I heard an interesting piece on the radio about recycling gray water to water plants.  Combine that with composting toilets and VOILA!  no need for a sewage system.  I've been using gray water from my washing machine for over 30 years to water plants and yard, and it works great.  Not sure about composting toilets, but I read that Sweden uses them in PUBLIC restrooms.  Anything that will survive and work in a public restroom has to be made of strong stuff, unless Swedes are just better behaved than Americans are (which I doubt).

I sell composting toilets, and have had feed back from some customers that many counties around the Country still will not approve of them as the only toilet in a home.
In some Counties gray water is illegal to dump on the ground, and demand that it go through a sewer or septic.

Personally the composting toilet is fine if you don't mind the maintenance.
I sell them anywhere from $600. to $7000. some you hand crank while others are electric and do all the dirty work for you, except dumping the bin.

Did I mention they all stink? :))

Quote from: Solar on August 03, 2011, 02:04:35 PM
I sell composting toilets, and have had feed back from some customers that many counties around the Country still will not approve of them as the only toilet in a home.
In some Counties gray water is illegal to dump on the ground, and demand that it go through a sewer or septic.

Personally the composting toilet is fine if you don't mind the maintenance.
I sell them anywhere from $600. to $7000. some you hand crank while others are electric and do all the dirty work for you, except dumping the bin.

Did I mention they all stink? :))

I wondered about that.  This same radio piece I listened to mentioned California specifically.  They succeeded in getting some regulations changed to allow gray water systems.  They didn't mention anything about composting toilets, just the recycling of gray water.  I have not done any soil testing, but I can tell you that over 30 years of graywater coming from a washing machine (probably against code, but what's a code between friends) has not harmed any plants.  At least not as far as the naked eye can tell.  I can see where kitchen sink water would have a few more solids in it, but I bet it would be basically environmentally friendly, too.  I like the idea of a composting toilet, but the smell issue would need to be addressed.  Is it pretty bad?  I mean, like an outhouse?

Quote from: elmerfudd on August 03, 2011, 02:12:12 PM
I wondered about that.  This same radio piece I listened to mentioned California specifically.  They succeeded in getting some regulations changed to allow gray water systems.

It will be unfortunately short lived, Ca is talking of implementing new septic laws.
Of which it will cost me an additional 15 grand to upgrade.
They will incorporate gray water as part of the process and an evaporation and composting sytem all in one.
No thanks, the old system works just fine.

 

QuoteThey didn't mention anything about composting toilets, just the recycling of gray water.  I have not done any soil testing, but I can tell you that over 30 years of graywater coming from a washing machine (probably against code, but what's a code between friends) has not harmed any plants.  At least not as far as the naked eye can tell.  I can see where kitchen sink water would have a few more solids in it, but I bet it would be basically environmentally friendly, too.

The only issue may be an increase of nitrogen, but plants love it, though if you are close to a creek and the water leaches into the creek, you will see a marked increase of moss.
 

QuoteI like the idea of a composting toilet, but the smell issue would need to be addressed.  Is it pretty bad?  I mean, like an outhouse?

The smell is mostly urine evaporating (ammonia NH3), but usually it is with the cheaper toilets, the expensive ones generally have a heating coil and an exhaust system that keeps the system at peak performance and the smell is negligible.
Here is the Sunmar toilet I used to carry till they tripled their price.

It has a 2" pipe for venting, but the problem many have with it is it needs to be a short run or the fumes never make it outside, then there is the issue with outside wind, it can push the fumes back into the house.
Another headache is having to dump sawdust in every time you use it, then crank the handle to tumble it,.
And if you don't keep the bathroom warm all the time, the composting process tends to slow down and not do it's job, leaving you with a drum of undissolved solids, (so to speak).

Quote from: Solar on August 03, 2011, 03:13:06 PM
It will be unfortunately short lived, Ca is talking of implementing new septic laws.
Of which it will cost me an additional 15 grand to upgrade.
They will incorporate gray water as part of the process and an evaporation and composting sytem all in one.
No thanks, the old system works just fine.

  The only issue may be an increase of nitrogen, but plants love it, though if you are close to a creek and the water leaches into the creek, you will see a marked increase of moss.
  The smell is mostly urine evaporating (ammonia NH3), but usually it is with the cheaper toilets, the expensive ones generally have a heating coil and an exhaust system that keeps the system at peak performance and the smell is negligible.
Here is the Sunmar toilet I used to carry till they tripled their price.

It has a 2" pipe for venting, but the problem many have with it is it needs to be a short run or the fumes never make it outside, then there is the issue with outside wind, it can push the fumes back into the house.
Another headache is having to dump sawdust in every time you use it, then crank the handle to tumble it,.
And if you don't keep the bathroom warm all the time, the composting process tends to slow down and not do it's job, leaving you with a drum of undissolved solids, (so to speak).

I hate a warm bathroom.  One of the articles I read on those things mentioned some of them have heaters to keep the poo poo cooking..  Do you use one?  And, if so, what has been your experience with it?

Quote from: elmerfudd on August 03, 2011, 08:16:47 PM
I hate a warm bathroom.  One of the articles I read on those things mentioned some of them have heaters to keep the poo poo cooking..  Do you use one?  And, if so, what has been your experience with it?

:D :D :D
Nah, personally I hate the damn things.
I Live on solar and the last thing I want to use electricity for is to run a damned heating coil.
Not to mention there is just something about flushing and knowing the whole mess is gone and never to be dealt with again.

I have customers that love them, but then if you have no other option, I guess one can get used to anything.