Toilets
Table of Contents
Toilets might not seem like an important part of environmentalism, but they are vital for preventing the spread of disease, and if done right, they can help save nutrients for crops or other plants, instead of contributing to nutrient run which harms aquatic ecosystems.
Toilet & Sewage Impacts
Scroll down or click "Maps" in the Table of Contents to see maps of sewage and run off on the environment. These include interactive global and regional maps.
Building Guides, Sanitation & Compost/Urine Use
Infonet Biovision: Toilet Choice This guide talks about the reasons people want toilets or bathroom phacilities. Different types of toilets and shelters, their features, design and building guides. Both how to install features as well as how to maintain them, including drawings.
Detailed Toilet Building Instructions, Simple Hand-Washing Devices, and Fetlizing Crops with Human Compost and Urine (PDF) This is much more detailed than the link above, including photos, step by step guides for toilets, shelters, toilet pits, compost pits, hand washing devices, as well as fly and odor control designs. There's also photos of plants grown with vs without compost, and with different amounts of urine.
Types of Toilet
Arborloo
Expected Lifespan: While the exact location of each toilet does not stay in the same place long since "the toilet superstructure, ring beam and slab are moved to a new pit in a continuous cycle (usually moved once every 6 to 12 months)." the outside is generally made from renewable and easy-to harvest, local plant matter. The slab should last much longer.
Pro: The long term result not only limits sewage pollution, but generates healthy trees for future generations that will help cool the surrounding areas, help produce rain clouds, and provide resources such as firewood, building materials, healthy wildlife habitat, cleaner air, better drainage to deter flooding, reduced wind force, as well as provide possible food, and medicine.
Con:
Solution: -
Resources: Produces rich soil for growing trees such as bananas.
Urine Diverting Dry Toilet (UDDT)
"A Urine Diverting Dry Toilet (UDDT) is a toilet that operates without water and has a divider so that the user, with little effort can divert the urine away from the faeces.
The UDDT toilet is built such that urine is collected and drained from the front area of the toilet, while faeces fall through a large chute (hole) in the back. Depending on the Collection and Storage/Treatment technology that follows, drying material such as lime, ash or earth should be added into the same hole after defecating. Men, as well as women, need to sit while urinating to ensure that the urine is diverted into the correct channel.
It is important that the two sections of the toilet are well separated to ensure that a) faeces do not fall into, and clog the urine collection area in the front, and that b) urine does not splash down into the dry area of the toilet.
Water used for anal cleaning must be kept separate in order not to dilute faeces or pollute urine with pathogens. This requires a separate facility for anal cleaning. Small amounts of anal cleaning water can be infiltrated. Larger volumes need to be treated (together with grey water) to prevent ground water pollution.
There are also 3-hole separating toilets that allow anal cleansing water to be separated from the urine and the faeces into a third, dedicated hole. It is important that the faeces remain separate and dry. When the toilet is cleaned with water, care should be taken to ensure that the faeces are not mixed with water.
Both a pedestal and a squat slab can be used to separate urine from faeces depending on user preference. Urine diverting dry toilets can be made out of ceramic, ferro-cement, fibre-enforced materials, or strong, durable, plastic and painted wood. It is important that the surface is smooth and hardened."- https://www.appropedia.org/Urine_diversion_dry_toilet
Clean Team Style Toilets & Servicing
"The Clean Team Toilet Waste Management Service is a service where the social enterprise Clean Team provides toilets to households for a monthly fee. Clean Team delivers, installs, maintains, and empties the toilet. Instead of buying a personal toilet and taking care of it, the customer pays regularly for a toilet service. In this way, the big initial investment cost and the unpleasant management of waste is avoided for the household. The service is targeted towards households in low-income settings in Ghana. The waste is collected weekly in sealed containers and taken away for safe disposal or re-use.
The price of the service starts from 8.62 USDconversion GHS to USD 12 Aug 2017 per month for 5 people. The customer pays one month in advance to get the toilet installed, after that payment is done weekly with mobile money.
The clean team waste management service is currently the only actor with this service on the market in Ghana. There is though a waste management company in Accra named Jekora Ventures that manages public toilets. Other examples of similar services in other countries are X-runner in Peru and Sanergy in Kenya." - https://www.engineeringforchange.org/solutions/product/clean-team-waste-collection-service
Life Expectancy: As long as residents pay for service, but service plans are available to help low-income customers.
Pro: Low cost, doesn't require anyone in the household to maintain or clean out the toilet. Clean Team's website lists to following benefits:
"Pay only GH¢52.00 Per Month
A Toilets Installed for you and your Family in Minutes
No Water, Electricity or Digging Needed.
Regular waste Collection Services.
Flexible Monthly Payment Plan."
Con: Relies on ability to continue paying for upkeep. Requires visits for upkeep which might not be great during times of illness.
