Reinventing The Toilet

[Lite Beer]

SANITATION

Reinventing the toilet

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation October 21, 2012 1:00 am

BANGKOK: -- "A new generation of toilets" is being shaped now in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia for safe and sustainable sanitation, along with similar efforts in many other countries in the world.

"Safe sanitation means not only nice-looking toilets, but also it should be able to reduce contaminants or pollutants after flushing the toilets," said Assoc Prof Thammarat Koottatep, a researcher for environmental engineering and management at the Asian Institute of Technology's School of Environment, Resources and Development.

He is head of the research team responsible for creating a new generation of toilets in the three countries. It is part of the "Reinventing the Toilet" campaign initiated and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), which is co-chaired by the head of Microsoft and his wife, to try to invent better toilets. BMGF has provided a Bt150-million (US$5 million) research grant to the team.

Thammarat said the research project "Sustainable Decentralised Wastewater Management in Developing Countries" would run until 2017, and his team would seek technologies to reduce contaminants or pollutants left after flushing. The team would not only find solutions for waste treatment but also target reuse of waste.

"We will see what to do next with waste, excreta and urine management. It could be converted to valuable products, such as biogas, fertiliser, electricity or other energy," he said.

Without safe sanitation in human waste management, people would still suffer from diseases, he added.

Of the 20 million cubic metres of domestic wastewater produced per day in Thailand, only 1.6 million cubic metres are collected in sewer networks and sent to treatment plants, many of which do not function. The figures for faecal sludge are equally alarming: in Thailand, 60,000 tonnes of faecal sludge are collected per day, but only 4,500 tonnes per day or less than 10 per cent are treated correctly.

"Not only industries pollute water and environment, but also you and me from our toilets," Thammarat said.

So, this project aims to double the amount of correctly treated faecal sludge with innovative business models. The overarching aim of this research is to reinvent decentralised systems and technologies for treatment and safe disposal of human excreta and wastewater from dwellings and businesses close to their sources. The ultimate goal of the project is to catalyse the commercialisation of novel, superior decentralised wastewater treatment systems aimed at radically improving sanitation for the poor, particularly in urban areas, according to Thammarat.

He said the project would use a market-driven approach that focused on the needs of potential customers, and users would frame technology development and innovation so as to generate bona fide marketplace demand. Products derived from the project would include treatment technologies that are applicable in developing countries and are based on sound scientific, technical and market evidence.

"We want to develop technologies that people would like to use," Thammarat added.

Doulaye Kone, a senior programme officer for water, sanitation and hygiene with the BMGF, said: "When it comes to animal waste, we understand that we can generate biogas from animal waste. So, why can't we apply the same thing to human waste."

"Industries have a wide range of technology innovations to harness energy from organic materials. Our food intake - it's energy. Then our body will process that energy and it will be released. We want high-tech solutions affordable for the majority of people - the 2.5 billion people who don't have access to [reliable sanitary] toilets," he said.

Kone said that in 2011, BMGF launched the programme to reinvent the toilet. It sought forward-looking partners through its own network. AIT is one of the leading research and development organisations with many years of experience in toilet and sanitation issues in Southeast Asia.

"We had the first sanitary engineering programme in Southeast Asia. With an opportunity given by the foundation [bMGF], we hope that we can build a new generation of toilets that would not pollute the environment, including canals in Bangkok," Thammarat said.

The team comprising researchers from AIT, Thammasat, Ramkhamhaeng, the University of Science Ho Chi Minh City and Rajamangala University of Technology in Surin will analyse the market in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia respectively.

During the five years of the project, phase 1 will create a platform for innovation, phase 2 will lead to designing and developing lead options for commercialisation and phase 3 will focus on catalysing commercialisation of lead options.

Kone said the foundation was looking for support from research organisations on technology development, industries as they have the capability to bring innovations to the market, and governments as they can issue proper policies. The project's advisory board includes the Federation of Industry, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and local administrations.

