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Asked by chat20fen to Sally, Mmboyi, Mike, Michael, Jacinta, Gliday, Elkana, Edna, Arnold on 17 Jul 2025.
Question: why around urinal pits there is no grass
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Michael Kimwele answered on 17 Jul 2025:
Grass does not grow around urinal pits mainly due to the high concentration of nitrogen and salts in human urine, which can “burn” and kill the grass. Additionally, constant urination leads to soil contamination and poor drainage, creating an environment unsuitable for plant growth. Heavy foot traffic around these areas also compacts the soil and physically damages the grass, while lack of sunlight and maintenance further prevents vegetation from thriving.
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Jacinta Nzilani answered on 17 Jul 2025:
Hey,
🚫 Why Grass Doesn’t Grow Near Pit Latrines
1. Soil Contamination from Latrines
Liquids from pit latrines seep into the surrounding soil, carrying chemicals like ammonia, nitrates, phosphates, and other organic waste. These high concentrations can change soil chemistry, making it toxic or unbalanced for plant life.
The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in latrine sludge are extremely high hundreds to thousands of milligrams per liter indicating high levels of organic pollutants, which harm soil quality and vegetation growth.2. Unfavorable Soil Microbial Conditions
The microbial ecology in and around latrine sites is drastically different from healthy soils. Poor decomposition conditions, low oxygen, and inconsistent microbial populations make the soil unsuitable for grass roots and typical vegetation.3. Trampling and Soil Compaction
Frequent foot traffic near the latrine compacts the soil, damaging existing grass and preventing new grass from growing. This physical disturbance, combined with chemical stress, makes it hard for any grass to survive.
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