Toilets—That Flush Without Water (1 Viewer)

[grip]

After reading this article, I did not feel any better about how completely nasty this sounds. I hope.. I never see one.

Technology, should it go there?


The University of Colorado’s Sol-Char System

In the future, fuel for your grill might come from the University of Colorado's Sol-Char toilet. The system, which is built to last for 20 years, is essentially a ginormous solar-powered oven that incinerates fecal matter. It turns it into a pathogen-free charcoal that the designers have dubbed "biochar." (Just think: Everyone will wonder why your barbecue is so tasty.)

Beijing SunnyBreeze Technology Inc.

This waterless toilet, which will last for 10 years, has more bounce to the ounce. It uses Super Balls—yes, the kids' toys—to mash your poop. After you flush, the balls come tumbling into the toilet from an overhead storage unit, then move along a cylinder with a giant corkscrew inside, taking the fecal matter along for a smashing ride. Meanwhile, a solar-powered heater dries out the poop and turns it into fertilizer.

National University of Singapore

Flushing the National University of Singapore's toilet is as simple as pushing a turnstile. The energy generated when a person exits this public toilet's turnstile door moves a conveyor belt that simultaneously flattens excrement and exposes it to solar-powered heat. The result is a diluted fertilizer that can be sold to farmers. The system can last 12 years and has an operating cost of $0.01 per user per day.

California Institute of Technology

Caltech's all-in-one toilet, bidet, and sink is so gorgeous—it's designed by Kohler— that you might find yourself wanting to hang out in it. Beyond being lovely to look at, it runs on a high-tech electrochemical reactor that breaks down poop into fertilizer and hydrogen. This can then be turned into fuel cells. The operating cost is about 1 cent per user per day.

 

[sawyerloggingon]

Sounds like a glorified composting toilet to me.

 

[grip]

Sounds like a glorified composting toilet to me.

The 'flushing' part is where I'm having problems. The consistency isn't always the same and the leftovers just don't vaporize.

 

[danielpalos]

Interesting concepts; something to consider when building Structures anywhere on Earth.

 

[AJiveMan]

Interesting concepts; something to consider when building Structures anywhere on Earth.

Vault toilets in state parks and forests work very good. If people use a chemical to break down solid waste, they can be pumped out and hauled away, this is especially useful in areas where water is scarce. Vault toilets are the large version of RV black water tanks.

 

[danielpalos]

Vault toilets in state parks and forests work very good. If people use a chemical to break down solid waste, they can be pumped out and hauled away, this is especially useful in areas where water is scarce. Vault toilets are the large version of RV black water tanks.

How would that work, anywhere on earth?

 

[sawyerloggingon]

The 'flushing' part is where I'm having problems. The consistency isn't always the same and the leftovers just don't vaporize.

Sounds looney to me. I considered a composting toilet while building my house but decided against it for the flushing reason. You have to manually clean the bowl after use. YUCK!

 

[grip]

Sounds looney to me. I considered a composting toilet while building my house but decided against it for the flushing reason. You have to manually clean the bowl after use. YUCK!

I can't see a way around this option. Unless it drops straight into a hole in the ground?

 

[AJiveMan]

How would that work, anywhere on earth?

Never been camping in a limited services grounds?

 

[AJiveMan]

I can't see a way around this option. Unless it drops straight into a hole in the ground?

Concrete vault.

 

[grip]

Concrete vault.

So, the toilet bowl is essentially eliminated and only a seat is used? That makes more sense.

 

[Goshin]

Until very recently I had zero interest in this issue.... until I ended up helping some friends whose water was off due to plumbing problems.

They used gallon bottled water from the store for cooking and such... and got barrels of water from the river for flushing the toilet.

For cooking, hand washing and making tea and such, they only used barely a gallon a day per person.


For flushing the toilet they went through 30 gallons of water EVERY DAY in a 4 person household! When you have to haul it in barrels from the river, you get to see and feel just how much water we're talking about.

I'm no Greenie... but it DOES seem wasteful to expend that much clean water just to flush your crap!


I don't know about zero-water toilets, but surely we could cut that way down... or use greywater, or something.

 

[AJiveMan]

So, the toilet bowl is essentially eliminated and only a seat is used? That makes more sense.

Exactly, just a seat. Waste drops into the vault directly, no plumbing required. And, vaults are liquid tight, no leaks. Better than a septic system, which can leak or overfill during heavy rains, or clog up and cost thousands of dollars to dig up.

Breaking down solid waste is easy, chemicals like Thetford aqua chem breaks solid waste down into a jelly like substance, and is easily pumped or sucked out of the vault when it's reached capacity. It works on the same principal as a black water tank on a recreational vehicle.

The drawback with this type of system is that only human waste can be dropped into the vault, so much for having a garbage disposer, but if people want to save water, this is it.

Besides that, a plumber once told me to never put anything into the toilet or it's drainage system unless you've eaten it first. Plumber's proverb.

 

[grip]

Until very recently I had zero interest in this issue.... until I ended up helping some friends whose water was off due to plumbing problems.

They used gallon bottled water from the store for cooking and such... and got barrels of water from the river for flushing the toilet.

For cooking, hand washing and making tea and such, they only used barely a gallon a day per person.


For flushing the toilet they went through 30 gallons of water EVERY DAY in a 4 person household! When you have to haul it in barrels from the river, you get to see and feel just how much water we're talking about.

I'm no Greenie... but it DOES seem wasteful to expend that much clean water just to flush your crap!


I don't know about zero-water toilets, but surely we could cut that way down... or use greywater, or something.

