Composting Toilet
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15420
Printed Date: 19 May 2024 at 4:29pm
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Topic: Composting Toilet
Posted By: gpokluda
Subject: Composting Toilet
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 12:04pm
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Greetings all. Anyone have any real world experience with composting toilets in an RV or van? We are specing out a new RV and trying to decide if we should stay with a typical black-tank flush toilet or composter. Our goal is to reduce water usage and have more flexibility regarding waste disposal. Lots of differing opinions on the internet ranging from truly horrifying and disgusting experiences to "no-big-deal". My wife and I are experienced back packers and bare bones campers and have had to dig our share of cat holes, so I can't imagine having a composter would be that bad but we would like to hear some opinions. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Replies:
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 1:19pm
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If you do a search " composting toilet " on this forum you will find a couple of posts on it. They are old posts 2014 but may have some interest to you. ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 2:05pm
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No experience with composting toilets but a big reason to buy most RVs is to have indoor, self-contained plumping. With an R-Pod you have 30 gallons of fresh water, a 30 gallon grey tank and a 30 gallon black tank. Typically, you will always need to drain your grey tank before you need to drain you black tank, and you won't need to drain either until you need more fresh water. Meaning you'll need to find a dump station for your grey tank and may as well empty your black tank at the same time. If you don't want to use that much water there are less expensive campers that aren't fully-enclosed. I figure if I paid for indoor plumbing (because I want it), I'm going to use it. There are ways to manage the water in an RPod so as to use less too, if you insist. My mind isn't closed to the idea of a composting toilet but it seems like extra expense and effort to me to solve a mostly theoretical problem. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 2:26pm
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The only experience I have with them is as follows. About ten years ago a major interstate rest area was completely overhauled, going in both directions. So that is two separate bathrooms that are on opposing sides of a three lane highway. When they opened they touted how great this technology was by having big signs telling us the were composting toilets, and how it works, and how it might save the planet. A few years after it opened, it suddenly was shut down. Soon after about 20 outhouses were brought in. The building (both sides) has been closed ever since. Not even the information area is open. YMMV ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 4:33pm
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The benefit of so called composting toilets in rvs is not having to go to a dump station. But that assumes you empty your gray tank on the surface, which is illegal most places. I could see getting one if you were camping on private property where you could dump your graywater on the surface. Otherwise not so much.
I put composting in quotes because RV compostjng toilets aren't really true composting toilets, that usually takes many months and a big storage chamber. The RV "composting" toilet is more a way to store semi dry material for a little while until you can dispose of it. For that reason the RV composting toilets have to have a way to separate urine and feces, which are then disposed of separately. There is also a 12v vent fan to minimize odors. IOW, it's significantly more complex than having a flush toilet and blank tank. You also typically have to add coconut choir or other similar material to balance out the organic content. Another alternative to consider is the cassette toilet, which is basically a port a pot with a separate storage container you access from outside the trailer. That can then be dumped in a regular toilet or at a dump station, giving you options without the hassle of the "composting". ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Linda&Gino
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 4:41pm
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Thanks for the input everyone. We went with the composting toilet. ------------- gpokluda 2017 Rpod R179 SOLD! 2022 Escape 5.0 TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 EB3.5 Triumph T120 Bonneville |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 5:11pm
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Dumping gray water is actually legal in most states, of course there are restrictions and caveats so best to consult local laws before doing so. New Mexico, for instance, allows 200 gallons of gray water to be discharged without a permit. BLM usually allows gray water dumping on surface but National Forests and Army Corps of Engineers do not. Best to know your options. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 5:19pm
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The only federal land management agency that doesn't expressly prohibit graywater dumping is the BLM. I've personally never been in a state park that allows it. So it might be possible in some situations but for most folks most of the time, it's not allowed. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2022 at 6:33pm
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Again to reiterate what I have posted elsewhere, once grey water is put in a tank, it has to be treated as if it were black water in NC. You can use grey water only in a drought and then by hand watering non-food trees and shrubs. So, you could take your dish pan and water a shrub with it during a drought, but not during "normal" times. Put it in a tank, and then you would need to have a water treatment plant to run it though before being able to use that water. The grey water tank can stink pretty badly because bacteria also grow there. That is why it has to be considered the same as black water. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 6:14am
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+1. True graywater disposal systems are designed to immediately disperse the waste water into the soil. As soon as the water enters a storage tank in begins to undergo anaerobic decomposition which turns it into blackwater.
Composting toilets combined with graywater dispersal systems were a "thing" in the green homebuilding community 30 years ago until people realized that there was really no significant benefit (and a lot more complexity) vs just installing a traditional septic system. I could be wrong but I doubt anyone is installing these systems in new green homes nowadays. For RVs if I were to get another one I think I'd consider a casette toilet and graywater tank combination like what is used on the Nucamp Tab trailers. Adds a little flexibility if one is camped in one of the few dispersed camping areas where immediate graywater dispersal is allowed and the casette can be emptied in a toilet or outhouse. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: RoverPod
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 5:47pm
Here's an article written after some research on grey water dumping by Boondockers Bible. https://www.boondockersbible.com/knowledgebase/can-i-dump-my-gray-water-on-the-ground/
------------- 2017 F150 XLT SuperCab 2020 rPod 180 |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 7:45pm
Thanks, RoverPod. That's how we understand it as well. Once, on an extended stay in a National Forest, the Ranger allowed us to drain some of our grey water. We used a garden hose adapter on our grey drain cap and bucket to water some of the trees and bushes in camp. I don't think the fact that we made the Ranger and camp hosts thin crust pizza in our portable pizza oven played any part in the deal.  ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2022 at 9:03pm
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I would not want to camp in a place where the immediate prior occupant emptied the grey water tank. That is a health hazard. Just because you can do something does not mean that you should do so.
That being said, I once dumped an almost full black water tank on the highway when the factory (reinforced) hangers (yes, two of them) broke. The end dragged and the valve opened. I had to replace the valve and I now use a heavy muffler hanger to hang the pipe. There won't be a third time if I can help it. I am very glad I wasn't behind the trailer. The only thing was it was a hot summer day with lots of sunshine, so I hope the UV rays in the sunshine killed any bacteria quickly. I feel sorry for anyone who was back there. I did not even know about it until someone passing flagged me and let me know there was a problem. I did not know what the problem was until I got to an exit and pulled off though. Check your tank hangers. A composting toilet (to get back on topic) would have helped avoid this situation as there would not have been a tank full of nasty stuff in the first place. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |