Simple Toilet-emergency Sanitation

In poor areas of the world, water is often not available. Not for drinking, for bathing, for flushing – not at all.

The Simple Toilet is a collection of household sanitation devices in one device for poor conditions where no water is available. It can be hand-made in minutes from common or waste materials and need only a cup of water for operation. It is odour-free, portable and can re-use water and waste.

The bowl is fixed with a ring made from a lid, rope or tape (construction versions). A lever made from a piece of wire is used to fold the end of the funnel into the water trap, which can be of different depths. The water trap of the toilet or pissoir contains only a few spoons of water while the water trap of the washbasin, bidet or sink contains about 1/5 liter of water. Assembly lasts about 5 to 15 minutes. Locally available materials can be used: a clay jar instead of a plastic bucket, waxed cloth instead of a plastic bag.

The toilet is odor-free and produces only a low volume of waste water, so one person can use the toilet inside the home for several days. Moreover, several versions of toilet construction can be made: low water toilet, dry toilet, latrine toilet seat, “sphincter” latrine toilet seat. The bowl is tightly squeezed by a ring, and the sink-hole of the bowl is sealed by a water trap. The lever is used to open or close the sink-hole. When the sink-hole is closed odor cannot leak, while the flexible bowl is adapting to gradually increasing pressure of gas. Flushing is accelerated by shaking and wiping with the lever.

The Simple Toilet’s construction involves survival skills that enable people in need to immediately improve their living conditions without depending on any external aid. People can learn them in hours and even develop their own technique for assembly and use. It is a short-term solution for emergency situations and a long-term solution for the poorest worldwide.