Peggy I am very interested in the Air Head composting toiled. This a "dry" toilet that uses peat moss to dispose of solid waste. The claim is that for two people the toilet would not need to be emptied for about two or three months if used twice a day or about 80 uses. The composting action eliminates odor and there are no hoses or thru-hulls or holding tanks to pump out. The toilet is self contained. The manufacturer claims that the unit will fit in the same "foot" as a standard marine head I would be interested in your opinion on these toilets and also some opinions from those who have used them. Several people who have used them for several years have stated that they work as advertised and they are very happy with them. Thanks--Clint
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composting toilet
I have no experience with this system onboard, but i cn tell you tat on a larger scale i went upsate NY to my sons scout camp and they had recently built a large shower house and rest room facility.To my surprise the whole setup is a compost pile. I found no apparent odors or any other objectionable situations while I stayed in the campground. I think this is a way of the future , here at home I compost for the flower beds. Of course I am only composting grass lleaves and coffee grounds, but every spring I come up with fresh rich compost for the beds.Sure beats bagging and disposing of all that outdoor garbage.
I have no experience with this system onboard, but i cn tell you tat on a larger scale i went upsate NY to my sons scout camp and they had recently built a large shower house and rest room facility.To my surprise the whole setup is a compost pile. I found no apparent odors or any other objectionable situations while I stayed in the campground. I think this is a way of the future , here at home I compost for the flower beds. Of course I am only composting grass lleaves and coffee grounds, but every spring I come up with fresh rich compost for the beds.Sure beats bagging and disposing of all that outdoor garbage.
It does a dandy job of dealing with solid waste..
But solids are only about 10% of body waste. And yes, it does eliminate the flush water that fills up holding tanks. But urine, which is 90% of body waste and is about 1.5 qts/day/person, must be stored in jugs that must be carried off the boat or in a tank for later pumpout...'cuz it's just as illegal to dump 'em overboard inside the "3 mile limit" (which includes all of LIS) as it is to flush a toilet or dump a tank. So I don't see much advantage to it over a portapotty or a holding tank...and none at all over a CG certified Type I MSD (treatment device). However, the people who've installed it claim to love it, so you might be happy with it too.
But solids are only about 10% of body waste. And yes, it does eliminate the flush water that fills up holding tanks. But urine, which is 90% of body waste and is about 1.5 qts/day/person, must be stored in jugs that must be carried off the boat or in a tank for later pumpout...'cuz it's just as illegal to dump 'em overboard inside the "3 mile limit" (which includes all of LIS) as it is to flush a toilet or dump a tank. So I don't see much advantage to it over a portapotty or a holding tank...and none at all over a CG certified Type I MSD (treatment device). However, the people who've installed it claim to love it, so you might be happy with it too.
Peggi Thanks for your response. As I see it there are several advantages. First there is no odor of the type associated with holding tanks, hoses and marine heads and their maintenance. If I free up the space where one of my holding tanks is located I will have plenty of room for an air conditioning unit. Also it does not need to be emptied as often as a porta potty, in fact one fellow claimed to get 4 months before it had to be emptied. I need to become more familiar with the laws concerning the discharge of waste. I was under the impression that emptying urine was permissible in some areas, much like peeing over the side. I am very concerned and involved with my boating club in getting the local townships and marinas to get a pump-out boat and make pump out facilities more available. I hope to hear from others and what they think about the concept of composting toilets--Clint
You need to read the AirHead website again...
It can indeed be several months befote it's necessary to remove the dried SOLID waste--but remember, that's only 10% of the total body waste. Urine doesn't go into the desicator, it's collected separately in jugs or a tank. And yes, you do need to become more familiar with the laws, because they don't distiguish between solids and urine...they make it illegal to discharge "human body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other recepticles intended to receive or retain body wastes"...which includes urine. And discharge "includes but is not limited to, any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping"...which means you CAN legally pee directly overboard from the lee rail, but if you put it in any container first, you CANNOT legallu empty the container by pouring it over ths side...at least not inside the "3 mile limit." Not that it matters for purposes of this discussion...but fwiw, the Airhead is not a composter, it's a dessicator. So yes, the AirHead does eliminate toilet and hose maintenance...but it does require power 24/7 and it's not totally maintenance free either. For less money, I'd go with a Type I MSD that treats each flush--to a higher standard than any sewage treatment plant, btw--and sends its overboard legally, with -0- harm to the environment. But again...it's your boat, your choice.
