Outhouses use no plumbing or electricity.
Waste disposal is one of the most important considerations when establishing a homestead in a remote location. Bathroom facilities are often among the first buildings constructed, and there are a number of solutions suitable for homesteaders, residents of isolated rural areas without easy access to water or sewer systems, those attempting to live off the grid or anyone concerned with reducing their impact on the environment. Two commonly used waste disposal systems offer a compromise among price, ease of use and resource consumption: outhouses and composting toilets. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Outhouses
1. Select the proper site for an outhouse. Position outhouses in sites with no flooding danger and ensure they are properly vented to reduce odor and exposure to waste gases. Screen openings to keep out flies and other insects, which can spread disease.
2. Consider the desired appearance and comfort level. The simplest designs incorporate a pit up to 5 feet deep and 3 feet wide, covered by a seat and enclosed inside a ventilated shed. Outhouses are easy to construct and can be as rustic and simple or elaborate and decorative as the user desires.
3. Plan for the eventual relocation of the outhouse. Outhouses are impermanent by nature; when the waste pit solids build up within 18 inches of the surface, the outhouse must be moved and the old pit filled in with clean dirt. Depending on the enclosure design, this may be a substantial undertaking.
4. Ensure the waste pit is in the proper soil. Outhouses can contribute to pollution of local water sources, if the pit is in sandy soil, gravel or fractured substone. Human waste can percolate into groundwater sources in these cases, potentially exposing users to harmful pathogens.
Composting Toilets
5. Decide whether to construct the toilet on site, or purchase a manufactured model. Composting toilets can be as simple as a waste receptacle containing sawdust that is regularly emptied into a compost pile or as complex as an actively ventilated off-the-shelf solution from a commercial vendor that resembles a flush toilet. Many systems consist of some form of seat connected to a composting chamber where waste collects, with inlet and exhaust ventilation and an access panel to remove the finished product.
6. Consider the time required to care for the composting system. Although they have a much lower environmental impact than many other waste disposal solutions, they require active management and care to function efficiently. They require the regular addition of sawdust or some other loose, carbon-rich material, and inattention can lead to objectionable odors and fumes.
7. Ensure composting toilets are located in warm areas and properly sized for the anticipated usage. Avoid excess moisture in the system, which can inhibit aerobic decay. All composting toilets require eventual removal of the accumulated solids, which should then be buried or added to a separate compost pile.
8. Determine the availability and desired usage of electricity. Many commercial systems incorporate active ventilation, with inlet and exhaust fans. Power can be provided with solar panels, a generator or a number of other methods.
Tags: compost pile, composting toilets, inlet exhaust, with inlet, with inlet exhaust