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Old 24-04-2012, 08:17   #421
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Re: Composting Toilets

If you dump urine down the sink doesn't it smell after a while?

I don't care whether it's politically/environmentally correct or not, I'm not carrying a jug of urine ashore every day. It's going overboard.
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Old 24-04-2012, 08:25   #422
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Re: Composting Toilets

Not so long as you flush it thru with water....

... but don't ask me how I know that ; )
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Old 24-04-2012, 08:37   #423
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Re: Composting Toilets

Quote:
Originally Posted by Efraim View Post
The USCG certifies heads?
They have regulations regarding them. Specifically a Nature's Head or an Air head are both Type III Marine Sanitation Device.

From their regulations:

Quote:
Type III is a device that prevents the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage or any waste derived from sewage. This type of device is typically a holding tank and may include other types of technology including incineration, recirculation, and composting.
The only problem you might encounter would be running into a coast guard inspector who's not familiar with them or if you go outside of the US where the local regs haven't caught up to the technology. For example I think Canada has something about portable potties which current composting heads might be considered because they're not fixed installs. They're easily removed by unscrewing by hand. But even then you could just remove the knob screws that hold them down and use permanent bolts.
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Old 24-04-2012, 08:58   #424
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Re: Composting Toilets

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Originally Posted by LauderBoy View Post
They have regulations regarding them. Specifically a Nature's Head or an Air head are both Type III Marine Sanitation Device.

From their regulations:



The only problem you might encounter would be running into a coast guard inspector who's not familiar with them or if you go outside of the US where the local regs haven't caught up to the technology. For example I think Canada has something about portable potties which current composting heads might be considered because they're not fixed installs. They're easily removed by unscrewing by hand. But even then you could just remove the knob screws that hold them down and use permanent bolts.
There are no rules about them in Canada but we don't inspect holding tanks and through hulls either. We do have the international dumping rules but no enforcement I'm aware of though if you were dumping garbage over board it might be a different matter. On the BC coast there are limited to no pump outs particularly as you go north so you just hope that the folks with holding tanks are using common sense.

I like peeing off the deck and do so unless I suspect someone is close enough to cause them consternation. I live for that night time explosion of phosphorescence that sometimes occurs. Probably goes back to writing my name in the snow as a kid.
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Old 24-04-2012, 11:40   #425
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Re: Composting Toilets

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Originally Posted by sarafina View Post
Not so long as you flush it thru with water....

... but don't ask me how I know that ; )

Me either, besides it's sterile so one could rinse the daily dish with it!
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Old 24-04-2012, 11:42   #426
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Re: Composting Toilets

Does the bucket used in the homemade composter become permeated? I know it is easy to replace, but just curious.
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Old 24-04-2012, 12:13   #427
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Re: Composting Toilets

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Me either, besides it's sterile so one could rinse the daily dish with it!
Remind me that I have plans when you invite me for dinner.
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Old 24-04-2012, 12:15   #428
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Re: Composting Toilets

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Me either, besides it's sterile so one could rinse the daily dish with it!
Worth noting that while it comes out sterile stuff does grow very happily in it.
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Old 24-04-2012, 12:20   #429
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Re: Composting Toilets

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Does the bucket used in the homemade composter become permeated? I know it is easy to replace, but just curious.
Not so quickly as all that. And the C-Head we have uses a standard 1 gallon jug, which I can replace once a week if I want to.

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Old 24-04-2012, 14:37   #430
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Re: Composting Toilets

I'm reminded of that you might be a liveaboard if you: buy things with an eye on what the empty container can be used for.
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Old 16-05-2012, 21:06   #431
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A good reason to get rid of 20ft of hose. No wonder the eltrosan quit working. 1 1/2 " hose reduced to 1/2". Should beat the cr@p these hoses every few years. What a pile of work. Took about 7hrs to remove old system, and 2 to install natures head.
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Old 16-05-2012, 21:53   #432
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I must say after having mine for a few months now I'm impressed. No smell at all in general use. Had a small issue though. Wind was blowing 35 knots in the marina which must have overpowered/ got passed the fan and pushed the circulation back into the head and did have a pretty bad smell for a day or so. Just put a small barrier around the solar vent to stop the wind hitting it directly and all good
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Old 17-05-2012, 05:37   #433
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Re: Composting Toilets

Sara, after living with your C head for a while now what are your overall impressions, how does the mixer/stirrer work in practice?

Steve.
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Old 02-06-2012, 16:22   #434
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So when we first put the N H in use we used coir. After a few days noticed that It was very hard to crank. To the point that I couldn't churn it at all. Opened the unit up hmmm no stink, but used a big screw driver loosen up the coconut. Called the folks at NH who suggested a moister mix. In the end went to peat moss which seemed much more fluffy. Two weeks in still seems good.
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Old 04-06-2012, 14:04   #435
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Re: Composting Toilets

We have been using coir for two years now and have had it get hard to turn once or twice. If I remember right it was after a lot use and the percentage of coir to added solids had changed a lot on top of that it had been unused for a couple months and kinda set up and dried out. Added a little water and let it moisten again and all was well. two years in and we still love ours.
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