Other than one bag of cement some rebar, local materials and Vetiver seedings, no further substructure is required. Vetiver grass seedlings are planted around a small concrete slab above the pit and the the roots of the grass grow around the latrine pit and stabilize the soil. Once grown, usually over a 6 month period, the Vitiver grass removes nitrates, phosphates and heavy metal contaminates within the pit. In addition to it's usage as a clean and natural latrine, above ground the blades of the grass provide a tall thick privacy screen that is effectively storm proof. Once the latrine is filled the slab and seedlings can be transferred over to the next pit location. In comparison, a standard pit latrine usually has a cement block box structure below ground to stabilize the pit with a latrine house above ground for privacy. These latrines do not remove environmental contaminants which then leak into the groundwater.
Vetiver grass also acts as natural toilet paper, thus reducing the need to use alternative sources such as paper/sand. Other complimentary sanitary products decompose similar to a regular latrine.