12
TROUBLESHOOTING of TWT
If
Then
No worms can be seen in
the toilets
It can often be difficult to find the worms, so check again after a
few weeks and monitor if the fresh faeces is building up. Empty
the faeces if the build-up is too much and re-seed the pit with new
worms. Try to determine the cause and therefore what may need
to be changed or repaired.
No vermicompost is
being produced
If worms can be seen, but no vermicompost can be seen check all
other factors that contribute to good operation; water quantity,
aerobic bedding layer, no cleaning products etc.
Fresh faeces is building
up, covering 100% of the
pit surface
Check the number of users is as expected. If too many users,
advise the toilet owners. Otherwise, the pit may require more
worms.
The pit is flooded or has
been flooded
Check for worm presence after the flooding event. If worms are
no longer present, normally there will still be worm eggs which
will hatch to re-seed the pit once conditions are correct. Due to
the time for worms to grow, the pit may require additional new
worms, check every 2-weeks. Investigate the cause of the flooding
and remedy if possible.
The pit looks too dry
Check if the numbers of users is as expected, are there too few?
Advise the toilet users that they need to use more water to ensure
the TWT benefits and keep it functioning correctly.
The bedding looks too
wet
Check if the numbers of users is as expected, are there too many?
Are people using more water than expected and designed for?
Could rainwater be coming in through cracks in the pit or gaps in
the lid? If no, the infiltration rate may be less than expected
and/or the drainage or bedding layer clogged. Check again after 1-
week if the pit had drained. If no, check if bedding or drainage
layer looks clogged by digging down. If no, an additional
infiltration trench may need to be installed.
You find rats or
centipedes in the pits
Remove them from the pit. Check how they could have entered
and repair the toilet to prevent them from entering again.
You find cockroaches or
maggots in the pit
Cockroaches and maggots are not harmful to the worms but can
spread disease when they leave the pit. Check how they could
have entered and repair the toilet to prevent them from entering
again.
There is a rotten egg
smell when opening the
pit
The pit has become anaerobic and the worms do not have an airy
enough environment. Empty the sludge and vermicompost from
the pit and add some new bedding layer.