Solution: Service technicians should make sure to use protective gear to avoid spreading or catching illness.
Resources: A plastic toilet composed of a container and a removable top portion which functions as a seat. Captures waste and converts it into fertilizer, and/or energy in the form of biogas or briquettes.
Ghana
Accra
Jekora Ventures "We work to promote optimum environmental sanitation and public health while promoting a sustainable environment."
Kumasi
Clean Team Toilets "Poor sanitation costs Ghana 420 million Cedis each year, equivalent to US$290 million, according to a desk study carried out by the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP). In an attempt to help, Clean Team Ghana for the past 10 years has provided sustainable household toilets in Kumasi."
Haiti
SOIL "Since 2006, SOIL has been transforming wastes into resources in Haiti. Through the use of ecological sanitation, SOIL is working to create a revolutionary social business model for providing access to safe, dignified sanitation that produces rich, organic compost as a natural resource for Haiti’s badly-depleted soils, while also creating economic opportunities in some of the world’s most under-resourced communities."
Kenya
Sanivation "The Sanivation Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) Waste Collection Service is a subscription model sanitation solution that relies on compact, portable, urine-diverting toilet built around sealable, removable containers – the Blue Box. Sanivation has combined waste pick-up services with the transformation of waste to fuel briquette."
"Currently, Sanivation has operations in Naivasha subcounty, Nakuru County, Kenya and have also conducted a pilot in Kakuma refugee camp." Thc ompany's fees are "300 Kenyan Shillings (~$3.50 USD) upon customer sign-up, 300 Kenyan Shillings (~$3.50 USD) upon installation, and a monthly subscription of 600 Kenyan Shillings (~$7.00 USD) per month." - EFC
Peru
Lima
Sanima "ofrece un servicio de saneamiento seguro y sostenible a familias en asentamientos humanos en zonas urbanas de Lima, Perú." 2020 Reporte de Impacto (Impact Report) (PFD)
Compost Toilets
Expected Lifespan: 15-20 years for permanent, self contained toilets, but portable toilets generally have shorter lifespans.
Pro: Free compost! No water needed!
Con: People who are used to standing while peeing, should use a urinal or learn to sit while peeing. The toilet needs a fan (plus electricity to make it run), and a gas outlet to avoid dangerous or smelly gas build up.
Solution: A solar panel or small wind turbine may be enough to help remove gases from the toilet in off-grid situations
Resources: Produces rich soil for growing , but requires a medium such as sawdust or wood chips to help cover smells and aid in composting.
Composting Toilets 101: Separett Review & How To Empty It 7:47 minute video covers one brand of compost toilet. Other types can be taken outside to empty or may have different features than the one shown here.
How To Make A Composting Toilet
9:53 minute video shows you how to make a compost toilet from easy-to-find supplies.
Peat moss has a heavy environmental impact, so using alternatives like sawdust would probably be better. You may be able to get free, bag-less woodchips via the ChipDrop app, but this may not be practical for everyone.
Easy Shelter
"Easy Shelter is a multi-purpose water basin and toilet for rural households designed by iDE as part of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiative they are developing in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Ghana." - ECG
Life Expectancy: Unknown
Pro: "The prefabrication allows the builder to work in a controlled environment where they can do their measurements more quickly and easily, and produce concrete components faster and more precisely. Working off-site also freed the building from personal oversight from the user. The materials used help to minimize the use of skilled production labor." Suitable for tropical climates, using adequate. - ECG
Con:
Solution:
Resources: Collects rain water for toilet use, hand washing, and showering. "The foundation is made of concrete footing base and beams. The walls are composed of prefabricated reinforced concrete columns and reinforced concrete panels. The roof is made of a metal tube structure and covered with corrugated tin panels. The floor is built with ceramic tiles over a skim concrete base and the basin and squatting toilet with prefabricated concrete." - ECG
Pit Toilets
Expected Lifespan: 30 years
Pro: These can be water free, or low-water.
Con: Insects can be a problem.
Solution: -
Resources: P
https://www.homebiogas.com/blog/pit-toilets/
Loowatt Toilet
"Loowatt toilets are versatile waterless-flush sanitation systems that seal waste into a portable cartridge using biodegradable film. The cartridges prevent odors and enable periodic emptying by a team of waste-collectors. Once waste is collected it is processed anaerobically to produce biogas, electricity and fertilizer. Overall this system is obtained with an initial monetary deposit and maintained with a monthly fee for emptying and replacement of the biodegradable film."
"There are both permanent and temporary installation options. The Home toilet is equipped with a manual flush. The Pro toilet is portable and equipped with an electric flush and a remote monitoring system that signals capacity alerts for the collection services.
In Madagascar each toilet requires a 16 USD deposit for use rather than purchase; the technology remains owned by Loowatt. In addition, a service fee of approximately 4 USD is charged each month for maintenance and materials."
