Title: Sullage management
Course: Hygiene and Environmental Health Part 2 - Ethiopia (Full)

Sullage management

Some people may think they can simply throw used cooking and washing water away but it should not be disposed of indiscriminately because of its negative health effects on families and community members. Proper collection and disposal of sullage is advised. Some of the disadvantages of improper disposal of sullage include the potential to contaminate the soil, pollute water sources and create favourable breeding conditions for disease vectors.

Which vectors do you think might be encouraged by sullage collecting on the ground?

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Mosquitoes are likely to be attracted as they use stagnant water as breeding sites. Flies and rats might also appear as the sullage would be a source of drinking water.

Unsightliness and bad odour affect the aesthetic value of our environment, therefore proper handling and disposal of sullage is required. Sullage can be discharged to sewers or septic tanks in areas where they exist. However, in many rural areas there is no sewer system so it is necessary to construct a pit near the household to dispose of sullage properly. The pit should be filled with gravel or sand and the sullage can be allowed to percolate into the ground. A sullage pit keeps the wastewater in one place and encourages it to soak quickly into the ground. It also avoids bad odour and unsightliness in the environment.