptying of is preferred for clustering
septic tanks, single pit, etc.
for providing emptying and
transportation services

How to cluster villages based on available and proposed

treatment facilities?

Is the water table

below
Is the closest STP/ NO
NO 10 m, land Planted drying
FSTP less than 50 m from surface bed/sludge
15-20 km(including water body and drying bed
urban)? dwelling and less
than 6 m3 faecal
sludge per day?

Solids
Yes Yes
Co-composting

Co-treatment at Auctioning
Deep row
STP or disposal of stabilized
entrechment
at FSTP manure

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 7

 Q What is STP?

A STP stands for Sewerage Treatment Plant, usually constructed in urban

area, for treatment of wastewater. The wastewater (combined greywater
+ blackwater) from households flows through sewer pipe to STP for
treatment.

Q What is FSTP?

A FSTP stands for Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant for treatment of faecal
sludge generated in spetic tank, single pit, etc. The faecal sludge collected
by suction machine will be transported to faecal sludge treatment plant for
treatment followed by safe disposal or reuse.

Q What is co-treatment of faecal sludge?

A Co-treatment implies treatment of faecal sludge wih sewerage wastewater

at STP.

Q What is Deep Row Entrenchment (DRE)?

A Deep row entrenchment is a controlled disposal of collected faecal sludge

by trenches (pits excavated in soil). The DRE should be done either for
large village or cluster of villages where demand is very low. This may be
implemented as an interim solution where STP/FSTP are not available or it
is under construction.

8 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

 Q What is planted drying bed/sludge drying bed?

A Planted Drying Bed (PDB) and Unplanted Sludge Drying Bed (UPDB) are
technology for FSTP primary for solid-waste separation. They are key
technologies for faecal sludge treatment plant, however, the solids and
leachate produced from these technologies require further treatment-
leachate (PDB, UPDB) and solid treatment (UPDB) treatment.

Funding options for FSM implementation

Retrofitting Mechanised Co-treatment Deep row FSTP O&M of
empting and entrenching FSTP
transportation
SBM Phase-II Covergence
15th FC with nearby
MGNREGS STP and FSTP
Private sector

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 9

 Chapter 2

Planning and Implementation

of FSM
Districts are responsible for the planning, implementation and monitoring of FSM. Every toilet that
requires emptying should have access to mechanized emptying and transportation followed by
treatment of all collected faecal sludge. A step-by-step approach has been developed to guide the
districts and facilitate the execution process of FSM in a holistic manner. Figure 3.1 presents a
snapshot of the step-by-step approach along with key IEC messages and training activities to be
undertaken.

Figure 3: Steps for planning and implementation for FSM in a District

Map the
villages with
existing
treatment
systems and
clustering the
Pre-plan remaining FSM business Start of
activities for villages for model and plan operations and
FSM (Roles and treatment (In- (Integrated monitoring
responsibilities, situ treatment, district FSM (Day-to-day
district level co-treatment, plan) monitoring,
regulation) new FSTP) reporting)

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7

Know your pit Organize the New FSTP/
and need for emptying and DRE (DPR
retrofitting transportation preparation,
services
of toilets Tendering,
(Licensing/
(Understand Registration Construction
toilets, estimate of private of facility)
demand) emptier, Fixation
of emptying
charges)

Sensitization O&M of Retrofitting SOP for Dissemination Sensitization on Encouragement

Key
on FSM containment single-pit to emptying of plan emptier to dispose to reuse
massage
twin-pit pits FS, penalties on
indiscriminate
disposal

Key Introduction, roles Type of toilets and O&M; periodic Preparation of FSM plan; IEC for FSM; monitoring for
training and responsibilty; emptying; setting up user fee; business model for FSM; implementation and post
district FSM standard operting procedure for implementation of FSM.
regulations emptying of septic

DPR: Detail Project Report; FS: Faecal Sludge; E&T : Emptying and Transportation; FSTP: Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant;
IEC: Information, Education and Communication; O&M: Operation and Maintenance; SOP: Standard Operating Procedure

10 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

As the districts follow the step-by-step approach, one of the key deliverables will be an integrated
district FSM plan which will be developed at the end of step 5. This is followed by the implementation
of key infrastructure and monitoring of operations. The plan is prepared in a timebound manner to
guide the overall roll out of FSM in the district.

The detailed seven-step process is available with accompanying activities and supporting materials
in the form of templates and sample documents. These documents have been developed in an
easy-to-use manner for use by field practitioners in data collection and analysis. Districts that have
prepared an FSM plan should include the key aspects in reference to the above implementation
approach. The FSM plan should be timebound,with completion of the first five steps in three months
and the subsequent activities within 12 months.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 11

 Step Activity Outcome/key milestones
Step 1: • Orientation by the district to all block officials to • Orientation to DWSC
Pre-plan sensitize on FSM, the requirement of data, and and all VWSCs for FSM
activities for information needed for FSM planning implementation
FSM
• Orientation by blocks to its all GPs and PRI • Regulations to be support
functionaries on type of toilets, emptying requirement, FSM implementation
mechanized desludging with appropriate use of PPE for licensing, roles and
and process of data collection responsibilities, user fee
charges, etc.
• Initiate assessment of existing infrastructure in district
focusing on type of containment, private operator • Resolutions to be adopted
emptying septic tanks, existing STPs/FSTPs; in co- at village level against
ordination with cities and towns indiscriminate disposal
• District to initiate preparation of integrated FSM plan (Template is provided in
Annexure 1)
(Template is provided in Annexure 4 of “Manual for Faecal
Sludge Management)
Step 2: • Enumerate containment systems by type – twin pit, • List of villages requiring FSM
Know your septic tank, single pit and others services
pit and
• Identify HHs with single pits and assess feasibility for • The estimated quantity of
need for
retrofitting to convert them into twin pit toilets faecal sludge generated
retrofitting
from each village
of toilets • Estimate HHs and institutions with toilets (single pits
and septic tanks) that require FSM and calculate faecal • Retrofitting of all single pit
sludge generated toilets to twin pit toilets
(Template is provided in Annexure 4 of “Manual for Faecal
Sludge Management)
Institutions cover community sanitary complex, public toilet complex, schools, anganwadi centers,
panchayat building, health care facilities, hotels, hostels, and religious institutions such as ashramshalas.

