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RE: Evolving the Tiger toilet part 7
The planting side of it puts me in mind of a reed bed sanitation system. How does this compare with that sort of system? Does it use less water and do the worms break the effluent down quicker?
Hi thanks for the question
Yes in effect the reed bed sanitation method has similarities. The benefit of this system is that it separates the solids and the worms reduce them by 98%.
In a reed bed these solids are what evenetually build up and clog the system requiring a complete overhaul. the longer a system can operate without heavy maintennace the safer an more cost effective it is. In addition to removing the solids from the water the worms also soak up a lot of the Nitrogen and phosphorus from the water which is good for the longevity of the system. The worms also eat the bacteria which could be dangerous to humans if we come in contact with it
The water that exits from the system should be suitable for subsurface irrigation of plant that can be used for mulch, fruit and fodder
This system does indeed use less water. the water only exists for the benefit of flushing. if one wanted then it could be eliminated entirely is the design allwed a pit fall below the pedestal, that would be a regular vermicompost toilet
however asians like to flush and they use water not toilet paper to clean up afterwards
Thank you.
I like how you've worked with the cultures, comforts and customs of the people rather then discarding them and sticking with a standard composting system which arguably uses less water. Too often I come across the attitude that people should just deal with it and change rather than trying to work with them. Yet this works with them, is a beneficial system and obviously still uses less water than our traditional flush systems.
One more question. I have encountered a composting system and you certainly need to be closing the lid when it's not in use as it does smell. Does this system eliminate those smells and would it still reduce them even if it was just a vermicompost toilet?
It may smell better because..
Instead of feces just rotting in soup which is what usually happens
Itll go through the worms who can eat it quickly and turn it to compost
We will see, however the science of the design points towards a better outcome than the status quo
Compost systems have been around for decades and i think they are great.
But they havent gone mainstream
And well we just have to face facts that it doesnt satisfy peoples expectations in sanitation, wrong or right it matters not, just cold reality
So here we are trying to make it more acceptable for everyone.
So this system (touch wood) should smell no worse and possibly better than a regular septic system
Theres an S bend airlock at the user end so no nasty smelling breezes come back up the pipe. In fact the user experience is no different to a regular flush toilet. Unless we tell tjem, and we will, theyd have no idea