People putting up in rural areas, especially in developing countries are deprived of basic facilities such as toilets. This is because many people fail to build one for them because they are expensive. However, a cost-effective and a hygienic solution such as eco-friendly, sustainable toilet is beneficial for both people and the environment. Here is a list of some of the best eco-toilets that are bettering human lives and environment.
The Eco-latrine
Eco-latrines are of tremendous benefits in rural areas, where even today people have to use those conventional latrines that have an underground design. Those latrines are designed in a way that contaminates soil and water supply underground, so there is no point using them. Offered to the rural communities, such as Los Arados, Nicaragua, the eco-latrines have many benefits.
Having their storage compartments above ground, they ensure no contamination takes place. They do not use precious water and are inexpensive to construct in comparison to many latrines with septic tanks. They are durable structures, which mean people need not replace them often. Once the chamber fills, the waste can be converted into compost. People can use it or sell it and earn some money.
Solar-powered self-cleaning toilets
Eram Scientific, an Indian company has managed to garner a great deal of appreciation and recognition for its eco-friendly initiative of coming up with solar powered self-cleaning toilets. It has been designed keeping in mind public sanitation challenges, which makes it a big success. The toilet looks pretty good with its enclosure made of mild steel, and it allows remote access with the help of internet connectivity.
Coming to its eco-friendly design, toilet wastes no energy, as it only starts its operation when a user inserts a coin in it. As soon as the coin is inserted, the door opens and the light turns on, and a voice command directs the user. It is pre designed to flush 1.5 liters of water after 3 minutes of usage, and 4.5 liters if someone uses it for long. A solar panel installed on the roof gives this eco-friendly toilet the power to perform all its functions. It seems to be an ideal invention aimed at eliminating poor sanitary conditions in Indian schools and rural areas.
A green toilet that sterilize waste
Designed for the “Reinvent the Toilet Challenge” of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this green toilet was created by the researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, in March 2014.Parabolic mirrors are their USP, which make the toilet bring into use the concentrated sunlight. The concentrated sunrays heat up the waste collected in the waste chamber to 600 Fahrenheit. The entire procedure aims to disinfect the liquid solid waste. The heating process converts waste into biological charcoal (biochar), which people can use in place of wood charcoal or chemical fertilizers.
The CRAPPER
Created by Toilets for People, CRAPPER stands for Compact Rotating Aerobic Pollution Prevention Excreta Reducer. An indoor composting toilet is self-contained and has a rotatable bio-drum that collects waste. This special design maximizes aerobic degradation, reduces waste volume by 80%, reduces odor and removes pathogens. Every three months, you can empty the bio-drum when it is full. It allows you to remove excess compost easily and safely.
Caltech’s solar powered toilet
Yet another stupendous innovation it is that converts waste into hydrogen and fertilizer. This eco-friendly toilet has two integral parts – a solar panel and an electrochemical reactor. Solar panel powers the reactor with solar energy, which breaks down waste into hydrogen and sanitized solids. Further, the fuel cells store the produced energy that powers reactor on cloudy days or whenever there is no sunshine. Treated water reaches the top of the toilet with the help of a pump, from where it can be used for irrigation and many other purposes.
Summary:
Majority of the rural areas in developing countries demand toilets, so that the sanitary conditions could improve. The ideal ways to fulfill this demand is to come up with cost effective eco-friendly toilets that are adept at serving the purpose right.