Q How to quantify the faecal sludge to be emptied, transported

and treated?

A Faecal sludge quantification can be done in two ways i.e., Sludge accumulation and
estimated number of septic tanks* to be serviced every day.

Sludge accumulation rate:

FS capacity (KLD or m3/day) = Number of people dependent on septic tanks X 0.00021

Estimated septic tanks to be serviced everyday:

FS capacity (KLD or m3/day) = (Number of septic tanks X Average capacity(m3))
(Emptying period (year) X Number of
operational days in a Year)
* Septic tanks imply here as any containment require emptying on partially or raw
untreated faecal sludge such as single pits, closed pit, containment chamber, etc.
** Sludge accumulation method is more suitable to rural areas with on-demand
desludging.

12 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Integrated FSM plan
District FSM plan will assess the need for retrofitting of toilets and in-situ treatment, coverage of
emptying and transportation services, provision of treatment infrastructure to all villages, potential
reuse or resource recovery from faecal sludge management.

Urban-rural integration In-situ treatment by retrofitting toilets

Cluster villages to utilize existing emptying Promote twin-pit toilets/ convert single-pit
(mechanized suction) and treatment toilets to twin-pit toilets
infrastructure (STP/FSTP) available in nearby
urban areas
Three-fold
approach

Establishing new FSTPs

Cluster villages and construct new FSTPs
dedicated to the cluster

Know Your Pit and FSM Implementation

Context Remedy If remedy not
feasible
• Leakage in Y-Junction Retrofit Long storage to ensure
that connects pits to drying
the toilet.
Twin pit

• Distance between pits

less than 1m

• In high water table area Upgrade to in-situ Implement FSM

treatment
• All Single pit toilets Upgrade to in-situ Implement FSM
require mechanized treatment
emptying
Single pit

• Water-tight tank, no Upgrade to in-situ Implement FSM

outlet – is a holding tank treatment
Septic tank

• Septic tank – water-tight Soak pits to be

with outlet in drain constructed with
septic tanks

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 13

 Step Activity Outcome/key milestones
Step 3: Map • Locate existing STPs and FSTPs in urban and rural areas • Every village is mapped to
the villages an existing STP/FSTP or
• Identify and link villages which can be served by each
with existing new FSTP or trenching
existing STP/FSTP preferably up to 10–15 km, or 15–20
treatment
km in extreme cases • Land and technology are
systems and
identified
clustering the • Furnished MoU with the municipality/ department
remaining responsible for operation and maintenance of STP/FSTP
villages for • Cluster the remaining villages so that each cluster can
treatment. be served by a new FSTP. Select technology and identify
land to build a new FSTP in each cluster
• Identify isolated villages that cannot be included in any
cluster. Identify land in each such village to implement
trenching
(Template is provided in Annexure 4 of Manual for Faecal
Sludge Management)
Step 4: • Identify private operators in the district emptying • Aadditional desludging
Organize the septic tanks and single pist; and provide appropriate vehicles required in the
emptying and recognition via registration/licensing*. (Template is district are estimated
transportation provided in Annexure 2)
• Licensing/ registration
services
• Estimate total desludging vehicles needed in the of private desludging
clusters operators is completed
* At the time of issuing of license to the desludging operators, if there is no existing STP/FSTP or if a
significant time gap is expected to build the new FSTP, district authorities should identify and designate
sites where desludging operators can safely dispose of faecal sludge. This can be done easily at the site
identified for the FSTP by excavating temporary trenches for safe disposal. Such trenches should follow
the necessary specifications as prescribed in the Manual: Faecal Sludge Management.

Q What is demand and schedule-based desludging?

A Demand-based desludging: Demand-based desludging implies the emptying

carried out on request of user (owner of septic tanks, single pit, etc.), usually,
when it is fully filled. The service is provided on demand made by user to
either directly contacting private operators or through call centre. User fee is
paid directly to desludging operator by user, once service is carried out.

Schedule-based desludging: Schedule-based desludging implies regular

servicing of septic tank and other similar containment on a predetermined
period (usually 3–5 years). The cycle is fixed for every septic tank with
predefined date of prospective cleaning. This type of system usually run
by local administration (either directly or with help of private operators) and
requires levying a cess on households to collect the user fee.

14 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

 Provision of treatment infrastructure

Map vi
Ma villllllag
ge to
ex
exiissti
ting
ng sep
ng epti
ticc
ti Se ele
ecctt appproop
prriate
ia
ate
e
tank
ta nk/p pro
r p poose
s d tte
ech
chn
no ollo
o
ogy
gy
gy
in
nfr
fras
asstr
a trucuctu
ctu
ture
ture
e in
For the plant up to 12 KLD
urrba
u ban-n-ru
r rra al area
area
ar eas serving 50,000-55,000
All villages up to 15–20 people should adopt
km from urban centres planted drying beds with
should be linked with leachate treatment
urban facilities

Prre
eppare
are clus
ar clus
cl uster
ter off
te Iden
Id enttiify
fy th
he
e la
annd fo
or FS
STP
TP
r ma
re m ininin
ingg viill
llag
ag
ages
ge
ess
Identifying suitable land based
Cluster the villages within on the capacity and technology
15–20 Km. For FSTP
minimum rural population Treatment Area required
considered for techno- system (2)(sqm/KLD)
financial feasibility is
Planted 70–100
15000–18000 souls
drying bed
dependent on spetic
tank and other such Unplanted 80–120
containments (1) drying bed

Ch
Chec
hec
eckl
k is
kl ist
st fo
f r si
site
e sel
eeeccti
tion
ion
on

It is minimum 200 m away from any habitation

It is not prone to annual flooding

Easily accessible from main road

1. In ca
case
se of lo
lowe
werr po
popu
pula
lati
tion
on dee
eepp ro
row
w en
entr
tren
ench
chme
ment
nt is pr
pref
efer
erre
red.
d.

