Summer 2000 Vol. 11, No. 3 SMAL AL L N F L O I O T W A S N C L E E S A U R I N G H O PipelineSmall Community Wastewater Issues Explained to the Public ALTERNATIVE TOILETS Options for Conservation and Specific Site Conditions ow often do we think about these toilet designs have developed Readership Survey toilets? Probably pretty beyond their use in vacation and travel rarely, and why would we? vehicles. They have become part of a We have included a readership survey H Toilets provide a conven- strategy to reduce the amount of potable in this issue of Pipeline. Your feed- ience most Americans take for granted. water used for waste disposal. back helps us know if we’re satisfying But the standard porcelain fixture Water conservation isn’t the only rea- readers’ needs and decide on topics we’re accustomed to has been changing son that toilet alternatives have evolved. for future issues. Please take a few moments to answer these questions in these times of water quality protec- Certain site conditions or lack of a water so that we may better serve you. tion and conservation. Manufacturers are supply may make the traditional septic designing alternative toilets that use much tank and soil absorption field unsuitable less water and some models that use no for a home or public restroom facility’s Each toilet has certain features that water at all. wastewater (effluent) disposal. These may make one design more appropriate Old-fashioned, water-guzzling toilets problems force a landowner to explore than another for a family’s lifestyle. of the past consumed up to five gallons of other effluent disposal methods. Some toilets are better suited for infre- water per flush. (See table 1 on page 2.) In addition to alternative effluent quent-use situations, such as in vacation Many households still use these dinosaurs. treatment processes, a variety of efficient, cottages or recreational vehicles. And Obsolete toilet designs contribute to the low-flow or waterless toilet systems are some, like the composting toilet, require estimated 9,000 gallons of potable water available that can resolve the dilemma a commitment to maintain and remove that a person uses to flush away 130 gallons of unsuitable site conditions. Toilet options composted waste material from the of human waste a year. That’s an awful include composting, incinerating, chemical, storage tank. Privies and portable toi- lot of good, clean water swirling down and oil flush toilets, and privies. lets are most often used in parks, at the commode. large outdoor gatherings, or on con- Twenty years ago toilet manufacturers struction sites. began to reduce their tank capacities to This issue of Pipeline discusses the a maximum of 3.5 gallons per flush. previously mentioned types of alternative This reduction in tank size helped toilets, where they may best be used, and lower water consumption somewhat. contacts for additional information. Due Today’s standard low-flow toilets use to space constraints, we cannot present a mere 1.6 gallons of water per flush, a comprehensive discussion of all types and the ultra-low-flow or microflush of alternative toilets in this newsletter. designs use even less. Studies show It is not the National Small Flows that this reduction in water usage has Clearinghouse’s (NSFC) intention to not reduced the flushing capability of endorse one product over another, but these toilets in many models. to inform the readers of options on the Owners of boats, recreational vehi- market. With this information, con- cles, and campers are already sumers can better decide familiar with some alter- which toilet character- native toilet systems. istics may be most Ultra-low-flow, vacu- appropriate in um, and chemical toi- their individual lets have been used circumstances. for years in these limit- ed spaces. Today some of Alternative Toilets Toilet Options: Ultra-low-flow Important! Toilet systems in buildings without in new construction and normal access to public sewage that discharge replacement, the U.S. is expect- human waste must have some treat- ed to save 7.6 billion gallons of ment system in place, whether a hold- water per day by 2020. ing tank for subsequent pumping and Some toilet manufacturers disposal or an onsite sewage treatment have taken water reduction fur- system. Homes and facilities using ther with ultra-low-flow models. toilets that do not discharge waste- (See figure 1.) These toilets can water, still need to have a treatment use as little as 0.25 gallons per system in place to treat and dispose flush. Products vary in that they of all other household wastewater. may have narrower bowls with a smaller water surface, manually controlled water flow (via a foot pedal) into the bowl, or sewage capacity flowing into publicly water pumps to assist in bowl maintained systems. Ultra-low-flow emptying and cleaning. toilets may