EcoSan/GroSan toilets

The EcoSan toilets are built above ground with collection containers underneath. The toilets do not require water or pipelines.

All toilets are Urine Diverting Dry Toilets (UDDTs), equipped with ceramic squat plates that assist in separating urine and feces. The toilets are surrounded by aluminum composite panels.

The feces is collected in a chamber underneath the toilet where dry ash, soil, or sawdust (located in a bucket next to the toilet) is added to speed up the dehydration process.

Urine and wash water are collected in separate containers.

The GroSan toilets are used in urban settings and are container-based sanitation (CBS) systems where the waste is collected in sealable containers. There are four containers positioned on rollers underneath the toilet – where only one is actively filled at a time and then rotated out. Containers are typically filled within a week and then rotated out to start the decomposition process so that by the third week the first container can be emptied. After 28 days, the waste is collected by operators and transported to an offsite compound where the waste is decomposed for an additional 90 days (sanitation phase). Afterwards, an additional 60 day stabilisation phase involving aerobic thermophilic composting, manual mixing, and the addition of additives (including sugarcane press mud and animal manure). The final product is commercial grade (pathogen free) compost ready for sale and agricultural application.

When used in rural settings, the EcoSan toilets collect urine in a separate container, which can be used immediately as liquid fertilizer. Feces is decomposed on site through dehydration and the end product can be used as a soil conditioning fertilizer.

Sanitation First implants a four-stage Inner City Sanitation model using GroSan toilets:

Stage 1: Education and Motivation. Inform communities about proper hygiene, toilet usage, and associated benefits.

Stage 2: GroSan Toilets. The construction and installation of the toilets.

Stage 3: Collect and Service. A cleaning and collection service visits the toilets regularly.

Stage 4: Compost and Sale. The waste is processed offsite and turned into an agricultural grade compost to be sold. The final composting product is made up of the collected waste (40%) and added organic materials (60%).

Provided by the manufacturer.

30 years

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.

Possible hazards include unsanitary latrine emptying or structural failure.