It can indeed be several months befote it's necessary to remove the dried SOLID waste--but remember, that's only 10% of the total body waste. Urine doesn't go into the desicator, it's collected separately in jugs or a tank. And yes, you do need to become more familiar with the laws, because they don't distiguish between solids and urine...they make it illegal to discharge "human body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other recepticles intended to receive or retain body wastes"...which includes urine. And discharge "includes but is not limited to, any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, or dumping"...which means you CAN legally pee directly overboard from the lee rail, but if you put it in any container first, you CANNOT legallu empty the container by pouring it over ths side...at least not inside the "3 mile limit." Not that it matters for purposes of this discussion...but fwiw, the Airhead is not a composter, it's a dessicator. So yes, the AirHead does eliminate toilet and hose maintenance...but it does require power 24/7 and it's not totally maintenance free either. For less money, I'd go with a Type I MSD that treats each flush--to a higher standard than any sewage treatment plant, btw--and sends its overboard legally, with -0- harm to the environment. But again...it's your boat, your choice.
Peggy, Thanks again for your input. You mentioned the Type 1 MSD. That sounds interesting. Perhaps you could direct me to a link where I could learn more about this system. I tried to do a search on this site and nothing came up Thanks again---Clint
Composting toilets are probably the future
on land, at least. We just can't afford the water our current systems use. In a house on land, the urine tank can be outside, and the urine makes good fertilizer. I think with the solar vent the air head could be a great alternative, with a couple of caveats; Urine diversion is the key to getting the solids to dry and not stink too badly. I'm willing to be an outlaw and say just dump the urine overboard, unless you're in a small bay with folks swimming. In any case, it's a lot less liquid to store than sea water mixed with sewage to transport it through your conventional system. Remember that the solids are still a "biohazard waste" and need to be either buried at least 6" deep. It's a cool idea to plant a tree when you empty the composter and start with the compost in the hole for the tree. Some compost advocates will tell you the stuff is clean and safe. This is just not true. SIDA, the Swedish NGO that has studied and built these systems in third world countries for 30 years or more, has done lots of peer reviewed research on the subject. Toilet compost is clean and safe a couple of years after it has been buried in live soil. Another approach to "clean and safe" is heat. If you can get the solids up to 165 degrees F. for 15 minutes, then it's safe to handle without gloves (who would want to?). For hot places, SIDA has designed a composter with a metal cover painted black that will produce 165 deg. F. in tropical afternoon sunlight.
on land, at least. We just can't afford the water our current systems use. In a house on land, the urine tank can be outside, and the urine makes good fertilizer. I think with the solar vent the air head could be a great alternative, with a couple of caveats; Urine diversion is the key to getting the solids to dry and not stink too badly. I'm willing to be an outlaw and say just dump the urine overboard, unless you're in a small bay with folks swimming. In any case, it's a lot less liquid to store than sea water mixed with sewage to transport it through your conventional system. Remember that the solids are still a "biohazard waste" and need to be either buried at least 6" deep. It's a cool idea to plant a tree when you empty the composter and start with the compost in the hole for the tree. Some compost advocates will tell you the stuff is clean and safe. This is just not true. SIDA, the Swedish NGO that has studied and built these systems in third world countries for 30 years or more, has done lots of peer reviewed research on the subject. Toilet compost is clean and safe a couple of years after it has been buried in live soil. Another approach to "clean and safe" is heat. If you can get the solids up to 165 degrees F. for 15 minutes, then it's safe to handle without gloves (who would want to?). For hot places, SIDA has designed a composter with a metal cover painted black that will produce 165 deg. F. in tropical afternoon sunlight.
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