"Loowatt targets a range of users including urban households, off-grid communities, and event sites. In Madagascar, programs for both public toilets and waste treatment and household toilets and waste-to-value treatment systems were implemented. In the United Kingdom, toilets are often used for events and festivals."
"In partnership with local governments and organizations, Loowatt provides waterless toilets to households and communities in Madagascar, the Philippines, and the UK."
Life Expectancy: As long as residents, businesses, or event planners pay for the service.
Pro: "A liner sitting inside the toilet bowl safely and hygienically captures human waste, this is sealed and pulled through to a barrel below with each flush. This seals away germs and odours, leaving a clean bowl every time. Once full, barrels are replaced." "Toilets are constructed locally using available materials and are integrated with imported Loowatt waste-sealing units." - EFC
Con: Requires a fee and staff to maintain. Requires a biofilm that needs to be replaced. Patent protected.
Solution:
Resources: Made from local resources, plus some imported aspects. Uses biodegradable biofilm instead of water. Provides compost and/or energy.
Low Flush Toilets
Expected Lifespan: up to 30 years
Pro: These use much less water than older models, and can improve your home's resale value. "The EPA estimates that homeowners save as much as $110 per year on their water bills simply by switching to low-flow toilets." -AHS
Con: These can be louder than traditional flush toilets, as they use more force to flush. If they don't flush properly, then can lead to clogs and other plumbing issues. These rely on adequate water pressure in the buildings where they are installed, so they may not work for older homes.
Solution: Collecting grey water in your bathroom sink or a tub in the shower to collect water (for example collecting cold water while the shower warms up) can serve as a low-waste source of water for hand-flushing the toilet. The trick is to throw water into the toilet from front to back with enough force to trigger the flap in the back as shown here. This trick in general is useful for clearing blockages in the pumbing, or if utilities are
Resources: 1.28-1.6 gallons or 4.8-6 liters
Standard Flush Toilets
These waste a lot of water, but you can make adjustments like putting a brick or a used bottle filled with water or other substance like sand to help displace water in the cistern. This trick can help reduce the amount of water that the cistern will store, which in turn reduces the amount of water flushed.
Toilet paper also uses a lot of water, so attaching a bidet hose, seat, or under-seat attachment can help reduce water use further, since bidets generally use less water than is needed to produce, package, and ship toilet paper.
Click the Toilet Paper button to learn more about eco-friendly toilet paper options and alternatives.
Pro: A standard toilet can last an entire lifetime. Some can last multiple generations with the right care and occasional repairs. This is good because it reduces the resources associated with making and shipping new units.
Con: These use a lot of water, which is a problem as the global water cycle continues to suffer the impacts of over extraction and climate change.
Solution: The general advice for these is that: "If it's yellow - let it mellow. If it's brown - flush it down." However letting too much "yellow" build up can release ammonia in the home and damage the inside of the toilet, so it's best to allow a mild yellow. If the yellow becomes dark or orange this may be an indicator that the person urinating needs to consume less protein and/or drink more water. Healthier urine can be added continuously without creating much if any actual change in water colour, so if the toilet bowl water has a particularly strong colour or odor, go ahead and flush it!
You can also or instead add certain objects (a brick or plastic bottle of water) to the cistern to reduce water use, however this can reduce flow to the point that the toilet doesn't work properly. The general suggestion is to keep repairing these until they become too broken to service or if local water use is a priority then it is time to exchange the old standard model for a low-flush or other type of eco-friendly model.
Resources: 11-18 liters or 5 to 7 gallons per flush.
Septic & Sewer Systems
Nature-Based Septic Systems
Wetland Nitrogen Reducing Septic System
The Nature Conservancy explains how their system works with a septic tank for removing solids. The liquids are pumped to a basin with wetland plants, layers of gravel, using microbes. Some water is recirculated, while the remaining water fills a woodchip tank, which removes nitrogen before releasing the water to more plants. This water is now safe for reabsorption into the aquifer, or to drain into local lakes.
Toilet to Tap Water Recycling
Many of us are unaware if our communities already use this system, but as water shortages increase, ground water disappears, and rivers dry up, more are turning to water recycling to ensure citizens have enough for daily activities.
Some of the resources below specifically focus on creating potable water, while others simply focus on reducing pollutants before releasing waste water back into waterways, where down-stream neighbors may use it for drinking, bathing, and irrigation.
These systems often use reservoirs and grate systems to settle and remove solids.
The more expensive systems use technology, chemicals, and specialize filtration systems. The cheaper type can involve nothing more than a channel and some wetland plants, though dividers with removable grates can help increase their effectiveness, allow for safer/easier maintenance (such as clearing out rubbish or branches that might be causing backups).
