Go Green: Eco-friendly toilets

You must have heard about eco-friendly apartments and furniture, but have you ever heard about eco-friendly toilets which can be set up anywhere for use in the absence of sewer lines?

The latest innovation by Defence Research and Development Authority (DRDO) has initiated the concept of eco-friendly toilets which can help in healthy living and this concept has kicked off rapidly.

The idea:

The initiation of the eco-friendly toilets was done mainly for the Indian army in the high altitude regions, wherein a bio digester was created and transferred to about 40 firms in the country. These can be set up anywhere without the sewer lines and is also available for the general public to purchase. So why not buy one for the outdoors of your green building?

How does it work?

The bio digesters are manufactured by DRDO and are further supplied by the government agencies and will cost about Rs. 12,000 per piece. Pieces owned by private manufacturers might cost more since the firms have to pay not just for the technology transfer but for the royalty of each bio-digester sold. A bio digester is nothing but a device which is connected to one toilet or a number of toilets which treats the human waste under anoxic conditions. This device helps in the bio-degradation of human waste taking place in a wide range of temperatures and in the presence of toxic chemicals. The bio-digester is the actual container which carries out the fermentation process with the help of the bacteria.

This eco-friendly technology transfer of the project is done to various firms through FICCI. Since this toilet helps in maintaining sanitation, there has already been a great demand all over the country. The eco-friendly toilet will be most useful in areas with the least temperature. In ambient temperature it will not allow the natural microbes to decompose human waste; this will eventually lead to accumulation of human waste besides contaminating the place.

These toilets are ideal for outdoors and they are currently being adapted by various railway offices along with the ministry of drinking water and sanitation in gram Panchayat. There will be about 80,000 toilets established in the first phase. They are expected to be launched in Hyderabad very soon.

Advantages of eco-friendly toilets:

The eco-friendly toilets can function at any atmospheric temperature between -55 to 60 degree C.

The bacterial consortium degrades night soil at temp as low as -55 degree C and produces colorless, odorless and inflammable bio gas containing 50-70% methane. The gas can also be used for cooking while water obtained will be full of nutrients and minerals that are good for irrigation of gardens, lawns etc.

Works without any septic Tank/Sewage Tank connectivity.

Features:

1. These toilets can be installed in railways coaches, buses, highways, remote areas, metro cities and other related places.
2. They are suitable for mobile toilet applications.
3. They are 100% maintenance free with continuous biological process.
4. They are economically viable.
5. They do not have dependence on the limited and costly conventional energy sources.
6. They can be installed within 12 hours and made operational.
7. They can be cleaned by using phenyl, soap, Kerosene etc.
8. They use a leakage proof closed system.
9. They save water consumption.
10. They have no chemicals and no smell.