2. Tot
otal
al are
reaa re
requ
quir
ired
ed is ob
obta
tain
ined
ed by mu
mult
ltip
iply
lyin
ing
g ar
area
ea witithh pl
plan
anne
ned
d ca
capa
paci
city
ty of FS
FSTP
TP or tr
tren
ench
ch in kl
kld.
d. For
exam
ex amplple,
e, a 10 kl
kldp
dpla
lant
nted
ed dry
ryin
ing
g be
bedd ba
base
sedd FS
FSTP
TP wililll re
requ
quirire
e
700–
70 0–10
1000
00 sqm of la land
nd are
rea.
a. The lan
andd ar
area
ea men enti
tion
oned
ed abo bove
ve is in
indi
dica
cati
tive
ve onl
nlyy an
andd ma
mayy ch
chan
ange
ge depepen
endi
ding
ng on
site
site con
ondi
diti
tion
ons.
s.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 15

 Step Activity Outcome/key milestones
Step 5: Develop • Determine O&M cost for FSTP or DRE • Operations plan and business
integrated model for FSM in district
• Set the tariff for various FSM activities –
FSM plan and
desludging service fee, price of compost to be • Finalization of district FSM plan
business model
sold at FSTP to farmers
• Update the integrated FSM plan
Step 6: • Prepare DPR for each new FSTP (refer • Retrofitting of septic tank toilets
Implement new Manual: Faecal Sludge Management) with soak pit
FSTP or DRE
• Prepare tenders, award work and start • Construction of FSTP/Trenches
construction of new FSTP complete
• Implement Trenching under MGNREGA
activities (refer Manual: Faecal Sludge
Management)
Step 7: Start of • Set up the reporting and monitoring system • FSM monitoring undertaken
operations and for the emptying, treatment and reuse by district, block, and village
monitoring administrations and respective
• Monitor and report key FSM indicators
water and sanitation committees
annually

Q How to prepare a detail project report for FSTP?

A Detail Project Report (DPR) can be prepared by help of “Manual for Faecal
sludge management for FSTP”.

Q What activities related to FSTP or DRE should be taken

from MGNREGS?

A Deep row entrenchment should be taken entirely from the MGNREGS,

however, for FSTP the stormwater drains, protection work,

Figure 4: Milestone of FSM implementation

District FSM Retrofitting MoA/MoU Licensing/ Update and Construction

plan and of single-pit for co- registration approval of of new
regulations to twin-pit treatment; of private integrated FSTP
toilets temporary emptier district
disposal FSM
location plan

16 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

 Business Plan for FSM Services

District/ Key revenue stream:

Call centre
Diist
D stri
rriict
c opeera
r ti
t ng
n block
c llll ce
ca en
n
ntr
trre 1. Resource recovery by selling
manure produced from FSTP

st
2. Disposal fee from private operator

es
q e
requ

pt
against disposal of faecal sludge at
est

eiip
ues

e re

R ce
al
n cal
qu

FSTP
req

License fee/Re
Re
ice
o d re

vic
on

errv
ce o

3. Emptying/user charges collected

License/se
sse
ehol
vice
ic

from the households and other

Housseh
serv
se

entities
Ho

Desludging fee Disposal of FS/dispoal fee

Household, Private
public emptying FSTP
toilets, etc. operations
Emptying service Diisp
D spos
os
osal
al rec
e e
eiiptt

* Va
Valilid
id only
on
nly
ly if call
caallll cen
ntr
tre is estab
staab
st blilish
lisshhed
e

Parametes Business models decision matrix

Business FSTP O&M E&T: Existing/status- FSTP O&M an E&T: E&T: Schedule
model type quo Combined/ hybird desludging (with or
model without FSTP O&M)
Applicability Private operator Private operator is Private operator is Schedule empting
is available for available for E&T not available for E&T
E&T
Expenditure O&M of FSTP by E&T-fuel, labour, O&M for FSTP and E&T-fuel, labour, O&M of
public agency O&M of equipment E&T equipment
Revenue • Selling of • Emptying charges, • Selling of Manure/ • Monthly/ quarterly/
manure/ user fee collected compost produced yearly charges with
compost while emptying pit water charges, SWM
• Emptying charges,
produced charges collected by
user fee collected
GP and transfer to
while emptying pit
agency responsible for
E&T (and FSTP)

Other FFC grant and FFC grant may be FFC grant may be used
source for other funds used for part FSTP for part FSTP O&M
gap O&M
However, business
However, business model should be
model should be encouraged
encouraged
FSTP: Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant; E&T: Emptying and Transportation; O&M: Operation and
Maintenance; FFC: Fifteenth Finance Commission

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 17

 Chapter 3

Information, Education and

Communication for FSM

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) is one of the most critical aspects to deliver and
sustain ODF Plus outcomes. Figure 4.1 provides the different IEC channels and messaging required
for FSM. To implement the IEC messages, key IEC activities are to be undertaken corresponding to
the seven steps of implementation. These are listed in Table 4.1. A calendar of IEC activities will be
part of the integrated district FSM plan.

Figure 5: IEC Components for FSM

IEC

SUPPROTIVE ACTIVITIES

Empanelment of Organising Development Collaborating

culture groups social events – of IEC with other
inauguration of material agencies
new FSMPs, like schools,
carrying out anganwadis,
special drives, religious
etc. institutions for
outreach

IEC CHANNELS

Interpersonal Outdoor and Mass

Social media
communication Media

Planning home visits, door-to-door

Advertisements on TV/Radio/ Sharing key developments,
campaigns, village meetings,
Print, use of hoardings and wall photos, and success stories
demonstrations for pit emptying
paintings, mobile exhibition vans, through Facebook, WhatsApp,
and/or retrofitting, planning visits
films shows, etc. Twiter.
to FSMP.

