Composting Toilets

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by ROBERT G

I've been sold. I'm already looking forward to pulling out all the old plumbing and throwing in a composting toilet, and I don't even have a boat yet.

Thanks for that. Nice to have a good laugh 1st thing in the morning.

Maybe you should go ahead and get the toilet and then build a boat around it. Like they did with the fuel tank on my boat.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by ROBERT G

Knothead, I heard it works better withOUT the pants. At least that's how I've been doing it.

I've been sold. I'm already looking forward to pulling out all the old plumbing and throwing in a composting toilet, and I don't even have a boat yet.

Funny thing about that. I suggested that a more realistic photo might be more compelling.
She didn't seem to be to amenable to the idea. Go figure.

[MichaelC]

For a million years or so, humans squatted to poop. They still do in much of the world. It is a more healthful way of emptying the bowel. My NH is too tall for comfort, so I added a couple of risers for my feet, three inches tall, to get the toilet back to a regular toilet height. Consider that when you install a composter. the consensus of opinion here [well, except for Zeehag's friend, who can't keep his composter fitted with enough coir moss] is that these things are the best thing since night baseball.

[Brent Swain]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I was thinking about putting in a cheesy little active charcoal filter. I've rigged one of these before for a land based project. Really cut down on the smell. I might try to fashion one.

Having never smoked, I detect odours a long way off.
They made a charcoal filled quilt for couples who have gas problems . No fart smell escapes. Its a marriage saver for some.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Brent Swain

Having never smoked, I detect odours a long way off.
They made a charcoal filled quilt for couples who have gas problems . No fart smell escapes. Its a marriage saver for some.

I'm always amazed at how even on a wind swept deck the smell of a holding tank venting as goop is pumped in can still nail everyone in the cockpit in the face. I'll see about a charcoal filter. They really can restrict airflow, but I don't think the nature's head really needs the full force of a 3" electric fan venting 24/7. A filter would cut the flow in half more or less, but if it means nary a smell escapes that might be worth it.

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I'm always amazed at how even on a wind swept deck the smell of a holding tank venting as goop is pumped in can still nail everyone in the cockpit in the face. I'll see about a charcoal filter. They really can restrict airflow, but I don't think the nature's head really needs the full force of a 3" electric fan venting 24/7. A filter would cut the flow in half more or less, but if it means nary a smell escapes that might be worth it.

Let us know what you come up with. It is an interesting thought and I agree about the fan.

[rebel heart]

Okay it's here! Now comes the horrible job of removing the old one. I'll keep this thread updated!

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

I'm always amazed at how even on a wind swept deck the smell of a holding tank venting as goop is pumped in can still nail everyone in the cockpit in the face. I'll see about a charcoal filter. They really can restrict airflow, but I don't think the nature's head really needs the full force of a 3" electric fan venting 24/7. A filter would cut the flow in half more or less, but if it means nary a smell escapes that might be worth it.

I would be careful reducing the airflow. It is a poorly known fact of holding tanks that poor airflow within the tank promotes the wrong sort of bacteria. The wrong sort have a sulphur + smell as a biproduct of the chemical reaction. However, the correct airflow promotes a bacteria that uses a different chemical reaction which does not have the same smell.


Information originally from Peggy Hall - any errors are undoubtedly mine!

[knothead]

Originally Posted by Talbot

I would be careful reducing the airflow. It is a poorly known fact of holding tanks that poor airflow within the tank promotes the wrong sort of bacteria. The wrong sort have a sulphur + smell as a biproduct of the chemical reaction. However, the correct airflow promotes a bacteria that uses a different chemical reaction which does not have the same smell.


Information originally from Peggy Hall - any errors are undoubtedly mine!

I don't believe that it's practical or even possible to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria in a holding tank filled with liquid. The anaerobic bacteria is what produces the bad smell and unless you can figure out a way to aerate the contents, you are pretty well stuck with anaerobic bacteria. The vent on a holding tank is just that. A vent. It prevents a buildup of pressure.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by knothead

I don't believe that it's practical or even possible to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria in a holding tank filled with liquid. The anaerobic bacteria is what produces the bad smell and unless you can figure out a way to aerate the contents, you are pretty well stuck with anaerobic bacteria. The vent on a holding tank is just that. A vent. It prevents a buildup of pressure.

