The fascinating waterless toilet technology is altering the sanitation landscape as more and more households embrace green living to reduce ecological footprints.
But the technology is not as smooth sailing as most people would hope. It comes with a number of regulations and building codes for it to effectively and lawfully operate.
However, with a few waterless toilet DIY facts available, waterless toilets can offer convenient waste disposal mechanisms and excellent sanitary experiences.
But first things first.
Why Consider Waterless Technology?
The need for waterless technology cannot be overemphasized in today’s world. This is because the current environmental trends have caused extensive damage to Mother Nature and future generations will suffer adverse climatic and ecological conditions.
Pollution, cutting down of trees, filling landfills with non-biodegradable wastes have all led to a negative environmental impact in one way or another.
Water bodies have dried up, forest cover has significantly declined, natural habitats have been destroyed and the effects of global warming are all too familiar.
To save planet earth, eco-friendly living is being adopted world over as environmentalists and other nature enthusiasts come up with suitable ways to conserve and save the environment.
The use of the waterless technology is one of the ways through which households can reduce their ecological footprint by conserving water in the home.
There are a number of waterless toilet facts and figures that can help you save water in a green home. They include:
- Use of waterless toilets in the home. Conventional water closets consume huge gallons of water per flush and the waterless toilet is a convenient alternative that consumes little amounts of water if any.
- Installing a low-flow showerhead. Overhead showers account for a big percentage of the water utility in the home. Fitting a low-flow showerhead reduces the gallons consumed by a shower per minute.
- Using aerators on water outlets. The use of aerators on the shower nozzle or taps helps in conserving water by adding air and reducing the amount of water that flows from it.
- Use Motion sensor taps on sinks. The faucet will use the motion sensor to allow water to flow only when you are ready to use it to save on utility.
- Set up a low-flow toilet. If you are irked by the thought of a completely waterless toilet you can consider the environmentally friendly toilets that do not consume as much water as the conventional flush toilets.
You can read more tips for an eco-friendly bathroom here.
Benefits of Waterless Toilets
A waterless toilet provides a significant number of benefits over its limitations.
- For starters, most waterless toilets are easy to build since the materials required are readily available and widely accessible.
It is one of the sanitary devices that allows for DIY opportunities. Waterless toilets do not require complex plumbing works and sewerage hookups associated with conventional flush toilets.
The emerging waterless technology trends include composting, incinerating, poop vaporizing and the Nanotechnology.
- The waterless toilets come in various models and are flexible in functionality. While some are electric powered, battery powered and solar powered models are also available.
Some models don’t run on electricity as well. With the various waterless toilet designs available, you will be able to choose a toilet that best suits your needs and requirements.
Some of the waterless toilet designs include:
- Nature’s head
- Biolet design
- Incinolet design
- Envirolet design
The Laws and Building Codes
In order to build or install a DIY waterless toilet that will effectively meet your needs, you must ensure certain requirements are met.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you with the waterless toilet building codes.
What are the Local Laws on Waste Disposal?
Before settling on any indoor waterless toilet, check with your municipality to understand the waterless toilet laws, dos and don’ts of human waste disposal.
In some localities, composting toilets are still unknown and installing one in your home might be a problem.
In other localities, the authorities are yet to update existing laws to account for the hygienic treatment of human wastes.
It is important to double-check with your local authority before you start using a waterless toilet for home.
What Amount of Space Is Available?
Despite requiring less space compared to the conventional flush systems that require extensive sewerage systems and plumbing works, you need to determine the amount of space available for a waterless system.
This will help you to determine the best waterless toilet type and design that will fit into your space.
What is the Required Size and Capacity of the Toilet?
A small indoor waterless toilet might not do you any good if the number of people anticipated to use the facility is huge. You should consider how long the toilet will be in use.
If it is for the long haul then a smaller waterless unit might be inconveniencing for households. This is because it will require that you empty it far too frequently as it will fill up pretty fast.
Also, installing a smaller unit in an area without proper ventilation
Do I need Electricity for its Operation?
Another DIY fact that you should take into consideration is how the model you settle for is powered.
If you are in an area that has no electricity then it would be advisable to go for a solar powered or battery powered model.
Can You Maintain the Toilet?
A poorly maintained waterless toilet can give you sleepless nights. Pests and bad odor become the order of the day and it is a potential health hazard.
As you build a waterless toilet, strictly adhere to the building code, carry out regular maintenance as expected and if it malfunctions, seek the services of a professional.
Safety Precautions
Finally, it is important to take all the necessary precautions and get all the waterless toilet DIY facts while building a waterless toilet for home use.
The residue from the waterless toilet might contain disease-causing pathogens and it is recommended that waste is treated before being recycled for other uses.
When handling end-products from waterless toilets, always use gloves and a mask as should be the case when cleaning the lavatories.