-- The Nation 2012-10-21

[seahorse]

It's been done already.

http://en.wikipedia....mposting_toilet

[OzMick]

But this one is organic.

[CelticBhoy]

Most toilets out here are fine - it is the

lack of toilet paper, soap, and hand towels

for the user that needs changing.

[OzMick]

Despite the picture, the interest is more in sewerage treatment than toilet bowls. Be aware that Thailand has a very unhappy history when it comes to sewerage treatment, attracting scams and corruption more often than flies.

Would anybody be offended if "faecal sludge" was shortened from 12 letters to 4?

[geriatrickid]

Where does most of this untreated waste go?

Hmm, anyone want to take a guess?

Well, there are rivers. You know the places where Thailand had all that aquaculture.

And thern there is the ocean where all those tourist splash about.

And perhaps now we know why Thailand quietly reduced its water pollution categories from 5 to 3, thereby allowing beach areas that would be deemed unfit for swimming in the developed world to remain open.

[noob7]

Interesting, how the picture of a strike at the university hospital in Erlangen/Germany in 2009 makes it to this headline!

The 'girls' only wanted more money, not new toilets!

[asiawatcher]

Bio Cycle systems were put into affect in Australia during the late 1980's (sounds better if I say last century), and have been far more effective than a simple septic tank system. Every village in Thailand could have a system such as the old tech of a Bio Cycle to drain to and assist their land plots with grey water.

Cities are another kettle of fish. The dysfunctional antiquated systems here that as already stated were subject to corruption (can this country do anything without corruption?) is simply in need of upgrade, replacement and extension to be able to handle and treat waste, but the chances of such importance is far outweighed by scams worth billions such as the rice.

[apetley]

Interesting, how the picture of a strike at the university hospital in Erlangen/Germany in 2009 makes it to this headline!

The 'girls' only wanted more money, not new toilets!

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how on earth that pic headed up the article.

Guess the reporter googled "toilet+pic" and chose that one for some reason.

[vijer]

They don't need better toilets they need waste water treatment, but hey if it flows out to sea and you don't see it why bother, right? Hell they can't figure out how to get rain water out of the city let alone collect human waste and process it.

[FOODLOVER]

New Technology Makes Housekeepers Invisible

[1weatherman]

When I was in South Korea back in '94 they were using human waste on farm fields for fertilizer. Gave the country a certain "air" about it. Don't know if Thailand has ever done this, but would guess likely. I can help out with the biogas part if Thailand wants it.

[drdoom6996]

Bio Cycle systems were put into affect in Australia during the late 1980's (sounds better if I say last century), and have been far more effective than a simple septic tank system. Every village in Thailand could have a system such as the old tech of a Bio Cycle to drain to and assist their land plots with grey water.

Cities are another kettle of fish. The dysfunctional antiquated systems here that as already stated were subject to corruption (can this country do anything without corruption?) is simply in need of upgrade, replacement and extension to be able to handle and treat waste, but the chances of such importance is far outweighed by scams worth billions such as the rice.

Never anything good to say about anything. Piss and moan. I'm sure glad he is not watching me.

[PEP]

When I was in South Korea back in '94 they were using human waste on farm fields for fertilizer. Gave the country a certain "air" about it. Don't know if Thailand has ever done this, but would guess likely. I can help out with the biogas part if Thailand wants it.

Goodness gracious me! No corruption here in our Issan Village. For a modest fee the "Tanker Man" pumps the FACEAL MATTER from our septic tanks and then drives to a close by rice paddy and empies his tanker. No permission requested and no objection from the land owner. Fertaliser free of charge. No monetary corruption at all. Can't say the same for the rice.

[noob7]

Interesting, how the picture of a strike at the university hospital in Erlangen/Germany in 2009 makes it to this headline!

The 'girls' only wanted more money, not new toilets!

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how on earth that pic headed up the article.

Guess the reporter googled "toilet+pic" and chose that one for some reason.

This for the Thai -connection!

