EcoSan/GroSan toilets

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$700.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Public Sector Agencies

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Sanitation First and Wherever The Need India Services (WTNIS)

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Mosan, Aquatron Eco Toilet System, Loowatt Toilet, Sun-Mar Excel NE Composting Toilet, Clivus Multrum composting toilet systems, Clean Team Toilet and Clean Team Toilet Waste Management Service, The TFP Composting Toilet, and Sanivation Container-Based Sanitation (CBS) Waste Collection Service.

Manufacturing/Building Method

This product is produced by Sanitation First, but anybody can replicate the open-source design and Sanitation First offers assistance and training. ^{Interview with representative in 2021}

Intellectural Property Type

Open-source

User Provision Model

Sanitation First does not sell the product directly, but rather assists in raising money and building units in the areas that they work in. ^{Interview with representative in 2021}

Distributions to Date Status

As of 2021, ~5,000 toilets have been distributed.

Design Specifications

EcoSan toilets are built above ground with collection containers located underneath. These Urine Diverting Dry Toilets (UDDTs) do not require water or pipelines and are equipped with ceramic squat plates that separate urine and feces. The toilets are enclosed by aluminum composite panels. Feces are collected in a chamber beneath the toilet, where dry ash, soil, or sawdust is added to accelerate the dehydration process. Urine and wash water are collected in separate containers. In rural settings, the urine can be used immediately as liquid fertilizer, while the feces decompose on-site through dehydration, producing a soil-conditioning fertilizer.   GroSan toilets are designed for urban settings as container-based sanitation (CBS) systems. Waste is collected in sealable containers, with four containers positioned on rollers beneath the toilet. Only one container is actively filled at a time, with containers rotated out weekly. After 28 days, the waste is collected by operators and transported to an offsite facility, where it undergoes a 90-day sanitation phase followed by a 60-day stabilization phase, which includes aerobic thermophilic composting and the addition of organic materials. The final product is a commercial-grade, pathogen-free compost that is ready for sale and agricultural application.   Sanitation First's Inner City Sanitation Model (GroSan Toilets):  

• Stage 1: Education and Motivation - Inform communities about proper hygiene, toilet usage, and associated benefits.
• Stage 2: GroSan Toilets - Construction and installation of the toilets.
• Stage 3: Collect and Service - Regular cleaning and waste collection service visits.
• Stage 4: Compost and Sale - Offsite processing of waste into agricultural-grade compost, made up of 40% collected waste and 60% added organic materials, then sold for use.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Provided by the manufacturer.

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

30 years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

By improving access to sanitation services, Sanitation First hopes to improve community health, increase educational and job opportunities, reduce poverty and disease, increase safety for women and girls, and restore users' dignity. From an environmental perspective, the toilets will reduce waste pollution and water use and transform waste into compost. Sanitation First also emphasizes education regarding hygiene and sanitation.

Vetted Performance Status

To date, Sanitation First has built 5,001 toilets serving 55,867 people daily, and produced 13,530 tons of compost. The GroSan toilet was evaluated and compared alongside several other CBS services. The EcoSan and GroSan toilets have been implemented in Cuddalore and Puducherry, India. The EcoSan block model has been implemented in over 100 schools. 150 GroSan toilets were field-tested in two locations. Starting in 2009, 40 toilets were installed in Cuddalore. In 2014, 60 toilets were installed throughout Puducherry and in 2018 an additional 50 toilets were added.

Safety

Possible hazards include unsanitary latrine emptying or structural failure.

Complementary Technical Systems

A cleaning and collection service is provided by Sanitation First to keep the toilets in usable conditions.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

The entire process from containment to composting operates under compliance of the WHO Sanitation Safety Plans and the Manual Scavenging Act 2013.

Evaluation methods

This product is evaluated by Sanitation First based on the number of toilets built, number of people and uses, and tons of compost produced.

Other Information

This product placed 3rd in the All India Swachhovation Contest (2018). Additional information about the toilet can be found in this presentation, video, or by contacting the manufacturer.