Dry toilets to counter drought in Potosí, Bolivia

For the populations of Potosí, perched in the Bolivian Andes, the lack of water and seasonal droughts turn access to basic hygiene into a critical challenge. The Mission Potosí association, led by students from ESSEC and Paris-Descartes University, has been deploying sustainable solutions on the ground since 2003.

Its "Higiene para Crecer" (Growing with Hygiene) project introduces the use of dry toilets to break water dependency, improve the health of children from mining families, and stimulate local employment.

An ecological and health response tailored to local realities

During the dry season (June to September), the lack of rainfall paralyzes traditional toilets in local educational centers, forcing drastic usage restrictions. The project resolves this deadlock by installing six dry toilets across three care facilities (Yachay Mosoj, Pailaviri, and the Robertito school). This gradual transition secures permanent restroom access for 150 children and their educators while saving more than 220,000 liters of water annually. The health impact is equally direct: the durable presence of these infrastructures helps reduce diarrheal diseases—a leading cause of infant mortality according to the WHO—by 30 to 50%.

A supportive community project and sustainable skills transfer

Designed as an integration and awareness initiative, the deployment actively involves local workers in the construction, boosting the province's economy. Beyond funding infrastructures and composting systems, the student team relies on skills-based sponsorship to strengthen the technical management of by-products and system maintenance. All educators and families are trained in best practices, creating a replicable, autonomous sanitation model for future rural centers in the region.