Discussion on Paper 22

Mr Pickford (Paper 22)

I wholeheartedly support ITDG and greatly admire many of the devices which are developed as 'intermediate technology1, but wonder how much of this hardware is really appropriate. The word 'appropriate1 is often degraded (just as the word 'gay' formerly meant 'full of mirth1). What rubbish it is to talk about appropriate sanitation as a second-class alternative to sewerage and sewage treatment! If sewerage is not appropriate it should not be used.

The choice of appropriate technology is not simple or easy. In most schemes too much time is spent designing engineering details and not enough time is devoted to thinking out what is appropriate.