GHD's ongoing research and investigation into the application
of dry composting toilets and separate collection and use of urine
provides for a fundamentally different approach to sanitation.
Benefits of dry composting toilet and urine separating
technology
- Savings of around 20 percent on indoor household water use
- Reducing the nutrient and salt concentration in domestic
wastewater by more than half
- Use of nutrient resources in human waste to replace chemical
fertiliser
- Lowering the cost of sewage transport and treatment
- No nett increase in energy use
- Driving ecologically sustainable development
- Changing public perception about use of waste as a
resource
Challenges with dry desiccating or composting toilets and urine
separation
Challenges in toilet system design:
- Minimising additional building costs and maximising
user-acceptability
- Reliably achieving composting with temperature elevation so as
to destroy pathogens
- The option of desiccation on site with centralised, controlled
composting
- Minimising energy use for ventilation
- Other 'Green Building' features – integration with other water
and energy saving devices or strategies
- User education and attitude
Challenges in residue collection, transport and resue -
logistics of collection; approvals and regulation; demonstrating
benefits and savings:
- Apportioning responsibilities between users, maintenance
providers, transporters and body corporate entities and appropriate
contractual arrangements
- Developing appropriate regulations
- Energy minimisation for transportation
- Monitoring use of residues and reporting benefits and
issues
- Funding the elements of this sanitation system compared to
conventional sewerage
Demonstration project at Maryborough in
Victoria
In April 2006, GHD was awarded third round funding by the
Victorian Smart Water Fund for the trial installation of six
urine-separating composting toilets and two waterless urinals at
the new Maryborough Education Centre in Maryborough, Victoria.
(This follows on from the report for the Victorian Department of
Education and Training.) The Victorian Smart Water Fund is an state
government and Victorian water industry initiative supporting
the development of innovative water conservation, water recycling
and sustainable biosolids solutions.
GHD provided design advice to the architects, Oaten Stanistreet
Architects, and has set up training and monitoring programs for the
toilet installation as well as for an agricultural reuse trial
using separated urine. The new campus was constructed for the
Victorian Department of Education and Training, and comprises
primary and secondary facilities for over 1500 students and staff.
The installation was completed on time for use when the campus
started operating in April 2007. The trial continued through
to April 2009, providing two years of operating experience.
Usage of the toilets was lower than anticipated and this limited
the information gained on composting performance. The urine
reuse trial, however, showed that urine could be applied to
growing pasture and crops without detriment and with benefits
similar to chemical fertilisers. The toilets were easily kept
clean, were free of odour and fly problems during the trial and a
majority of users considered them to be acceptable. The
project has provided considerable data of use in design of future
installations including detailed analyses of urine and compost,
data on ventilation and heat transfer for the composters, and some
data on crop response and soil analysis from the agricultural
trial. User attitude surveys are also included.
The project was funded by up to AUD$170,000 from the
Smart Water Fund. This project
was also supported by contributions from the various parties
involved in the design and management of, and equipment supply for,
the project.
The use of dry composting toilets with urine separation as
opposed to conventional water-flushed toilets saves water and
recovers useful nutrients that can replace manufactured fertiliser
for agricultural use, with no more consumption of energy than
conventional sanitation.
- Report: Maryborough Education Centre – Ecological
Benefits of Excreta Segregation, Urine-Separating Dry Composting
Toilet Demonstration Project Milestone 6 Report, June
2009.
Download:
Participants:
Smart Water Fund | http://www.smartwater.com.au/
|
Environment Equipment | http://www.rotaloo.com/ |
GHD participated with these parties in this project and provides
links to their websites in recognition of their contribution. These
links do not imply endorsement of services or products of these
parties.
GHD also acknowledges the contribution of the following
organisations on this project: Victorian Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development, Oaten Stanistreet Architects and
Maryborough Education Centre.
Composting Toilet Demonstration Feasibility
Study
This study was a detailed assessment of the application
of composting toilets and urine separation to medium
density apartments and new subdivisions (proposed 12-apartment
complex near Melbourne’s CBD), October 2003. It also reviewed the
application of dry sanitation to unsewered urban areas.
- Report: Composting Toilet Demonstration Feasibility
Study, October 2003.
Download: Executive Summary
(279KB pdf) and full report: Volume 1, Report (1.5MB
pdf); Volume 2, Appendices
(2.6MB pdf)
Participants:
Smart Water Fund | http://www.smartwater.com.au/
|
Environment Equipment | http://www.rotaloo.com/ |
GHD participated with these parties in this project and provides
links to their websites in recognition of their contribution. These
links do not imply endorsement of services or products of these
parties.
GHD also acknowledges the contribution of the following
organisations on this project: City West Water, CSIRO, Department
of Human Services (DHS), Environment Protection Authority (EPA),
Melbourne Water Corporation, Monash University and University of
NSW, Bensons Property Group and Demaine Partnership.
For further information, contact:
Elise Daniels
Tel:
61 3 8687 8703