Earth auger toilet: Innovation in waterless sanitation
2011 - 2015 • Fundación In Terris
Purpose
To develop several prototypes of a mechanised, pedal-operated, low-cost, easy-to-use, odourless urine-diverting dry toilet (UDDT).
Activities
Development of prototypes:
Several prototypes of “El Taladro de la Tierra“ (The Earth Auger) were designed based on earlier work Dr. Henry had done at the University of Washington. These are decentralized pedal-operated urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDT) where diverted urine is infiltrated into the ground and faeces are being composted. The main innovations with the prototypes were the mechanised, foot-pedal-actuated dry-flush system and sawdust delivery systems. When the pedal is operated the faeces, cleansing paper and automatically added sawdust are mechanically processed through a pipe with an auger inside, which mixes, aerates and moves them through a composting chamber to storage (e.g., buckets). In storage it is detained for an additional 1-5 months (depending upon number of users) for compost stability and pathogen kill prior to being used as a soil amendment. Direct handling of excreta by the user is thus not required as the whole process is pedal-operated until harvest. The urine is harvested separately in hose-connected containers, or mixed with wash water and used in a grey water system. The toilets differ in price and number of accessories: in mass production the different units are expected to cost between US$150 and US$ 300.
Countries of activity
Location of main activity
Objectives
The goal of this project was to develop several prototypes of a mechanised, pedal-operated, low-cost, easy-to-use, odourless urine-diverting dry toilet (UDDT).
Further information
This was an RTTC grant and also falls into the BDS (Building Demand for Sanitation) category.
Filter tags
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Composting, vermicomposting (solid waste), composting toilets Faeces or faecal sludge Fertiliser Latin America & Caribbean Local NGO North America Peri-urban Practitioners Product design and engineering Resource recovery Specific to one or several countries Toilets or urinals (user interface) Treatment of wastewater or greywater Urine diversion dehydration toilets (UDDTs)
Links
Uploaded by:
Trevor Surridge (tmsinnovation)