KEY MESSAGING

Safe disposal of Benefits of twin Sate pit Retrofitting

faecal sludge pits over single emptying and of pits and
pit desludging of tanks to avoid
septic tanks containation

18 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Table 1: IEC activities

Steps Key IEC Activities

Step 1: Pre-plan activities for FSM • Sensitization of District officials and committee
Step 2: Know your pit and need for retrofitting members of DWSM/DWSC; BWSC, VWSC on roles
of toilets and responsibilities, integrated district FSM plan and
necessary FSM regulations for implementation
• Awareness generation on type of containment,
importance of periodic emptying and importance of
twin-pit toilets over other systems
Step 3: Map the villages with existing • Dissemination of importance of safe emptying and
treatment system and clustering the remaining desludging of septic tank/single pit to households and
villages for treatment private operators
Step 4: Organize the emptying and • Awareness generation on hazardous impact of
transportation services indiscriminate disposal of untreated faecal sludge to
drains, water bodies, open land, etc.
Step 5: Develop integrated FSM plan and • Sensitization of households staying close to the
business model identified treatment site to avoid Not in my Backyard
(NIMBY) impact
• Dissemination of information on the user fee charge,
applicable penalties and availability of cleaning services
in each household
Step 6: Implement new FSTP or DRE • Motivation of households and other entities for
Step 7: Start operations and monitoring payment of applicable fees

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 19

 Chapter 4

Capacity Building for FSM

The capacity-building component strives to bridge capacity gaps to enhance and optimally utilize
capacity of all available human resources at the district/block and PRI level to the fullest, so as to
accomplish the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) (SBM [G]) Phase-II goals. Building capacity of key
stakeholders is necessary to plan, implement and monitor ODF Plus activities.

In FSM, the district will ensure that Training Of Trainers (ToT) of selected members is completed
to help them conduct capacity strengthening programmes for PRIs, field functionaries, private
desludging operators and other relevant stakeholder in FSM value chain. The district will prepare
a calendar of training events and communicate this to all relevant stakeholder on a quarterly basis.
Table 5.1 provides the training modules required as per the step-by-step approach outlined. All
district and PRI functionaries should undergo FSM orientation along with all the training modules
listed in the table except for the technology training done specifically for the engineers.

Table 2 : FSM training modules

Steps Key training modules Training udience

Step 1: Pre-plan activities • FSM orientation, challenges and issues in FSM • District and PRI
for FSM in the state functionaries
• Integrated FSM plan, policy and legal framework
and District FSM regulations
Step 2: Know your pit • Types of containment system and need for • District and PRI
need for retrofitting of periodic desludging functionaries
toilets
• Retrofitting of toilets
Step 3: Map the villages • Need for safe disposal of emptied sludge • District and PRI
with existing treatment functionaries and
• Options for treatment: In situ, Co-treatment,
system and clustering village residents
FSTP and DRE
the remaining villages for
treatment • Resource mobilization – financing, identifying
the land
Step 4: Organize • How to license private operators and usage of • District and PRI
emptying and PPE and monitoring of private operators functionaries and
transportation services Desludging operators
Step 5: Develop • Implementation of plan and business models for • District and PRI
integrated FSM plan and FSM functionaries
business model
• DPR preparation for FSTP
Step 6: Implement new • FSM technology and its operation and • Engineer and other
FSTP or DRE maintenance official responsible for
construction and O&M.
Step 7: Start operations • Reporting and monitoring structures • District and PRI
and monitoring functionaries
• Improvement plan for service delivery

20 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Village Level Activities for Faecal Sludge Management
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Rapid appraisal Retrofitting of all toilets Create awareness on non- Regulating/issuing
of all toilets, its with focus on mechanized (hand and notices for overflowing of
containment system, local tools) emptying of containment, discharge
• Single pit toilets to twin
need for retrofitting twin pits and mechanized of untreated or partially
pit toilets
of toilets emptying for Septic tank treated blackwater
• Septic tanks toilets to and single pit
be connected with soak
pit

Steps Activity
Step 1: Rapid • Enumerate all the toilets in the village with type of containment system. i.e., septic
appraisal of toilets tank, twin pit, single pit
• Estimate single pit toilets to be converted into twin pit toilets
• Estimate septic tanks toilets to be connected with soak pits
• Estimate the number of toilets requiring FSM services for mechanized emptying
Step 2: Retrofitting • Encourage households to adopt proper maintenance of toilets and retrofit as per
of all toilets requirement
• Focus physical retrofitting of all toilets on
 Converting all single pit toilets into twin pit toilets unless technically unviable
 Connecting all septic tanks with soak pits or effluent/ supernatant (wastewater
coming out from septic tank) managed using technologies for greywater
management as per SBMG Phase II Guidelines
Step 3: Creating • Create awareness on the safe emptying of twin pit toilets by households
awareness on themselves (to be done by GP in coordination with VWSC)
mechanized
• Create awareness on the ill effects and prohibition of manual scavenging and non-
desludging
mechanized emptying of pits (to be done by GP in coordination with VWSC)
• Create awareness on the harmful effects related to reuse of untreated emptied
sludge into agriculture of disposal to drains, open land, etc.
• Ensure display of contact information for registered/licensed service providers or
call centre at prominent places
Step 4: Regulating/ • Issue notices to households, institutions and other entities on overflowing of
issuing notices toilets into drain, open land, water bodies, etc.
for overflow of
• Penalize unregistered/non-licensed services emptying pits and non-use of PPE
containment,
such as safety helmet, hand gloves, safety gumboots, mask, safety goggles, etc.
discharge
of untreated • Issue notices for any other non-compliance with respect to safe management of
blackwater blackwater/ faecal sludge / functional toilet as per applicable regulations
• Maintain records of grievances received, emptying services provided for septic
tanks/ single pits cleaning, penalties charged

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 21

 Annexure 1

Draft District Regulations

for FSM and Licensing

In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section _________ of Section ________ of the ____________

Panchayat Act 19__, the Zila Parishad/ district council in its general meeting held on ________ hereby
adopt the following Regulations, for emptying, transportation and disposal of faecal waste of septic
tanks, single pits and other onsite-sanitation systems and for matters connected therewith and
incidental or ancillary thereto.

