toilets

[lisa.f]

I'm designing toilets for a recreational area in Cape Town, South Africa. The toilets must be very vandal proof and green. There is no need for biogas, there might be an issue with not flushing in that people prefer to go outside than use a composting or long drop toilet. Water table is high and the toilets are next to a lake (albeit a very polluted urban one). There would be between 500 and 1000 users on weekends and over christmas and they are generally picnicking, fishing, etc. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate some ideas. Many thanks. Lisa

[ecodharmamark]

I'm designing toilets for a recreational area in Cape Town, South Africa. The toilets must be very vandal proof and green. There is no need for biogas, there might be an issue with not flushing in that people prefer to go outside than use a composting or long drop toilet. Water table is high and the toilets are next to a lake (albeit a very polluted urban one). There would be between 500 and 1000 users on weekends and over christmas and they are generally picnicking, fishing, etc. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate some ideas. Many thanks. Lisa

G'day Lisa

Welcome to the PRI Forum.

I am currently undertaking research into the real outcomes of the Joburg 2030 (http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/123/58/) (2002) strategy - interesting stuff!

But anyway, back to Cape Town...

It seems from the information that you have thus far been able to provide us with, that you need a 'light green' solution to your problem: ie. - 'green', but still flushed with water.

As such, have you yet considered a 'closed loop' type of unit such as the product offered by Biolytix (www.biolytix.com.au/residential/home/)?

Maybe there is something similar being produced in SA on a scale that would suit your requirements - up to a 1000 users per day could equate to needing a system that can process up to 2000kg/lts of human waste!

Either way, a unit of this type could be incorporated into a 'vandal resistant' structure, and could possibly give you the outcomes that you need - no pollution into the nearby water body, a system that flushes with water in keeping with local cultural traditions, low ongoing energy inputs, and a reusable product (water) at the end of the process.

One thing that I would like to remind you of is this: The importance of consulting with the local people throughout the entire planning, design and development process - giving them true 'ownership' of the project - and thereby increasing your chances of overall success:

See, for example: Mitchell (no date) Participatory approaches for environmental initiatives – community consultation in Samoa ("http://www.mnre.gov.ws/documents/forum/2006/5-natalie.pdf)

Good luck with your project, please let us know how you get on.

Marko

[ecodharmamark]

Thanks Bill. Perhaps we should move this one to the "design" area? Lisa might get a few more responses there. Keep up the great work!

[lisa.f]

thank you so much for your reply and apologies for the delay. a first time blogger and don't get to the computer that often. i met with the city of cape town - the client - and they're keen to compost and to experiment with two options the enviroloo composting toilet and the farallones composting toilet - two brick chambers. the problem with biolytix is that use is irregular - with peaks on weekends and very little use during the week. there are constant meetings with interest groups for the area - the anglers, environmental groups etc. and the councillors are always informed - this does have its limitations but seems to be the system that works best for them. i'm following other toilet discussions with interest and am inspired to build one at home. thank you again.

[ecodharmamark]

thank you so much for your reply and apologies for the delay. a first time blogger and don't get to the computer that often. i met with the city of cape town - the client - and they're keen to compost and to experiment with two options the enviroloo composting toilet and the farallones composting toilet - two brick chambers. the problem with biolytix is that use is irregular - with peaks on weekends and very little use during the week. there are constant meetings with interest groups for the area - the anglers, environmental groups etc. and the councillors are always informed - this does have its limitations but seems to be the system that works best for them. i'm following other toilet discussions with interest and am inspired to build one at home. thank you again.

G'day Lisa

Glad that you are consulting widely, and that the City are open to the composting option. Who knows, you might even be able to build in a worm farm into the design - 'free' bait for the anglers!

Hooroo, Marko.

[Michaelangelica]

I'm designing toilets for a recreational area in Cape Town, South Africa. The toilets must be very vandal proof and green. There is no need for biogas, there might be an issue with not flushing in that people prefer to go outside than use a composting or long drop toilet. Water table is high and the toilets are next to a lake (albeit a very polluted urban one). There would be between 500 and 1000 users on weekends and over christmas and they are generally picnicking, fishing, etc. If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate some ideas. Many thanks. Lisa
As i see you have discovered our Mark
I am trying to talk him into writing some feature articles for us.
But he keeps going on and on about study, work, time etc.
Which is just an excuse ;)

Welcome to the forums
Keep the Faith
m

[ecodharmamark]

So funny, Michael, but it's true! You should see the stack of books/articles/journals that I have to read. And the papers I have to write, jeesh! That's even before I get a chance to work on our own project, or that of anyone else, for that matter. I did manage to get out into the sun and bench 4 cubic metres of firewood and stack it in the shed today. That was great fun, and I still have ten digits! Just as soon as I clear the backlog, I will write some decent pieces (as opposed to the unedited rubbish that I bang out on here as a form of therapy), and both PRI and the Anarchist Savants (http://www.theanarchistsavants.com.au/The%20Anarchist%20Savants.html) will be the first recipients.

Thanks for keeping up the great work yourself, Markus.