The Ultimate Guide to Off Grid Toilets
What You Need to Know, Before You Go
Here’s Our Ultimate Guide To Understanding and Selecting An Off Grid Toilet Without The Mess
An off grid toilet does not rely on any public services, so it has no link to a sewer system, a city water supply, or the electric grid. Some people may assume that it is a primitive and unpleasant way to deal with waste, but that is not always true with the advancement and multitude of off grid toilets available today.
Many people around the world, about 2.4 billion, lack safe sanitation facilities. To address this global issue, organizations and private companies have created advanced and eco-friendly alternatives. Off grid toilets have become smart systems that are user-friendly, easy to install, simple to maintain and suitable for any mobile or off grid lifestyle.
In addition, off grid toilets are ideal choices for boating and RVing, as well as off grid houses. Some of the best off grid toilet solutions have come from the sailing world.
Most off grid toilets have a normal appearance on top. They are self-sufficient and have a mechanical device that helps users to transfer the waste into the bin. The more elaborate systems also have an integrated septic or bio-septic tank where beneficial bacteria decompose organic waste.
If you’re planning to live off the grid, one of the most important things to consider BEFORE you build is how you’ll manage your human waste.
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The Truth About Off Grid Toilets
Off grid toilets are of course a necessity to living for expended periods or full time off the grid, but they can also pose some problems you need to know about. You must consider several important factors before you decide on which off grid toilet is right for you. That’s why we wrote this post. To help folks navigate the world of off grid composting toilets easier than we had it when we first went off grid. We’ll help you work through all the important considerations. Some of those include your location, the complexity of the installation, are you installing the off grid toilet during your initial construction period or as an upgrade to an existing build, are you changing out one type of waste management for a new type, toilet capacity, maintenance, power requirements, and of course budget.
Some Interesting Facts To Know
There are some interesting facts to know about the waste we produce that might surprise you and help guide your decision on what particular off grid toilet to choose.
- Urine accounts for about 85% of the waste volume
- Raw sewage ONLY occurs when liquids AND solids are mixed together. When they are kept separate the management of human waste becomes easier by factors of magnitude. An important consideration later on in the post
- You can use any type of toilet paper you like with certain toilets
- When dried solids are disposed of in the ground bacteria in the soil “consume” the fecal pathogens, thereby rendering the content harmless
- In most municipalities, urine is considered gray water and can be drained into a gray water tank as opposed to a black water tank
How To Choose The Best Off Grid Toilet For Your Needs
There are several different types of off grid toilets. Each one has its pros and cons and specific requirements for installation.
This comparison chart comes from The Cabin Depot. They have an extensive selection of off grid toilets. Check them out!
We have a $20 discount coupon that you can use if you decided to shop with The Cabin Depot. Just use the code: OFFGRIDCABIN when you check out!
