The concept of waterless toilets is a huge boost in the fight against environmental degradation. Knowing the waterless toilets do’s and don’ts is fundamental in proper sanitation.

For you to reap the maximum benefits of a waterless system in your home you need to understand how to use, clean and maintain the toilet.

But first things first.

The Need for Waterless Toilets

Over the years, the human population has been unkind to planet earth. There has been the destruction of natural habitat with animals, birds, and fish suffering the consequences of the human and industrial action such as pollution.

There has been a decline in the natural forest cover as people engage in logging putting water catchment areas at risk.

All is not lost though.

Environmentalists and experts have been working round the clock to prevent further damage to planet earth before Mother Nature fights back.

And this is where waterless toilets come in. The waterless toilet technology helps in reducing ecological footprints left by systems that use copious amounts of water in the disposal of human wastes and sanitation.

As the name suggests, a waterless toilet uses other means of waste disposal that does not require the use of water supply.

There have been emerging waterless toilet trends over the years with some of the waterless technologies championed being incineration, composting, nanotechnology or pervaporation, poop vaporization and so on.

You can read more about the waterless technology here.

Before looking at the best way to use, clean and maintain waterless toilets, what should you consider when searching for a waterless toilet for your home?

The first point to consider is the area you live in and the local laws and regulations governing the disposal of waste in your location.

What are the human waste disposal dos and don’ts according to your municipality’s regulations? What kind of disposal mechanisms are allowed?

It is important to note that although composting toilets are fast gaining approval among households, some localities are yet to update existing laws to account for the hygienic treatment of human wastes.

Double check with your local authorities before investing in a waterless toilet for home use.

It is also important to determine the capacity and size of the waterless toilet you wish to have for your indoor waterless system.

Consider the number of people anticipated to use the toilet and how long they will use it. This will help you to make the right purchase decision.

The amount of space available to accommodate your waterless toilet is fundamental. This will help in determining the appropriate waterless toilet type and design since different toilets have different space requirements.

For instance, a composting toilet requires sufficient space beneath the floor for a compost container.

You should also consider your electricity supply before settling for a waterless toilet. Some waterless toilet designs rely on electricity in order to function properly.

However, electricity should not be an impediment. There are waterless toilet models that are solar-powered or battery-powered while others are non-electric.

How to Use Waterless Toilets

Using a waterless toilet might not necessarily vary from the usual conventional toilets. The major difference would be in what is placed inside the toilet immediately after use.

For instance, when using homemade composting toilets it is recommended that you put wood shavings or ash with each use. This aids the composting process and reduces the potential of a foul smell.

When using the nanomembrane toilet you cannot use toilet paper and drop it in the toilet bowl. Instead, there should be a rubbish can nearby for the used waste paper.

This might not sit well with most users who’ll cringe at the thought of throwing away used toilet paper. However, the developers are devising better ways of disposing of the waste paper.

In short, how you use a waterless toilet depends on the design and the information on how to use a waterless toilet must be outlined on a user manual.

Also, necessary safety precautions should be taken when using waterless toilets. Such designs are likely to harbor lingering illness-causing pathogens if not hygienically maintained.

Waterless Toilets Cleaning and Care

Manufacturers of waterless systems define how to clean waterless toilets and how to take proper care of them.

However, cleaning a waterless toilet likely follows the same steps and procedures you apply in a conventional toilet.

For starters, do not clean any restroom fixtures without wearing protective clothing. This will help to protect you from pathogens that might lead to infections.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, brushes or towels and ensure you remove any foreign objects in the system to prevent clogging the drains.

To keep the surfaces dry from any fluids, use a Johnny mop. Using an all-purpose cleaner to mist all the toilet surfaces is allowed. It is advisable to dry the surfaces with a wet cloth.

Avoid pouring soiled or excess water down the waterless toilet trap to ensure water does not flush out any sealant from the cylinder.

Maintenance of Waterless Toilets

The lavatory types and designs normally determine how to maintain waterless toilets.

Maintenance of a composting toilet may vary from maintenance of an incinerating toilet and so on.

The bottom line is that a waterless toilet that is functioning correctly as expected and is well maintained should not smell.

If the toilet is emitting offensive odors then kick-start and follow the troubleshooting module because something must be wrong.

The first tip of the maintenance of waterless toilets is ensuring regular checkups are conducted and all repairs are made when necessary.

Regular upkeep will help you identify weak spots and rectify installation and fixture problems before they get out of hand.

Proper maintenance also entails making sure that the waterless toilet is emptied as soon as it fills up. This also helps in keeping away bad odor from the household.

If the toilet is of the composting type, through proper maintenance you should be able to keep the pile well drained to reduce moisture levels for the composting process to take place efficiently.

Ensure the waterless toilet is well ventilated and the pile is well aerated. Regular maintenance will ensure that unplugged fans are fixed and vent pipes are working as expected.

The dusting of fans also helps in unclogging from insects and other foreign matter.

When the waterless toilets are used, cleaned and maintained according to the operating manual, the devices work as well as conventional water closets.

In fact, they are even better since they leave smaller ecological footprints making them apt in protecting Mother Nature.