Each year every person uses about 4000 gallons of water to flush 75
pounds of crap into our sewer system along with about 130 gallons of
pee. Not only is the water usage a problem with our sewage system, but
the sewage itself is a problem. Sewage treatment leaves a lot of
nitrates and other damaging chemicals behind. In New York, this has
become such a concern that they now send their toxic crap half way
across the country to Texas!
It is also very expensive to build
and maintiain these systems. The sewage has to be piped across town to
the treatment plants. This can be a trip of many miles. Anywhere along
this trip there could be a leak. Many municipalities, such as Portland,
Oregon are spending millions to upgrade systems with bigger pipes to
keep the stinky mess from flowing into local rivers and streams. Septic
tanks are better, since they don't have to transport the liquid poison
under the streets, but they still can leak nitrates and other chemicals
into the surrounding ground.
So, with the environmental impact and high cost of sewer and
septic systems, we need an alternative. The answer came in 1873, long
before most of the current sewage system was build. In this year, Henry
Moule patented the first composting toilet. His toilet was simple and
required a bit more interaction than you or I would want. Composting
toilets have come a long way since then. They no longer require you to
carry the slush bucket to the compost and dump it. The excreted
material can now be composted in the toilet, or piped to a central
location and composted there.
Composting toilets are made for RV use, campgrounds, cabins and
other light use sites. They are also made for home use, as well as
commercial and industrial buildings. The C.K. Choi Building
is outfitted with such a system. These toilets can save a lot of money
in sewer and water bills. They can also save the environment!
The major problem with composting toilets is that they are not as
convenient. People have become very used to flushing away their
humanure and the idea of containing it in the basement is distasteful.
For me the cost saving and the environmental plusses are worth it.
While I cannot retrofit our current home with composting toilets, it is
going into the plans for the green house I dream about building when we
move the next time.
If you are interested in composting toilets, below are a few places you can buy one from:
Envirolet - Running a sale for $300 off till May 12, 2008. 4 models ranging from $1799 to $3699
Sun-Mar - With dealerships around the country, you can check one out before you buy.
Composting Toilet World
- Run by Envirolet, this site tells you all about sewage treatment,
composting toilets, and where to buy them. A nice informational site
that goes much further into details than I could here.
There are also some instructions available on making your own composting loo.
Practical Actions Guide
- While my wife would not like this plan, it is inexpensive to build!
The site requires a registration to download and is a little cumbersome
to navigate.
The Humanure Handbook
- I've just started reading this great resource, but many other sites
have recommended it. If you are at all interested in composting
toiletes, you need to check it out! It has ALL the information you need
to build your own composting pot.