The second type can be build by anyone including farmers wanting to prevent livestock waste from becoming dangerous run off, or a small family ensuring waste from a latrine or septic system has extra time to break down before potentially seeping into ground water. Here is a PDF presentation: "Phytorid Technology and Implemented Projects Across India" which shows the benefits for water quality, as well as the simplicity which could make such systems a practical solution for communities around the world.
Life Expectancy: ___________
Pro: Reduces overall water use by recycling used water.
Con: Often requires electricity, filters, and chemicals to process waste into safe drinking water. There is an "ick factor" which can make people hesitant about this option.
Solution: Wetland plants can be used to naturally reduce nitrites and other problematic chemicals. Passive system design can help remove sediments with gravity instead of electricity, meaning that the system will be able to work even in the event of grid failure or for places that don't have grid access.
Fuel Types: Fossil fuels, renewables, and/or gravity.
Nallah Biological Solutions
Nallah | Sewage treatment plant | Constructed Wetland | STP | Green STP | Natural Treatment System 4:24 minute video shows the design and plants used to naturally clean water before it is released back into waterways.
This 3:01 minute video is in English and Hindi, demonstrating how a plant-powered sewage treatment plant can successfully clean sewage without electricity.
Tools & Apps
Water Pumping
The pumping of water takes a larger amount than many people realize. Pumping ground water for agricultural, industry, or public use, moving it between facilities, etc. all require energy since water is a fairly heavy substance.
STEEP "is a free Excel-based reference guide that can be used to make system assessments and identify potential areas for energy use savings in existing or planned water supply and wastewater facility projects."
Maps
International
Global Waste Water Model This interactive map shows terrestrial and aquatic pollution levels with filters for nitrogen sources, nitrogen plumes, septic, treated, etc.
Mapping Global Inputs and Impacts from of Human Sewage in Coastal Ecosystems This paper has several international maps showing where different types of ecosystems are present (coral and seagrass), as well as which locations are heavily impacted, vs simply present. There is also a graph of types of sewage systems around the world and their level of impact on ocean ecosystems.
Europe
UK
Is Your River Fit to Play In? Interactive map. "This map shows where the sewerage network discharged treated sewage and overflows of untreated sewage and storm water into rivers in England & Wales in 2021. Avoid entering the water immediately downstream of these overflows, especially after it has been raining. Use the search box or zoom on the map to find your location."
Surfers Against Sewage: Check Your Water Quality "Ensure your trip to the beach is not currently at risk from any water quality issues.
The Safer Seas Service will point you towards beaches with no recent pollution incidents."
North America
USA
Water-Quality Changes in the Nation's Streams and Rivers "This (interactive) mapper provides results from the largest-ever assessment of water-quality changes in the Nation's streams and rivers. More than 185 million water-quality records from over 600 Federal, State, Tribal, and local organizations were screened as part of this assessment.
Tracking changes in stream quality and investigating the reasons for these changes is crucial for informing management decisions to protect and sustain our valuable water resources.
The mapper shows stream trends in water chemistry (nutrients, pesticides, sediment, carbon, and salinity) and aquatic ecology (fish, invertebrates, and algae) for four time periods: 1972-2012, 1982-2012, 1992-2012, and 2002-2012."
Oceana
Australia
Waterwatch Map "allows you to view Waterwatch monitoring sites on an interactive map of Victoria. The addition of other sources of data can tell an interesting story about your local waterway. Explore the categories of data to the left of the map. Beneath each category is a list of layers. If you click on a layer it will be displayed on the Waterwatch map. Click on the legend icon to find out more information about each of the layers you have selected."
Organizations
Grants & Funding
Asia
Livable Cities: Financing Partnership Facility "The urban operations of ADB benefits from the support of notable trust funds, which are collectively referred to as the Urban Financing Partnership Facility. Under this umbrella, strategic, long-term, multi-partner investments on innovative urban solutions are implemented. These investments help to achieve the vision of livable cities." These include:
Cities Development Initiative for Asia "is a multi-donor trust fund managed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It works closely with secondary cities in Asia and the Pacific to prepare bankable and sustainable infrastructure investments."
Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund (UCCRTF) eligible countries include Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Further Reading
You may also be interested in the following topics.
This page lists the activities impacting water security from the most influential, so the least. By focusing on activities with the greatest impact first, we can maximize our impact right away, and focus on smaller fixes over time to help further improve our local water security.
This page talks about the many ancient and modern methods of capturing water. Some are more practical for mountains and agriculture, while other methods are more apporpiate for househole or small communities to share. Topics also include sewage water reclaimation as well as the problems that are associated with well use.
Learn about grey water systems, both inside and outside for watering crops or landscapes.
This page lists safe cleaners to use along with your greywater system.
This page lists drivers of deforestation from most problematic first down to less impactful industries. Each sections lists some practical ways to eliminate or reduce impacts on forests, including switching from toilet paper to bidets.