I. District Faecal Sludge Management Regulations

a. The Regulation
a. These Regulations shall be called ‘______District Faecal Sludge Management Regulations 20__’

b. These Regulations shall come into force from the date of its issuance by the District and are
subject to Section _________ of the ________ Panchayat Act 19_____.

b. Definitions

i. ‘Act’ means the __________ Act 19__;

ii. ‘District’ means the District Administration represented by the Office of the Collector.

iii. “Licence” means a written permission granted for a purpose to any person, having mentioned the
purpose, period, name and address, route, etc. under the signature of the authorized signatory of
the District.

iv. “Notified location” means the location of delivery and disposal of faecal sludge as defined and
earmarked by the District.

v. “Faecal sludge” means the partially digested solids accumulated in a septic tank or single pit.

vi. “Faecal Ssludge treatment plant” means the place where faecal sludge is treated.

vii. “Open drain” means a channel typically running next to paved roads that is used for the drainage
of storm water away from houses.

Draft Regulations are only for reference; To be adopted as per requirement and suitability subject to scrutiny as per local
rules and laws.

22 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

viii. “Septic tank” means the underground tank that partially treats wastewater by a combination of
solids settling and anaerobic digestion. The effluents may be discharged into soak pits or small-
bore sewers and the solids have to be pumped out periodically.

ix. “Sewage pumping station (SPS)” means the intermediate pump house in a sewage network
from where sewage is pumped to a desired location.

x. “Sewage Treatment plant (STP)” means the place where sewage is treated.

xi. “Sludge” means the settled solid matter in semi-solid condition, it is usually a mixture of solids
and water deposited on the bottom of septic tanks, pits, ponds, etc. The term faecal sludge is
used to describe the residue from septic tanks and pits.

xii. “Registered vehicle’ means a vehicle duly registered by the Transport authority of the state to
perform the designated purpose.

xiii. “Treatment” means any method or process designed to alter the physical, chemical or biological
character or composition of any waste or wastewater to reduced or prevent pollutions.

All other words and expressions used in these regulations and not defined in these regulations and
not defined herein but defined in the Act shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them
under the Act of or in absence thereof, the meaning as commonly understood in the water supply,
wastewater treatment-disposal industry and faecal sludge management.

I. Faecal Sludge Management Planning

a. District Water and Sanitation Committee/ Mission (DWSC/DWSM) shall be primarily
responsible for preparation of the integrated district FSM plan, its implementation and
monitoring.

b. Integrated district FSM plan shall provide information on existing and proposed FSM
infrastructure and services within the district. The plan should be prepared to integrate the
FSM infrastructure that are existing or proposed in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

c. The DWSC/DWSM should prepare the annual budget for FSM investment including the
recurrent expenditure required for operation and maintenance.

d. GPs and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) shall include relevant FSM
activities in the Gram Panchayat Development Plan. The GP should adopt these resolutions
by taking resolution as per Annexure 1.1.

e. District, Block and GPs shall adhere to responsibilities as per Annexure 1.2 of these
regulations. DWSC /DWSM can notify necessary changes as the requirement arises to
increase the efficiency of implementation of FSM in the district.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 23

 II. Provision of Toilets, Retrofitting and Periodic Emptying of
Containment
a. GPs in coordination with respective VWSCs shall be responsible for ensuring the open
defecation free status through coverage of individual, community, and public toilets.

b. GPs in coordination with respective VWSCs shall ensure that every households, institutions,
public toilets, and all other entities have a functional latrine with safe containment and
disposal of faecal sludge.

c. GPs in coordination with respective VWSCs shall ensure all single pit toilets are retrofitted
into twin pit toilets, unless it is technically unviable.

d. All households, institutions, and other entities having septic tanks and non-retrofitted single
pit toilets, or similar systems shall be responsible for periodic and mechanized emptying of
the containments.

e. New toilets constructed shall receive approval on design to ensure it is not contaminating
surface or ground water and the construction follows the SBM guidelines; and the design
shall adhere to the Bureau of Indian Standards.

f. In the event of toilet or containment system overflowing or causing any type of pollution, the
VWSC shall issue a notice directing the owner to undertake adequate measures.

III. Provision of Emptying and Transportation of Faecal Sludge from

Containment to Treatment Plant
a. Households, institutions and other entities shall ensure their toilet, or its containment does
not discharge raw of partially treated wastewater into storm water drains, water bodies,
open land, agricultural lands or anywhere in an open environment.

b. Households, institutions, and other entities shall not allow any manual cleaning of raw or
partially treated faecal sludge from containment. The desludging of containment shall only
be done in compliance with Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
Rehabilitation Act, 2013 at all times.

c. Households, institutions, and other entities having twin pit toilets shall be responsible for the
emptying pit once the sludge is converted into manure and safe to empty by the respective
users. This can be reused in agriculture or a kitchen garden as per local suitability.

d. The emptying and transportation of faecal sludge to a treatment facility shall be carried out
only by a licensed agency or service offered by local administration. The cleaning should
adhere to the “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Cleaning of Sewers and Septic
Tanks” released by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, November 2018.
e. The licence should be provided by designated officer(s) to all eligible private desludging
operators for emptying and transportation of faecal sludge.

f. Households, institutions, and other entities shall be liable to pay the emptying fee as
prescribed in Annexure 1.3 of this regulation.

24 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

IV. Provision for Treatment, Reuse and Safe Disposal of Faecal
Sludge
a. All emptied sludge should be transported to notified and designated disposal/treatment
locations. The licence provided to the private operator should have the designated disposal
location allocated for disposal of faecal sludge.

b. The emptying operation carried by local Administration should also be linked to the designated
disposal or treatment location.

c. The treatment facility should accept the faecal sludge from a licensed emptier only. The data
should be recorded for disposal at every site.

d. The operator of the FSTP shall not accept the sludge or other wastes containing industrial
waste.

e. The operator should be responsible for the mechanism of selling and disposing of treated
biosolids and effluent.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 25

 Annexure 1.1: Resolution at GP Level
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Resolution For Faecal Sludge
Management
The Gram Sabha hereby resolves to undertake Faecal Sludge Management by regularly maintaining
the pits and septic tanks in the Gram Panchayat. To this end, the following decisions have been
agreed upon.

