Composting Portable Toilet Systems For RVs - An Alternative to Holding Tanks
and Pump Outs
By
Ellen Bell
Anyone who's ever traveled by RV knows what an unpleasant job it is to empty
and clean the waste holding tank. Furthermore, improper maintenance of the
holding tank can lead to real problems down the road--no pun intended! What
if there were a better alternative? For many RV owners, there is. Composting
toilets are an odorless and easy alternative that require very little
maintenance and never need pumped out. In this article, we'll explain why a
portable composting toilet may be the answer you've been looking for when it
comes to your RV's waste disposal system.
Traditionally, recreational vehicles have more than one holding tank for
wastewater. One contains gray water, or the wastewater from the sinks and
shower. The other contains black water, or the wastewater from the toilet.
There are separate hoses for each tank, usually designated by different
colors, as well as yet another hose used for pumping clean water into the
RV. For obvious reasons, it is critical not to get the hoses mixed up and
use the incorrect one for the wrong purpose.
Maintaining the black water holding tank is a somewhat complex process,
involving chemicals and cleaning agents to prevent odor and bacteria buildup
or other clogs inside the tank. What some RV owners don't realize is that
you should never attempt to dump the tank until it's at least two thirds
full. A tank that's only slightly full won't have enough gravitational pull
to empty efficiently. Furthermore, you should never leave the hose hooked up
while the vehicle is parked, because it won't drain the way toilets in your
home will.
If you're tired of dealing with emptying, maintaining, and cleaning the
holding tank, there is another alternative that is still relatively
little-known among RV owners, and that is the composting toilet. Contrary to
what some might think, composting toilets are an odorless and very clean
method of waste disposal. Mobile composting toilets feature a rotating drum
inside the toilet itself that holds and processes waste. A special venting
system and filters ensure that the unit operates without odor from both
inside and outside the RV.
Maintaining a composting toilet on an RV is as simple as adding some bulking
material (usually a mixture of wood chips and peat moss) once a day and
rotating the drum every few days. Rotating the drum usually consists of
pulling a retractable handle out from the front of the toilet and cranking
it around a certain number of times. At no point does the RV owner have to
come into contact with the contents of the toilet; in fact, everything about
owning and maintaining a composting toilet is cleaner and more pleasant than
dealing with a holding tank and pump-outs. Because compost toilets are
designed to handle all waste self-sufficiently, you never have to worry
about hook ups or pump outs.
The primary job of a composting toilet is evaporation. These units are
designed with a heating element in the base and a fan assembly in the vent
to aide with evaporation. Since more than 90% of human waste is actually
water, very little material is left to compost once the liquid is
evaporated. In fact, two people using a composting toilet on a daily basis
would probably only need to empty the finished compost once or twice a year
at the most. Finished compost is usually kept isolated from fresh waste by
dropping into a separate drawer or chamber in the toilet. All this occurs
without the RV owner ever coming into contact with the material until it's
fully composted. Once it is fully composted, you're left with material that
is completely non-offensive. It will look and smell just like ordinary
garden soil.
If you're wondering by now why you haven't heard of this before, it may be
because of the cost. The only downside to mobile composting toilets for RVs
is that they usually cost around $1,500, significantly more than a
traditional toilet with holding tank system. However, when you think of the
ease of use and the average lifespan of these systems of about 15 to 20
years, the benefits may outweigh the cost. For more information on
composting toilet systems, seek out a reputable dealer that can provide you
with details, including product testing reports and certifications.
About the Author:
The Composting Toilet Store offers
mobile composting toilets for RVs
and boats. To request a free catalog, visit us at
http://www.composting-toilet-store.com/Compost_Toilet_s/22.htm
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