Grey Water And Composting Toilets

[Howard]

We took a two-day "cruise" in Maine last year on a converted fishing trawler that came equipped with composting toilets. It was tolerable for two days, but I wouldn't want to live with it. I would opt for flush toilets without question for any home use.

[leilaniguy]

I'm not positive, bur I believe that county code requires that greywater be disposed of underground, just like blackwater. I have seen composting toilets advertised here as being code-compliant, but I'm pretty sure you would still need a cesspool or septic also for kitchen, laundry and bathing facilities to meet code.

[Carey]

County does allow composting toilets. We used them at the Solar Institute in Calif. HPM has them in stock (single unit, storage in seat area). There are larger systems, with multiple waste chambers, (some use ultra low flush toilets) but the shipping costs on these are fairly high. The county does not have separate regulations on greywater, yet.

[Hotzcatz]

Aloha Toucano,

Catchment systems don't require a composting toilet. We have enough rainfall (well, except maybe H.O.V.E.) that it isn't a problem to use regular flush toilets. Considering the cost difference, unless you had a more compelling reason to install one, it may not be the best use of your construction funds.

A hui hou,
Cathy

[mella l]

Aloha Toucano,

Pam Lamont has a working compost toilet, in developement/progress as they say. You might want to e-mail her and ask for info on how that part of her project went. Just an idea. Mella L

mella l

[asly]

Hello all, this thread is a few years old.

I am curious as to whether anyone has any recent experience and knowledge regarding composting toilet systems. If so, please share.

And then, I dreamt of Hawaii... http://crazypineappledream.blogspot.com/

[lostboystoy]

composting toilets are just a little too much work for my likeing, unless you recieve alot of sunshine (which you need for the composting part of the process). not to mention having to put peatmoss in the toilet everytime you use it.. naw I will take a good ole flushing toilet any day......[]

setting my soul free....

[asly]

Do you know if you have to have the sunlight issue if you have an electric one?

And then, I dreamt of Hawaii... http://crazypineappledream.blogspot.com/

[james weatherford]

We have the first permitted residential gray water system in the State of Hawaii.
Approved in late 2004, and built in 2005, 6th Ave HPP.
Since, a few other folks have used our simple schematic to also get approval.
Compost toilet we also have and that was not such a big deal for the Health Dept. It is a Clivus Multrum, so, off-the-shelf made it go smoother.



James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[asly]

Hello James, thank you for your answer. Do you have a gray water garden? Or does your gray water go into some type of smaller cesspool? Is your composter completely off grid? Ann

And then, I dreamt of Hawaii... http://crazypineappledream.blogspot.com/