Bio-toilets Transforming the Indian Sanitation
In the past decades, sanitation in India has been one of the biggest challenges faced by the country. According to a report in 2015, only 40% population in India had access to safe sanitation.
With a growing population in urban and rural areas, millions of people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities even today.
In rural areas, the situation is quite alarming. Due to poor economic conditions and lack of income, rural households do not build toilets.
Consequently, a large population still practise open defecation which has the potential to spread dangerous diseases within the community. Moreover, water scarcity is another factor that has made it difficult to use toilets in India.
The lack of sewage treatment facilities has added to the woes. Those areas with pit latrines do not have transportation facilities to carry the waste away for disposal.
Additionally, the monsoon season in India wreaks havoc by washing down human waste into the nearby water resources.
All these factors combined have led to multiple problems like water contamination, health hazards, and environmental pollution.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions that are cost-effective, easy to use, and helps in proper waste disposal without affecting the environment.
Such solutions can help the rural population to embrace sanitation facilities. The emergence of bio-toilets and their widespread use has the potential to transform the sanitation situation in India.
Understanding Bio-toilets
A Bio-toilet system can be defined as an easy-to-install structure that uses biological methods to treat human waste, and the resulting by-products can be used for different purposes.
A bio-toilet contains a digester tank which may be connected below the commode. It consists of powerful microbes such as Psychrophile which can live in an extremely hot and cold climate and feed on waste for survival.
As soon as the waste exits the toilet, it comes in contact with bacteria that breaks down and degrades human excreta completely.
Under the anaerobic treatment of waste, the resulting by-products are methane and water, which can be used as an energy source for cooking. The leftover effluent can be utilized for gardening purposes as well.
Other features of bio-toilets include:
- No electricity is required to run bio-toilets which is an advantage in rural areas
- Maximum control of bad odour or bug infestation as in the case with pit latrines or cement latrines.
- Maintenance is almost nil
- Easy to use
- Affordable and cost-effective
- Completely safe and hygienic
- Can be installed anywhere, even in difficult terrains
Bio-toilets are the best solution that can support save water initiatives in urban areas. It can be easily installed at schools, colleges, public spaces, trains, and other places.
The Indian Railways previously used an open-chute toilet system where human excreta was left behind on the tracks. The untreated waste in the open posed a health risk to the public.
But in 2016, more than 48,000 bio-toilets were installed in trains, and they are aiming for more in the coming years.
This is in sync with the government’s initiative of ‘Swachh Bharat’, which is aimed at providing toilets for all in India.
Public awareness and acceptance of bio-toilets are the major challenges today. Better awareness about sanitation, challenges, and the benefits of using bio-toilets is important.
It will help in making bio-toilets the most sought-after choice among toilets in households. Also, highly effective and efficient bio-toilets are the need of the hour and can gain the trust of common people.
Organica Biotech is one of the leading companies with a wide range of solutions for sanitation in India. Bioclean Bio-toilet & Bio-digester is an award-winning solution.
It has won appreciation and recognition in the Swacchathon Awards organized by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India.
Our microbial solution “Bioclean BD” has also been recommended by the Mashelkar Committee. Bioclean BD helps in the degradation of waste in Bio-digester tanks under any condition. It also curbs foul odour and combats pathogens
Bio-toilet is made of Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride (UPVC) and its features include:
- Easy to install
- Durable
- No maintenance.
- Insulation from sound, heat, cold, rust, and rain
- Mobile, flexible, easy to transport
Using Organica Biotech’s bio-toilets and related solutions can transform sanitation in India.
Looking for more resources on bio-toilets? check out the links below
