Assessment of a Waterless Toilet

Abstract

Waterless toilets are decentralized compost toilet systems that process human wastes within its own confinement. The aim of this research was to assess the current status of a waterless toilet at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and to propose a solution to the identified problems. Data were collected using both informal and formal surveys. The informal survey was done via direct observation while the formal survey was undertaken by administering and analysis questionnaires. Direct observation was undertaken to access the physical state and sanitary condition of the toilet and its environment while questionnaires were administered to 50 respondents in order to corroborate the informal survey. The informal survey revealed the poor hygiene condition within the toilet facility due to lack of maintenance and non-provision of cleansing material. Also, outside the toilet facilities, the environment was littered with human waste. The result from the formal survey expressed the user’s fear of catching germs. Findings from the survey show that over 70% of respondents would be comfortable in using the toilet if it is well maintained. Some of the remedies recommended to improve the hygienic condition of the toilet include provision of instructional material to orientate users on the use of toilet, constant maintenance and provision of buckets of ash / wood shavings and scoopers to be applied to the faeces to act as a bulking agent and also to reduce unpleasant odour.