Peggy goes into the idea of using two vents, much bigger than standard (like an inch or more ID) and putting them in such a fashion that they always have a cross breeze.

In the composting world it's (I think) accomplished in the same way that you keep soil loose: by adding coir/peat moss/perlite. That combined with the stirring motion and a constant air circulation keeps the healthy stuff moving along.

I'm sure there are ways to accomplish the same in a wet system but I just have no motivation to even attempt that type of work anymore.

[pwratch]

Originally Posted by knothead

I don't believe that it's practical or even possible to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria in a holding tank filled with liquid. The anaerobic bacteria is what produces the bad smell and unless you can figure out a way to aerate the contents, you are pretty well stuck with anaerobic bacteria. The vent on a holding tank is just that. A vent. It prevents a buildup of pressure.

How about an aquarium pump to provide aeration? Haven't tried it as we went with a composter some years ago (more accurately called a dessicator, in my opinion) but if I was stuck with a sludge tank, I might experiment with it.

[Talbot]

Originally Posted by knothead

I don't believe that it's practical or even possible to encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria in a holding tank filled with liquid. The anaerobic bacteria is what produces the bad smell and unless you can figure out a way to aerate the contents, you are pretty well stuck with anaerobic bacteria. The vent on a holding tank is just that. A vent. It prevents a buildup of pressure.

Agree if the tank is full - another reason to keep an eye on the levels!

As for aerating the contents, going for a sail should do that nicely.

[jenny2]

I WILL TAKE THE COMPOST HEAD ANY DAY OVER A NASTY HOLDING TANK NOW YOU CAN'T GET RID OF SMELL COMING THRU ANY TYPE OF HOSE THEY ARE NASTY AND STINK AND ARE BAD TO WORK ON WHEN YOU HAVE A PROLBEM THEN ITS REALLY A MESS

Originally Posted by zeehag

you think that if one places a few pounds of chemical or peat moss on the turds they will not stink, yet they DO stink even with the inefficient chemical/peat moss.
the only thing gained by having human waste on board any boat is an overabundance of e coli bacteria. that is bad stuff.
human waste, aka feces, is hazmat. pure and simple, and there is no ridding it of the bacteria that live in it. those bacteria are harmful to humans if ingested. bags break. seas rise. stuff happens-then you have stuff EVERYWHERE.

so, essentially, you guys ar cruising with a hazmat bomb on board. thank you , no, i will avoid this trend like the plague. or cholera. or yellow fever. this kind of toilet is great if you remain in port on a dock and have a place to rid your boat of the hazmat on a regular basis. thankyou , NO. i have seen the system and i have passed on it for definite reasons. is unhealthy when there is not a place to stash the stuff between dockings. lol..i will stick to tradition on this one. worked in hospitals as an rn waaay too long to not have deep respect for the power of e coli. and i have sailed long enough to know if something is going to break in an inopportune time, it will definitely do so.

i also noticed the folks who are the most gung ho on this manure toilet are male. not female. "dealing with the issues" doesnt mean having to tolerate "sh**bombs" exploding while on a passage across a sea. no one HAS to DEAL with it-- just choose a more efficient means of ridding boat of e coli and manure.

as far as wet marine heads goes--the foul odor of stagnant salt water goes way with passing 2 gallons of sea water thru it--instant freshness. every time. not so with manure potties--yukkkkk--all thru the boat--and cooking in that environment is not fun. btdt. have a good time with yours--i will stick to simple and easy wet toilets on boats. less odiferous.

[rebel heart]

Well here I go. Last night I got the last elements of the wet plumbing system out. Lots of hose, two MK5 pumps, one Lavac toilet, two Y valves, and one holding tank. People might say that the composting heads are "big and expensive" but when you compare them to all the component parts of a standard wet system, they are "cheap and small".

I'll keep updating this thread and my blog as it moves along.

[wildshore]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Well here I go. Last night I got the last elements of the wet plumbing system out. Lots of hose, two MK5 pumps, one Lavac toilet, two Y valves, and one holding tank. People might say that the composting heads are "big and expensive" but when you compare them to all the component parts of a standard wet system, they are "cheap and small".

I'll keep updating this thread and my blog as it moves along.

EEEEEWWWWWWW!. I do NOT envy you that removal. I had to do that once on a damanged houseboat setup and spent a disproportionate time at the rail selling Buicks to Earl.

Would love to see some installation shots on the new head. How are you anchoring it?