make building in these areas One model eliminates the possible. Similarly, facilities (like resort “S” trap of a conventional toilet hotels) facing expansion difficulties due design, enabling waste to be to the size of their existing onsite systems Figure 1. This ultra-low-flow toilet from Microphor in Willits, may install ultra-low-flow toilets, thus California, uses 0.5 gallons of water per flush. washed down using less water. Another product flushes by enabling their present onsite systems to opening a hinged flap to let wastes and adequately treat the reduced wastewater flow. (Note: This reduction in wastewater Ultra-low-flow toilets a small amount of water fall into a lower chamber. After several seconds the flap quantity does not reduce the organic Water conservation awareness reseals, and a blast of compressed air loading rate to the system.) prompted manufacturers to begin making forces the wastewater over the trap and more efficient toilets in the early 1980s. out a discharge line from the toilet. Advantages: The federal government established a Public parks, restaurants, hotels, and • Ultra-low-flow toilets reduce water national manufacturing standard in 1994 other public facilities, such as roadside consumption and costs to the mandating that new toilets sold in the rest areas, are installing these ultra-low- consumer. U.S. use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of flow toilets to help reduce water con- • They contribute to preserving the water for flushing. sumption and subsequent wastewater environment by protecting ground Studies across the country show that disposal. Ultra-low-flow toilets also water from depletion and possible these low-flow toilets reduce water use enable business construction in areas contamination. by 23 to 46 percent, saving an average where restrictions may limit sewage Disadvantages: 10.5 gallons of water per person daily. disposal capacity. • Some ultra-low-flow models may According to the U.S. Environmental For example, many resort areas and require flushing more than once to Protection Agency’s Office of Water, municipalities place restrictions on adequately clean the toilet bowl. through the use of water-efficient toilets Readers are encouraged to reprint this TABLE 1 Annual Total Water Usage by Toilets* issue or any Pipeline articles in flyers, newspapers, newsletters, or educational Water Consumption Water Consumption by Number of People in Househol presentations. We request that you include by Toilets gal/year the name and phone number of the NSFC gal/flush on the reprinted information and send 1 2 3 4 5 us a copy for our files. 1.5 2,190 4,380 6,570 8,760 10,950 If you have questions about reprinting 3.5 5,110 10,220 15,330 20,440 25,550 articles or about the topics discussed in the newsletter, please contact the NSFC 5.0 9,125 18,250 27,375 36,500 45,625 at (800) 624-8301 or (304) 293-4191. 7.0 10,220 20,440 30,660 40,880 51,100 * Assumes four flushes per day per person for 365 days. 2 PIPELINE — Summer 2000; Vol.11, No. 3 National Small Flows Clearinghouse (800) 624-8301 Alternative Toilets Toilet Options: Composting Composting toilets An exhaust system (which is usually A number of designs for composting driven by a fan) vents odors, carbon toilets exist, but the process for waste dioxide, and moisture from the reactor treatment is basically the same in each bin to the outdoors. Air must also be of them. (See figure 2 for an example drawn into the system so oxygen is of a composting toilet system.) Human available for growth of the aerobic waste is biologically decomposed in a organisms. Screening should tightly cover relatively moist environment by naturally the exterior vent pipe opening to prevent occurring microorganisms. A typical flies and/or other insects from entering system consists of a composting reactor the composting system. tank or bin (sized according to frequency During the composting process, natu- of use and number of users) connected rally occurring aerobic bacteria and fungi to one or more waterless toilets in the break down organic materials. Bulking house or other structure. agents need to consist of materials that Figure 3. Residences without basements can have break down quickly to avoid filling the a composting reactor bin built in a water tight The reactor bin contains and controls structure adjacent to the house beneath the the decomposition of excrement, toilet bin with these substances. ground’s surface. Clivus Multrum illustration. paper, and any organic (carbon-based) Urine usually keeps the composting called “humus,” resembles soil, but bulking agents. Bulking agents may waste material moist enough—50 to 70 legally must be either buried or removed include wood chips (other than cedar or percent moisture is fine for thorough by a licensed septage hauler, depending redwood), straw, hay, or grain hulls.