Sulabh Flush Compost Toilet

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$275.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household, Community, Public Sector Agencies

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

This toilet system is manufactured and implemented by the Sulabh International in coordination with local government authorities when constructing community toilets.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Twin Pits for Pour Flush, DuraSan Latrine, Easy Latrine, Elephant Toilet, and Fossa Alterna.

Countries

India

Manufacturing/Building Method

The pits are constructed with locally available materials including bricks, cement, and wood.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademark

User Provision Model

Sulabh International delivers and installs toilets directly for users. In low-income communities, the organization partners with local government authorities for financing.

Distributions to Date Status

1.2 million residences and building have implemented Sulabh toilets.

Design Specifications

The Sulabh Flush Compost Toilet is designed as a two-pit system to ensure that one could be used continuously to contain waste while the second allows waste to decompose and become fertilizer. The toilet pan has a steep slope (25°-28°) and the plumbing uses a water-seal (20 mm) to prevent odours. Water conservation was considered during the design, so each flush only requires 1 - 1.5 liters of water. The two pits are sized based on the number of users, designed with a lifetime of 3 years of use per pit.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Operation and maintenance is performed by Sulabh and funded through a pay-per-use model, while maintenance in low-income areas is cross-subsidized with income from the toilets in wealthier, busier areas.

Replacement Components

Replacement components are provided by the manufacturer when needed during maintenance.

Lifecycle

Each pit is designed to be filled for 2-3 years. If the dual-pits are emptied and used effectively, the toilet is expected to operate for an extended period (with pits reported to operate for 40 years).

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The manufacturer has specified performance targets related to constructability in varied environments, minimal health and environmental hazards, easy maintenance, less space needed than a septic tank toilet system, and elimination for the need of scavengers to clean the pits.

Vetted Performance Status

An assessment was performed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 2006 to assess the operation, impact and financing of Sulabh International within the context of the sanitation landscape in India. This included an examination of the organisation's mode of operation, its impact on health and hygiene, and the eradication of scavenging.

Safety

If the pits are not constructed properly and well-sealed, there is the possibility of groundwater contamination. In addition, the time needed for waste digestion before it becomes pathogen-free is still debated. Furthermore, the product is deemed not applicable in hard rock environments due to potential groundwater contamination.

Complementary Technical Systems

As the toilets are designed for pour-flushing, a water source needs to be implemented nearby to allow for continual water usage. Secondary treatment can also be considered.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

The toilets meet each of the seven conditions of a sanitary latrine presented by the World Health Organization (page 39 of document).

Evaluation methods

The toilets and produced fertilizer have been evaluated by a group of volunteers  (technocrats, managers, scientists, engineers, doctors, and architects) for their structural performance and health impact.

Other Information

Sulabh and its founder, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, have been awarded several awards over the past 40 years including  the Padma Bhushan (1991), the International Saint Francis Prize for the Environment-“Canticle of All Creatures” (1992), the Bombay Citizen’s Award (1992), the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award (1994), the Babu Jagjivan Ram Award for abolishing scavenging (1997), and the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Award (2003).

Sulabh: How it Works