1. The ____________ Gram Panchayat, hereby declares that it will not allow faecal sludge to be
disposed of indiscriminately in any locations within its jurisdiction and will allow only desludging
operators who are registered/licensed by districts. In case of non-compliance, the Gram
Panchayat will charge penalties as per District FSM regulations.

2. The ______________ Gram Panchayat, hereby declares that the all of its toilets are twin-pit
toilets or other in-situ containment systems which do not require emptying. Therefore, no FSM
infrastructure or services are required by the village.

Or

2. The ____________ Gram Panchayat will implement FSM in all its villages. In reference to
District FSM regulations, the following regulations will be monitored by the GP with necessary
compliances.

a. Adopt and abide by the District FSM regulations in their entirety.

b. All septic tanks and the single pits in our Panchayat will be emptied/desludged regularly at
intervals of 3 to 5-years respectively.

c. The GP will not allow any form of manual cleaning of septic tanks and non-retrofitted single pit.

d. The GP will maintain records of the septic tanks and single pits that are emptied.

e. The cost of desludging will be borne by households.

f. Households, commercial institutions and establishments having septic tanks will be

penalized if the tank is found to be overflowing.

This resolution was adopted during the Gram Sabha held on _____________.

Signature of Sarpanch/ Signature of Panchayat

Pradhan/Mukhiya Secretary

Name Name

Official Seal Official Seal

26 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Annexure 1.2: Key Roles and Responsibilities
Level Designation, Responsibilities
department
District DWSM/DWSM • Preparation of district-level FSM plan
• Preparation and enactment of the FSM regulations
District Collector/ • Licensing/registration of all mechanized private desludging operators
Deputy
• Co-ordination with relevant agencies to ensure the co-treatment/
Commissioner/
disposal at STP/FSTP in nearby urban centres. A Memorandum of
District Magistrate/
Understanding (MoU)/MoAs may be furnished for the same
CEO Zila Panchayat
• Identification of site and allocation of land for FSTPs
• Preparation of DPRs for the treatment facilities planned
• Financial provision for O&M of FSTPs
• Capacity building of all relevant stakeholders
• Implement district-wide IEC activities on FSM
• Disbursment of necessary funds and provide support to villages for
utilizing tied sanitation fund in 15th FC
• Construction of FSTPs and monitoring of overall FSM operations
• Managing a grievance redressal mechanism and maintaining
necessary records
Block Block Development • Ensuring and supporting the retrofitting of single pit to twin pit in all
Officer villages of the block
• Ensuring and supporting retrofitting of septic tank toilets with soak
pits
• Supervising construction of FSTPs in co-ordination with the district
authority
• Operating and maintaining the FSTPs: record maintenance and
grievance redressal
• Overseeing the processes for desludging and transport ensuring
compliance as per the Standard Operating Procedure for Cleaning of
Sewers and Septic Tanks” released by the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs, November 2018
• Undertaking any other responsibility assigned by the district
administration and DWSC, DWSM
• Managing the grievance redressal mechanism and maintaining
necessary records
GP GP functionaries, • Preparation of village action plan and inclusion of retrofitting and other
VWSC FSM activities in the GP Development Plan
• Creating awareness on manual scavenging and mechanized services
for emptying of pits
• Creating awareness on proper use of toilets and their O&M
requirement
• Retrofitting of single pit latrines and septic tanks if needed

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 27

 Responsibility of other stakeholders
Stakeholder Responsibilities
Households, • Construction of toilets, their regular maintenance and regular emptying of faecal
businesses or any sludge from licensed/ register operators
institutions
• Timely payment of user fee for emptying and/or tariff, if any, towards FSM services
• Reporting any illegal disposal in drains, waterbodies, open land, etc. to the
respective GP/Block
Desludging truck • Applying for registration/licensing and providing the emptying services to allocated
owners areas
• Ensuring use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of emptying of
containments
• Ensuring only mechanical desludging in compliance to “Standard Operating
Procedure for Cleaning of Sewers and Septic Tanks” released by Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs, November 2018
Operator of • Operation & Maintenance of the treatment units as per standard operating
treatment units procedure provided in contract
• Regular reporting to the district authorities on O&M
Masons • Construction of the containment systems as per standard design and specifications
• Retrofitting of single pits to twin pits and septic tanks with soak pits; as per
standard design and specifications

28 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Annexure 1.3: Licensing Fee, User Charges and Applicable
Penalties
Sr N. Description Amount (INR)
1 Applicable licence fee for application of licence
2 Maximum user fee charges applicable upto 10 Km from the treatment plant
Domestic
Non-Domestic
Charges to be liable beyond 10 KM
3. Applicable penalties
Penalty for disposing of the collected sludge to areas other than designated in
licence
Penalty for non-functional toilets, overflowing of the toilets

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 29

 Annexure 2

Procedure, Terms and

Condition for licence

Procedure for Application and Issuance of Licence

a. Invitation of applications by public notice: Applications may be invited by public notice
(Appendix A) given in a reputed newspaper. However, the window for licence should be
open where the applicant can submit the form on first working day of every month on a
rolling basis

b. Application for license: Applications can be submitted as per the Form (Appendix B) at the
Details of office where license applications can be submitted. In case a single owner /
operator owns and operates multiple trucks, the applicant can submit a single application
requesting licence for all the vehicles / equipment owned by the operator and proposed to
be used for providing desludging services

c. Issuance of licence: The authority to issue licences in the Name of the District will be vested
with Name or Designation of the official. License will be issued as per the format prescribed
(Appendix C) by the Name of Authority on the basis of information provided by the applicant
and will be valid for a period of two year (s) from the date of issue, unless revoked earlier

30 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Appendix A. Invitation of Application for Grant of License for
Emptying and Transportation of Faecal Sludge

Public Notice

Invitation of Application for Grant of License for Emptying and

Transportation of Faecal Sludge

• The Name of Authority has issued the Details of District

Regulations on FSM for emptying, transportation and disposal of faecal
sludge from septic tanks and single pits.

• As per the regulation, faecal sludge shall be emptied mechanically, without

human contact and transported to designated treatment/ disposal location only
by an agency having a valid license for this purpose issued by Name of
authority .

