Today, many environmentalists and enthusiasts advocate for the use of eco-toilets around the world.
However, most people are still skeptical that odorless waterless toilets exist and play a huge role in reducing the ecological footprints left when copious amounts of water are used to eliminate human wastes.
Most households don’t understand how a toilet system would operate efficiently without using any water and not emit any foul smell.
Yet in areas where water is not readily available, the waterless toilets are the surest bet to proper sanitation. And the beautiful thing is they can be used in both urban and rural areas.
Why Use Waterless Toilets?
Apart from the fact that waterless toilets are eco-friendly by ensuring minimal water use in waste disposal, they have a number of other benefits.
The toilets do not require the use of large treatment plants for treating human wastes.
Wastes from composting toilets are treated on-site, eliminating the costs of transport to treatment plants. This contributes to environmental conservation and sustainability.
These eco-friendly toilets also do not require septic tanks that are known to be extremely costly to buy, install, and maintain. The septic tanks also tend to emit a foul smell in case of spillage or when water finds its way into them.
The waterless toilets, especially the composting toilets, which are the most popular type of dry flush systems, act as a source of manure for non-edible plants. The end-product of compost can increase rich nutrients when growing non-edible plants or flowers for aesthetic purposes.
These toilets are also easy to repair in case of damage, and any mistakes arising from the design or installation processes can be easily corrected to ensure normalcy and efficiency in the disposal of human wastes.
The other upside of waterless toilets is that they do not have to be installed in designated areas but rather where there is a need. As opposed to water closets, waterless systems are flexible when building houses in residential areas since changes can be easily implemented or adjusted without extensive wastages.
They focus on environmental and social impact since they don’t center on disrupting any underground sewerage systems.
Causes of Foul Odor in Waterless Toilets
Contrary to what many people believe, a waterless toilet should not emit any foul smell. If it does, then that is a clear indication of an underlying problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Several issues can be the cause of the toilet odor. But once the cause is established, it can easily be remedied.
One major cause is there could be a user error, or the fan could have been unplugged. If the waterless toilet in use is the composting type, the lack of a proper carbon-nitrogen mix can lead to compacting of waste and lack of proper aeration resulting in a foul-smelling system.
Also, a composting toilet does not need high moisture content. A poorly drained pile will provide a lot of moisture, which interferes with the composting process and is a potential source of a foul odor.
Tricks to Keeping an Odorless Waterless Toilet
Maintaining a fresh-smelling clean toilet should not be an uphill task, especially if you have a few tricks up your sleeve.
1. Use a Spritz Mixture of Vinegar and Water
Maintain a mixture of water and vinegar to spritz on your toilet after use. You can put a bottle on standby and advise the users to use toilet paper to wipe off once they take a dump, in order to maintain a fresh-smelling toilet. For some waterless toilets, extra-clean-up is necessary to avoid a foul-smelling toilet, and such a water/vinegar spritz bottle will come in handy.
2. Use Raw Sugar and Vinegar
Many people use a simple trick to freshen a stinking urine tank by putting 2 tablespoons of sugar in the tank. A great alternative is the use of vinegar. Simply leave a cup of vinegar in the tank to help with the smell after doing your business. Additionally, you can use a commercial waterless toilet cleaner to clean the urine tank frequently and avoid bad odor.
3. Clean Off the Buildup of Urine on the Liquid Tank
Remove any caked urine that has built up in the tank by putting 3 inches of vinegar and 1 inch of rocks. Let it settle for a while before giving it a thorough shake. The caked urine should eventually fall off, leaving your waterless toilet smelling fresh.
4. Use of Hydrated Coco Coir for Composting Toilets
To freshen a stinking waterless toilet add a few big chunks of Coco coir into the toilet. Coco coir is a by-product of harvested coconut and the coarse fibers from the shell’s outer husks. It is completely natural and suitable for composting toilets due to its excellent aeration and drainage abilities. Using Coco coir as frequently as necessary in composting toilets helps avoid foul odors in the waterless system.
5. Regular Maintenance
This might not necessarily be a trick, but it is a significant tip that cannot be ignored. Proper and regular maintenance of your waterless toilet will go a long way in ensuring that your system is functioning as it should and no parts are broken. One part that needs regular maintenance to avoid bad odor in the waterless toilet is the fan. If unplugged or broken, the fan fails to keep off the stench that emanates from a dry toilet due to poor air circulation.
Final Thoughts
Different waterless toilets come in different designs, so you need to learn the tricks that will best work with your choice of dry flush systems.
The bottom line is that you need to ensure your waterless toilet is functioning as required to avoid bad odor due to malfunctions.
Consult your health department or council and understand their regulations and requirements for appropriate drainage and disposal of human wastes in your area before opting for a waterless system.
With proper installation, care, and maintenance, your odorless waterless toilet will go a long way in reducing environmental footprints.
