A Guide to Waterless Toilets

In many countries where fresh water is scarce, the thought of a toilet fixture that flushes fresh drinking water would be ludicrous.  And yet in the United States, we flush thousands of gallons of potable water down our stools every day.  If you are among the many eco-conscious Americans who are making the switch to greener alternatives, then this guide to waterless toilet systems is just for you.

There are many different types of waterless toilets available on the market today.  For the purposes of this article, we are going to explore one of the fastest growing trends in alternative waste management: the composting dry toilet.  Composting toilets are simply a type of toilet that turns human waste into ordinary compost, a dirt-like substance that is clean, dry, and completely non-offensive.  The most amazing thing about such systems is that they are completely odorless, and made so by the use of special fans and venting systems that keep the units under a partial vacuum at all times, thus preventing any possible smell from entering the bathroom.

While it is possible to purchase composting systems that use low flush toilets, the more common type of unit is the waterless composting toilet.  These dry systems use no water or flushing liquid of any kind.  Often times, the amount of water saved by a dry toilet over the course of a few years will easily outweigh the initial investment to purchase a composting system.  The other primary cost saver is in reduced septic expense.  In many U.S. municipalities, residences are charged a sewer fee for every gallon of water used.  For example, the fee for 1,000 gallons of water might be $25, but then on top of that, you may pay an additional $20 per 1,000 gallons of water as a sewer expense.  The logic behind this type of billing system is that if the water goes into your home, it has to go out somewhere, too, and the exiting location is usually by way of the city sewer.  In the case of a waterless toilet, therefore, not only do you save money on your water expense, but you also save on the sewer costs, as well.

Proponents of traditional water flushing stools usually argue that waterless systems are dirty because of the lack of flushing liquid to clean them.  However, most waterless toilets feature a removable bowl liner, making them very easy to clean.  These bowl liners are often coated with Teflon or a similar product.  This makes the surface of the bowl liner very slick so that cleaning requirements are minimal.

For anyone who has a desire to spend less money and help the environment, waterless toilet systems are a great option, and they are catching on quickly.  While it used to be that dry toilets were relegated only to outhouses, rest stops, and rural parks, the newer more modern units are now finding their way into businesses, and homes.  So next time you need to replace a toilet in your home, it might be time to consider a greener alternative, the composting dry toilet.