• Applications are invited from individuals/agencies /firms /companies for grant of

license for emptying, transportation and disposal of faecal sludge. The above said
regulations, application proforma, terms and conditions of license is available
at the Name of authority/site where the order is available or may be
obtained from the office of Designated office.

• The application must reach in the office of Designated office on or before Date
and Time.

• It may be noted that undertaking the task of emptying and transportation of

faecal sludge without a valid license and /or dumping the faecal sludge at any
non-designated location will attract applicable penalties.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 31

 Appendix B. Application Form for Licence for Emptying and
Transportation of Faecal Sludge
Name of authority
Name of Location
PROFORMA FOR APPLICATION FOR THE LICENCE FOR COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION AND
DISPOSAL OF FAECAL SLUDGE

1. Name of the applicant: _____________________________________

2. Address:
PASTE
Regd. Office: _________________________________________________ PHOTO
(SELF ATTESTED)
_____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

3. Telephone No.: (O)_____________________Mobile No.__________________________

Email ID_______________________________

4. Number of vehicles / equipment to be included under the licence: _______________

5. For each vehicle / equipment, provide the following details (use additional sheets if required):

Vehicle / Equipment 1:

a. Registration no. of vehicle: ______________________________________

b. Pollution certificate of the vehicle valid up to:_______________________

c. Insurance of the vehicle valid up to:_______________________________

d. Fitness of the vehicle valid up to:__________________________________

e. Vehicle, whether fitted with GPS:_________________________________

f. Details of the vehicles indicating leak proof, odour and spill proof having proper vacuum/ suction and
discharging arrangement (Document for proof of any may be enclosed).

6. Processing fee for licence for all vehicles owned by the applicant: Rs. _______________/- (to be calculated
@ fees amount per application plus fees amount per vehicle).

D.D. No.____________Date_____________Bank____________________

Bank transfer reference number ______________________

I/We certify that information given by me/us in column 1 to 7 are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I
agree that if any information given by me is found wrong the application for licence will be liable for cancellation
at any time.

Signature(s) of applicant(s)

Date: __________________ Place:____________________________

32 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Term and Conditions of License
1. License for domestic faecal sludge: The license is for emptying and transportation of domestic faecal
sludge from domestic / institutional septic tanks and single pits only. The licensee may not transport and
dispose any other type of sludge, including among others, industrial sludge, sludge from commercial
operations, etc. The licensee will be responsible to ensure no contamination of the faecal sludge occurs
with any other type of sludge (industrial sludge, sludge from commercial operations).

2. Standard Operating Procedure for desludging and transportation and safety of staff deployed: The
licensee will be responsible for following all relevant provisions of the Standard Operating Procedure as
issued by the Authority.

3. Display of licence: A copy of the licence shall be prominently displayed on the vehicle that the licence is
issued for. The licence number shall also be painted on each vehicle along with the corresponding licence
serial number for the vehicle / equipment.

4. Marking of licensed vehicle: The vehicle/ container/tanker shall be painted with yellow colour duly
marked with the precaution in Red Colour “FAECAL SLUDGE OR HUMAN WASTE” (in English) and
“………………..”(in local language).

5. Vehicle operation: The vehicle shall maintain a valid “Pollution Under Control” Certificate. Further, the
licensee shall comply with all provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rules there under.

6. Preventive measures in case of accident resulting in spillage of faecal sludge: The vehicle carrying
faecal sludge shall be fitted with prescribed equipment to take care of threat of pollution due to any
accident during the movement of the vehicle from the collection point to the designated disposal site.
In the event of accidental spillage of faecal sludge, the operator shall immediately take action to contain
the spillage, minimize environmental impact and begin clean up procedures and immediately inform the
designated authority via a phone call.

7. Full liability of licensee in case of accident: The licensee shall be fully and completely liable for any
damage to any person, vehicles, property and environment in case of any accident or disaster.

8. Training: The licensee shall have trained workers equipped with uniforms, safety gadgets, tools and
vacuum equipped vehicles to operate the desludging vehicles. The licensee shall be responsible for
periodic training of the staff.

9. No manual scavenging: The licensee shall comply with all provisions of the Prohibition of Manual
Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

10. Disposal of Septage: The licensee shall dispose of faecal sludge only at the designated disposal sites
notified by the Authority.

11. Data recording and reporting: The licensee shall submit the faecal sludge collection and disposal form,
duly filled up with factual details to the authority and at the designated faecal sludge disposal sites.

12. Regular health check-up of staff: The licensee shall be responsible for ensuring that every person
deployed undergoes health check-up at least once in every year

13. Insurance: The staff deployed by the licensee shall be insured for accident during the process of cleaning,
transportation and disposal of faecal sludge

14. Cancellation of licence: In case of violation of any of the provisions of these regulations the licence shall
be liable to be cancelled.

Signature(s) of applicant(s) Date: __________________

Place:____________________________

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 33

 Appendix C. Issuance of Licence:

LICENSE FOR COLLECTION AND TRANSPORTATION OF FAECAL SLUDGE

______ District, Government of _____

License number: _______________________________

Vehicle number: _________________________________

Name of the operator: __________________________

Address:__________________________________________

Phone number:

Is licensed for collection, transport and disposal of faecal sludge from septic tanks and single pit latrines
of designated areas ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Date of issue: Valid up to:

Licensor Licensee

The license is issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Faecal Sludge Management
Regulations of _____________________________________________district.

The designated Service Areas __________________________________________________

The license may be suspended or revoked for condition of non-compliance and is not transferable.