Edited October 21, 2012 by noob7

[MEL1]

Where does most of this untreated waste go?

Hmm, anyone want to take a guess?

Well, there are rivers. You know the places where Thailand had all that aquaculture.

And thern there is the ocean where all those tourist splash about.

And perhaps now we know why Thailand quietly reduced its water pollution categories from 5 to 3, thereby allowing beach areas that would be deemed unfit for swimming in the developed world to remain open.

Does Rayong ring a bell? Ewww.\

-mel.

[animatic]

Where does most of this untreated waste go?

Hmm, anyone want to take a guess?...

Parliament?

[BookMan]

I have said it before and i'll say it again.

Lets not lose the bum gun!

[dcutman]

Despite the picture, the interest is more in sewerage treatment than toilet bowls. Be aware that Thailand has a very unhappy history when it comes to sewerage treatment, attracting scams and corruption more often than flies.

Would anybody be offended if "faecal sludge" was shortened from 12 letters to 4?

GO FOR IT!

[dcutman]

Most toilets out here are fine - it is the

lack of toilet paper, soap, and hand towels

for the user that needs changing.

Butt sprayer and the back of your pants works well, soap is for girls.

[bigbamboo]

The original toilet seat was actually invented by an Irishman.

Then an Englishman improved the original design by putting a hole in it.

[givenall]

Thailand is now a toilet HUB

[Rancid]

Very surprised at the Thai politicians, surely this is an infrastructure project they could all be making even more millions on. Maybe they have already sucked the Treasury dry and run up unpayable debts, so nothing left.

[lizardtongue]

Of the 20 million cubic metres of domestic wastewater produced per day in Thailand, only 1.6 million cubic metres are collected in sewer networks and sent to treatment plants, many of which do not function. The figures for faecal sludge are equally alarming: in Thailand, 60,000 tonnes of faecal sludge are collected per day, but only 4,500 tonnes per day or less than 10 per cent are treated correctly.

Every day one can read about tax payers money being spent on everything from bids for hosting a F1 race, building nuclear reactors to holidays abroad!

What this or any previous government cannot seem to grasp is that you have to start at the beginning, educate the people, offer a better standard of living the rest will follow.

They appear to want to do anything other than deal with the basics, this is a prime example, how many people require hospital treatment as a result of S%$@#T not being treated correctly?

I shudder to think where it all ends up!

[brianP]

When I was in South Korea back in '94 they were using human waste on farm fields for fertilizer. Gave the country a certain "air" about it. Don't know if Thailand has ever done this, but would guess likely. I can help out with the biogas part if Thailand wants it.

Night soil was in the Phillipines and Vietnam rice fields for years,i could tell you about a lot of shit>

[Thai at Heart]

Ban adverts that envisage 1 bottle of Vixol per day per bathroom would be a start

[MAJIC]

The original toilet seat was actually invented by an Irishman.

Then an Englishman improved the original design by putting a hole in it.

I think he was called Crapper,if I remember correctly.

[kimamey]

Bio Cycle systems were put into affect in Australia during the late 1980's (sounds better if I say last century), and have been far more effective than a simple septic tank system. Every village in Thailand could have a system such as the old tech of a Bio Cycle to drain to and assist their land plots with grey water.

Cities are another kettle of fish. The dysfunctional antiquated systems here that as already stated were subject to corruption (can this country do anything without corruption?) is simply in need of upgrade, replacement and extension to be able to handle and treat waste, but the chances of such importance is far outweighed by scams worth billions such as the rice.

You could say last millennium of course. Sounds even more impressive.

[jerrysteve]

celticbhoy: It does make you wonder where the food service people wash their hands in those food courts coz I have never seen any soap dispensers in those joints.

I hate to imagine if they even wash their hands after taking a bowel movement or playing with themselves and then preparing the food...

YUCK

[jerrysteve]

This would make Mr. Sir John Harrington who invented the flushing toilet in 1596 very proud. Edited October 21, 2012 by jerrysteve