The high ecological footprint caused by the copious amounts of water used in conventional toilets have been a point of concern.

Most households use approximately 30% of their water consumption in running the traditional water systems and there is a need for waterless toilets to stop environmental degradation.

Imagine saving more than 6,600 gallons of water annually for each person that visits the bathroom. It would go a long way in saving the scarce resource.

However, many people have a central concern about stinking waterless toilet. Don’t these waterless systems have a foul odor?

Most consumers are skeptical about switching from the traditional flush toilet to a waterless system due to the threat of a stench emanating from the toilet.

The idea of a waterless toilet most likely conjures memories of old-school outhouse horror stories where the toilets were known to have the worst odors.

If set up correctly, waterless toilets are hygienic and 100% odorless. Therefore, such fears can be put to rest.

But first things first.

Understanding the Waterless Toilet

A well designed and maintained waterless toilet can be a sophisticated addition to a bathroom more so because it does not smell.

The world today makes use of technology to eliminate water usage in waste disposal and to find new ways of utilizing excreta in other important ways such as biogas harvesting, solar-powered hydrogen generation and so on.

A waterless toilet very much resembles a traditional flush toilet with the only difference being the absence of a flush valve or piping that sits above conventional units since no water is required to operate it.

Unlike the conventional water closets, this type of waterless toilet requires a larger amount of space under the toilet floor and should be situated in a room that receives a lot of sunshine. This is because it works best under warm conditions.

The waterless toilet runs on a vertical-trap design where a trap filled will a thin layer of liquid sealant sits on top of the drain of the waterless system.

In other systems, instead of the trap, there is a cylinder where human excreta is passed through.

It goes through the sealant as well until the cylinder fills up after which the waste flows under the barrier into the waste line for draining.

The waterless toilet and the flush toilet don’t differ much when it comes to cleaning. The same way flush toilets do not emit a foul smell if well maintained is the same way you can have an odorless toilet that requires no water.

In fact, the waterless unit is easier to clean since the lack of water keeps the surface dry making it difficult for bacteria to grow and therefore keeps away bad odor.

Waterless systems are also rust free since there are no water deposits that build up.

The Original pit latrine has come a long way to the now known waterless toilets, the common being the composting toilet.

This type of toilet uses a biological process called composting to treat human excreta turning it into compost.

Composting toilets are dry toilets since the run on waterless systems. Some composting toilets need electricity to function while others are non-electric versions.

What Makes The Toilet Smell?

A waterless toilet should not smell. If it does, then it is a clear indication of an underlying problem.

Perhaps, the fan could have been unplugged or there is another user error. The good thing is that these can easily be remedied.

For composting toilets, lack of a proper carbon-nitrogen mix to help aerate the pile and prevent compacting of waste will lead to a foul smell.

A high moisture content and a poorly drained pile interfere with the composting process and is a potential source of the bad smell.

How to Freshen the Stinking Waterless Toilet

In technical aspects, the waterless toilet is relatively simple but will require more attention than a conventional toilet.

To ensure you have a waterless toilet smelling fresh, keep these 5 tips in mind.

1.      Empty Composting Toilet When Full

The first tip to freshening a stinking waterless toilet especially if it is the composting type is to empty the container as soon as the end-product is ready for removal.

This can be done after a given period although the frequency will depend on the container size, frequency of use and local climatic conditions.

The compost can either be disposed according to local council regulations or used as fertilizer in the garden.

2.      Add bulking Agents or Carbon-based Material

Adding bulking agent or carbon-based material such as softwood shavings or dry leaves to a compost container is recommended to aid the composting process and keep any foul smell at bay. This can be done on a daily basis or with each use of the container.

3.      Use of Hydrated Coco Coir

Adding a few big chunks of hydrated Coco coir into a waterless toilet helps to freshen a stinking waterless toilet.

Coco coir is a completely natural by-product of harvested coconut and the coarse fibers from the outer shell’s husk.

It is suitable for use in composting toilets as it has excellent drainage and aeration abilities. Use the Coco Coir as frequently as necessary to avoid bad smell in the toilet.

4.      Proper Drainage

The health department regulations or council require that appropriate drainage and disposal of residual moisture be carried out.

Diverting urine away from the compost is one way of keeping the pile well drained to reduce moisture content and keep away potential odors that might be as a result of a poor composting process.

Any liquid runoff can be treated by passing it through a solar evaporating tray or a sealed evapotranspiration trench.

Liquid runoff to be used as fertilizer should not come into contact with fecal matter and if it does, it has to be evaporated and sterilized.

5.      Install Fans

Proper aeration of the pile is essential in any waterless system. For composting toilets, vent pipes work best using passive convection.

Fans should be installed in waterless toilets to aid in ventilation and can be included in the off-the-shelf systems. Regular cleaning should be observed to ensure the fans are not clogged with dust and insects.

Conclusion

There’s no limit to the number of ways you can freshen a stinking waterless toilet.

But all in all, it’s all about proper maintenance, proper humidity, and use of a well-designed system when drying the solids bin.

Before settling on one manufacturer’s waterless system, it is advisable to go through dry flush toilet reviews to ensure your choice meets your specific needs.