If found, kindly return to

_______________________

34 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Annexure 3

Checklist and Indicators

for Monitoring

S No Indicator Status (Y/N)

1 Has rapid appraisal of toilets been carried out and households are identified in
each village.
Mapping of all treatment plant (STP/FSTP)
in district
Private emptying operators are registered/
licensed with districts
District has developed an
2 Rate or tariff fixed for FSM service
integrated plan
operators (based on distance/capacity)
Call centre based desludging has been
implemented and related information is
propagated in all GPs.
3 District has identified land for new FSM plant/DRE

Annual monitoring Indicators for Implementation

Indicator Baseline Plan (Year) Achieved (Year)
All single pit toilets converted into twin pit toilets
Provisions for septic tanks with soak pits or other system
for managing the supernatant/ effluent discharging into
open drains
Percentage of villages with access to emptying services
(Villages with access/ Total number of villages)
Percentage of villages with FSM treatment (i)+(ii)+(iii)/
total number of villages

(i) Number of villages covered with all twin pit or in situ

treatment

(ii) Number of villages linked to STP/FSTP

(iii) Number of villages lined to new STP/FSTP

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 35

 Abbreviations and Acronyms
BDO Block development officer NRLM National Rural Livelihood
Mission
BPL Below Poverty Line
OSS On-site Sanitation System
BWSC Block Water and Sanitation
Committee O&M Operation and Maintenance

CB Capacity-building ODF Open Defecation Free

CSR Corporate Social PHED Public Health Engineering

Responsibility Department

DM District Magistrate PRI Panchayati Raj Institutions

DPR Detailed Project Report PUC Pollution Under Control

DRE Deep Row Entrenchment RTO Road Transport Organization

DSBM(G) District Swachh Bharat RD Rural Development

Mission (Grameen)
SBCC Social Behaviour Change
DTMU District Training Management Communication
Unit
SBM (G) Swachh Bharat Mission
DWSM/C District Water and Sanitation (Grameen)
Mission/Committee
SHG Self-Help Group
FS Faecal Sludge
SLWM Solid and Liquid Waste
FSM Faecal Sludge Management Management

FSTP Faecal Sludge Treatment SOP Standard Operating

Plant Procedure

GP Gram Panchayat STP Sewage Treatment Plant

IEC Information Education SWM Solid Waste Management

Communication
UD Urban Development
KLD Kilo Litre Per Day
ULB Urban Local Body
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
VAP Village Action Plan
MGNREGS Mahatma Gandhi National
VO Village Organizations
Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme VWSC Village Water and Sanitation
Committee
IMIS Integrated Management
Information System

36 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Glossary

1. Desludging: Desludging refers to the operation of removing sludge from septic/digestion tanks,
pit latrines or any other primary treatment units. Usually this is done by mechanical means (by
vacuum suction pump).

2. Emptying: Emptying or Desludging refers to the operation of removing sludge from septic/
digestion tanks, pit latrines or any other primary treatment units. Usually this is done by mechanical
means (by vacuum suction pump).

3. Faecal Sludge: “Faecal sludge” is the solid or settled contents of pit latrines and septic tanks.
It may be raw or partially digested, in a slurry or semi-solid form, and includeds the collection,
storage or treatment of combinations of excreta and black water, with or without grey water. It.

4. Faecal Sludge Management: Faecal Sludge Management is the process of safe collection,
conveyance, treatment and disposal/ reuse of faecal sludge and septage from on-site sanitation
systems such as pit latrines, septic tanks, etc. It is the management of faecal waste that is not
conveyed by a centralized sewerage system.

5. Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP): Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant is an independent
faecal sludge and septage treatment facility for remediating the solid and liquid components to
prescribed standards for safe disposal and reuse.

6. License: License is a written permission granted for a purpose to any person, having mentioned
the purpose, period, name and address, route, etc. under the signature of the authorized signatory
of the District.

7. Septage: Septage is the liquid and solid material that is pumped from a septic tank, cesspool, or
such on-site treatment facility after it has accumulated over a period of time.

8. Septic tank: Septic tank is an underground tank that treats sewage by a combination of solids
settling and anaerobic digestion. The effluents may be discharged into soak pits or small-bore
sewers, and the solids have to be pumped out periodically.

9. Sewage: Sewage is the wastewater containing human body waste matter (faeces and urine
etc.), either dissolved or undissolved, discharged from toilets and other receptacles intended to
receive or retain such human body wastes.

10. Transportation: Transportation means the safe transfer of septage through licensed vehicle from
the place of work to the designated disposal location.

11. Treatment: Treatment means any method or process designed to alter the physical, chemical or
biological character or composition of any waste or wastewater to reduced or prevent pollutions.

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 37

 References

1. An assessment of faecal sludge management: policies and programmes at the national and select
state level; WaterAid.

2. Business Models for FSM in India; International Water Management Institute and WASH Institute;
2020

3. Draft Guidance Note on Co-treatment of Septage at Sewage Treatment Plants in India; Sanjay Gupta,
Shubhra Jain Shikha Shukla Chhabra; April 2018.

4. Draft policy on Faecal Sludge & Septage Management (FSSM); Government of Rajasthan

5. Faecal Sludge Management: Systems Approach for Implementation and Operation; IWA Publishing.

6. Guidelines for Faecal Sludge and Septage Management in Bihar; Ministry of Urban Development and
Housing Department, Government of Bihar; June 2018

7. Guidelines on Faecal Sludge Septage Management; Local Self-Government Department; Government

of Rajasthan; 2018

8. Model Regulations and Bye laws for collection, transportation, disposal of waste of on-site
containment system such as septic tanks single pits; Urban Administration & Development
Department (Government of Chhattisgarh).

9. National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM), Ministry of Urban Development,
Government of India, February 2017.

10. Presentation by CDD society; AMRUT Training : Regional Centre For Urban And Environmental
Studies-RCUES

11. Presentation on FSSM C-WAS, CEPT University available at [Link]

ResourcesFiles/pdfs/Workshop%20presentation%20on%20ODF+.pdf.

12. Regulations, for collection, transportation and disposal of waste of septic tanks (septage); November
2018; Urban Development Department (Delhi Jal Board), Government of the National Capital Territory
of Delhi

13. Solid and Liquid Resource Management: Faecal Sludge Management

14. Training Module on Septage Management Plan, MEETRA, Nashik, 15thSeptember, 2015

15. Uttar Pradesh State Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Draft (March 2019)

16. Training Module for Sanitary Workers on Cleaning of Sewers and Septic Tanks by Central Public Health
and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO), MoHUA.

38 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management

Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management 39
40 Toolkit for District Level Officials on Faecal Sludge Management