I used a 5 gallon bucket and pool water during a hurricane. Sewage disposal is one of the more important things a municipality provides for its people. Historically the older city states had some pretty nasty options, not knowing the pathogens involved.

 

[grip]

Exactly, just a seat. Waste drops into the vault directly, no plumbing required. And, vaults are liquid tight, no leaks. Better than a septic system, which can leak or overfill during heavy rains, or clog up and cost thousands of dollars to dig up.

Breaking down solid waste is easy, chemicals like Thetford aqua chem breaks solid waste down into a jelly like substance, and is easily pumped or sucked out of the vault when it's reached capacity. It works on the same principal as a black water tank on a recreational vehicle.

View attachment 67164428

Sounds like a more plausible way to go into the future.

 

[AJiveMan]

Sounds like a more plausible way to go into the future.

This is the thing out in states like New Mexico where drinking water is a precious resource. California's drought may change the way they deal with waste, if it becomes much more critical.

 

[grip]

This is the thing out in states like New Mexico where drinking water is a precious resource. California's drought may change the way they deal with waste, if it becomes much more critical.

We need to start using more eco-conscious methods before we're forced too. It takes too long to transition if we're waiting till there's no choice.

Like, I should've cut back on my beef/meat diet earlier for health reasons (high cholesterol), but now am forced to because of rising costs. I also feel better, less sluggish. I knew sugar made me buzz and crash, but not that too much animal products, literally made me feel worse.

 

[danielpalos]

Fusion could make de-salinating ocean water more feasible.

 

[marduc]

Besides that, a plumber once told me to never put anything into the toilet or it's drainage system unless you've eaten it first. Plumber's proverb.

Soooo I have been doing it wrong all my life?? I am supposed to eat the toilet paper? :shock:

Does it wipe on its way out if I do this?

 

[spud_meister]

Fusion could make de-salinating ocean water more feasible.

De-sal is feasible without fusion.

 

[Lutherf]

After reading this article, I did not feel any better about how completely nasty this sounds. I hope.. I never see one.

Technology, should it go there?


The University of Colorado’s Sol-Char System

In the future, fuel for your grill might come from the University of Colorado's Sol-Char toilet. The system, which is built to last for 20 years, is essentially a ginormous solar-powered oven that incinerates fecal matter. It turns it into a pathogen-free charcoal that the designers have dubbed "biochar." (Just think: Everyone will wonder why your barbecue is so tasty.)

Beijing SunnyBreeze Technology Inc.

This waterless toilet, which will last for 10 years, has more bounce to the ounce. It uses Super Balls—yes, the kids' toys—to mash your poop. After you flush, the balls come tumbling into the toilet from an overhead storage unit, then move along a cylinder with a giant corkscrew inside, taking the fecal matter along for a smashing ride. Meanwhile, a solar-powered heater dries out the poop and turns it into fertilizer.

National University of Singapore

Flushing the National University of Singapore's toilet is as simple as pushing a turnstile. The energy generated when a person exits this public toilet's turnstile door moves a conveyor belt that simultaneously flattens excrement and exposes it to solar-powered heat. The result is a diluted fertilizer that can be sold to farmers. The system can last 12 years and has an operating cost of $0.01 per user per day.

California Institute of Technology

Caltech's all-in-one toilet, bidet, and sink is so gorgeous—it's designed by Kohler— that you might find yourself wanting to hang out in it. Beyond being lovely to look at, it runs on a high-tech electrochemical reactor that breaks down poop into fertilizer and hydrogen. This can then be turned into fuel cells. The operating cost is about 1 cent per user per day.

I can see the commercials now -

"This steak tastes like ****!"

"Of course it does. We only use Biochar"

 

[Del Zeppnile]

For flushing the toilet they went through 30 gallons of water EVERY DAY in a 4 person household! When you have to haul it in barrels from the river, you get to see and feel just how much water we're talking about.

I'm no Greenie... but it DOES seem wasteful to expend that much clean water just to flush your crap!


I don't know about zero-water toilets, but surely we could cut that way down... or use greywater, or something.

Nothing needs to change until the cost of potable water gets so high that it makes the alternatives economically sensible. Same with electric cars and glass bottles. Until then it is still cheaper to flush my toilet with potable water. The cost of a grey water cistern and pump plus installation and maintenance is more than wasting clean toilet water.

 

[grip]

I can see the commercials now -

"This steak tastes like ****!"

"Of course it does. We only use Biochar"

The Japanese have actually made protein burgers out of poop. **** that.....Soylent Green almost sounds better.

 

[AJiveMan]

Soooo I have been doing it wrong all my life?? I am supposed to eat the toilet paper? :shock:

Does it wipe on its way out if I do this?

A bathroom sized waste basket with a plastic store bag inside of it, when it's nearly full, tie it up by the handles, and drop it in your rubbish container.

OR, use toilet paper that disintegrates in the vault along with the solid human waste when the chemical to break down the waste into a pudding like substance is used.

Thetford aqua-kem & RV Toilet Paper.

Eliminates odors and liquefies waste fast. Biodegradable. - See more at: Thetford Aqua-Kem Dri - Eight 2 oz. packs - Thetford 20720 - Sewer Deodorizers & Treatment - Camping World

OR, test the toilet paper you're using now, to see if it'll break down.
Here's a demonstration video.



We lived in a RV for five years out in New Mexico, and didn't want to forego the cost of RV toilet paper, so we used a waste basket with a plastic store bag as a liner for the purpose of disposal, similar to this.