Ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines

The addition of a vent pipe to a simple pit latrine is one way of reducing the nuisance of flies in the cubicle if the cubicle is kept clean and dark. This type of latrine is called a ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine. VIP latrines effectively control odour and flies while still allowing users to clean themselves with hard materials such as newspaper and leaves which may not suitable for use with a pour-flush latrine. A squatting plate or a pedestal can be installed. There are a number of designs to suit different situations but they all work in much the same way. This guide describes how they work and presents various designs and design details.