Yep, it looks as if the western commode is going to give way to the ole hole in the ground squat and push system that uses up far less water.
On average you produce 75 pound of the foul smelling stuff and 130 gallons of urine and 4,000 gallons to flush it all away.
Prior to the 1850's Americans did use an earth friendly system. It consisted of a seat placed over a container filled with dry earth. After use, more dry earth was piled into the container. Instead of throwing away the waste in the container, farmers put it to use in agricultural fields as compost.
Now we wouldn't think of considering using it for fertilizer.
Yep, big changes are in the wind -- and I do mean that literally because the average sanitary smelling public toilet may give way to a hole in the ground.
Study: Toilets Need Radical Redesign
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070730/sc_livescience/studytoiletsneedradicalredesign
Peace
Jim
.
2007-07-30 20:20:34 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
It's typical to hear of this stories in the summer. With no other news, this is what we're left with. This is why live earth made ANY news.
2007-07-30 21:55:09 · answer #1 · answered by Mr. Me 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's perfectly possible to design toilets that reduce water use without going a hole in the ground. As the article you cite says:
"The most likely candidate to replace the flushing toilet will most likely incorporate the convenience of flushing toilets with the sustainability of composting toilets."
2007-07-31 09:07:32 · answer #2 · answered by Bob 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The composting toilet has been developed for several years now. It is being used with some success. There are a few flaws, but there are alot of flaws with regular toilets ecologically.
2007-07-31 03:27:24 · answer #3 · answered by Terry Z 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My home town of Austin, Texas already makes compost from sewage and yard trimmings.
2007-07-31 09:14:15 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmm...in my town the solids leftover from the waste processing facility are dried out and used as fertilizer. No need to crap in a bucket.
2007-07-31 08:04:09 · answer #5 · answered by Brian A 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I read once farmers in Texas used human waste as liquid fertilizer for grazing lands. hope its not true...
2007-08-04 01:05:05 · answer #6 · answered by Empowerment 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our community here does a lot of composting as well.
2007-07-31 10:14:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