Toilet Tech Sustainable Outhouse Tour

Toilet Tech (North American distributor of the Ecodomeo toilet): www.toilettech.com/udseats
Ecodomeo (Urine diverting toilet manufacturer in France): www.ecodomeo.com/en/accueil-en/
Video Tour Timeline:
--------------------------
1:52 First look at urine diverting toilet pedestal
4:34 Gravity fed, foot operated, hand washing stations
10:10 Decomposition chamber
11:23 In line septic tank
12:27 Cleaning the urine collection pan
16:25 Demo of toilet using "pee" and "poop"
18:00 Cleaning the conveyor belt
19:32 How to dispose of the decomposed solids
21:09 Slide show of construction photos
We did an exhaustive search among all known outhouse systems in an effort to identify the most environmentally responsible option that would also provide a non-objectionable user experience. We discounted port-a-johns, pit privies, vault toilets, and most composting toilets for various reasons and settled on the Urine Diverting Dry Toilet (UDDT) sold by Toilet Tech Solutions. We believe it is the easiest toilet to use, the most sanitary option (cleanest and least smelly), and the most environmentally sustainable option available for an off grid outhouse.
Unlike most so called composting toilets, Toilet Tech is careful to make the distinction that their UDDT facilitates decomposition and not composting. There are no claims that the solid end product will be usable as compost. Instead the entire design is intended to divert urine from the feces so that natural decomposition of the solids can take place over time. As soil microbes digest the solids they outcompete pathogenic bacteria and the total solid volume decreases to roughly 25% of the original volume.
Because urine is diverted, no bulking agent is required. The user simply steps on a heavy duty foot pedal to convey the feces into the decomposition chamber via a conveyor belt. Few instructions are needed to orient new users to the toilet. It is used in much the same way as a flush toilet: sit (or stand), eliminate into the bowl, toilet paper goes into the bowl, no bulking agent is needed, “flush” by pushing the foot pedal 5 times. The feces exit the outhouse through a hole the back wall and are conveyed into a ventilated decomposition chamber. Weekly maintenance can be completed in less than 15 minutes and is done from the “clean” side of the wall.
At first glance the Toilet Tech UDDT seems similar to some composting toilets. Depending on the model, composting toilets may or may not divert urine from the feces. Composting toilets require the addition of a carbon-rich bulking agent in volumes 3-4 times greater than that of the feces and urine collected. The bulking agent is intended to prevent sludge formation and anaerobic conditions in the collection chamber, but it also requires that the chamber be emptied on a regular basis. Despite their name, composting toilets do not permit conditions that would result in a pathogen-free, stable compost end product. Creating stable, pathogen-free compost that can be safely used as a soil amendment is not a simple task. It requires a 1-4 week period during which the biomass pile reaches and maintains a temperature of at least 130 degrees F (but not more than 160 degrees F) followed by a months-long period when less heat is generated and the nitrogen in the biomass is fixed. Composting toilets are not capable of accommodating this process given the small batches, continual additions of tainted biomass, and limited time before the chamber needs to be emptied.
If the contents of composting toilets are spread prematurely in the environment they can contaminate surface water and cause disease. If the contents are taken to a facility to be composted correctly (or taken to a landfill to be buried), the added bulking agent makes a biohazard waste that is many times greater in volume than the original urine/feces. In contrast, the uniquely effective urine diversion technology of the Toilet Tech UDDT allows the feces to decompose to roughly 25% of their original weight/volume. The decomposition chamber is sized such that it will not need to be emptied for 10-20 years, and when emptying is needed, the volume removed will be about 1/40th that generated by a composting toilet of equivalent use.

[@ladymusic3134]

Have you thought of placing a worm bin where the solids fall? Worms will eat feces and toilet paper, which will also help with preventing bugs and pathogens.

[@CreatedByNoriElan]

GREAT ADVICE!

[@deekelley891]

Wow, who knew

[@jmjlori]

Worms were in an outhouse toilet at a Boy Scout camp we went to once when I was helping the Troup Master. It was creepy, but certainly effective!! With all the kids using it, too!

[@harrybarnhill8029]

Never use worms they cause problems with the soil by adding castings and microorganisms, they also put toxic nitrogen and carbon in the soul that can never be used by any thing other than trees and plants and fungi you dont want that, you want sterile soil with no chance of germ infectin

[@mikefeddersen2476]

@@deekelley891 the Australians, they have a patented system that kicks butt, it's even been tested in a bar/tavern setting. The worms are great!

[@wendy2cc]

A rain-barrel would be useful attached to the gutter to collect water for reuse.

[@kitdriscoll1288]

That's what I was thinking... that roof should be used for rainwater catchment.

[@Superduty_59]

I thought the same thing! Even more reuse and environmentally friendly!

[@pippishortstocking7913]

My ex uses Rubbermaid garbage bins (never used for garbage, I mean he bought what's designed for garbage) and empty deep buckets that pool chemicals & such come packaged in, for water collection.

[@hippiehillape]

Rain catchment feeding into a drip line ran over the leech field. There is a list of good surface plants to put over septic systems, mostly wetlands grasses

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

We looked into reusing the roof runoff, but decided against that because the run off can contain pathogens from bird droppings.

[@HeliPadUSA]

Also the waste chamber should be sloped so no "raking" is required from below the conveyor belt. I've seen several old timey pit toilets have two compartments and one is sloped to a deeper area so it naturally fills up first.

[@seanlupardus2907]

Wow, great build and done right. That's coming from a plumber! I'm going to install this exact toilet system on my off grid property! Thanks, I really appreciate your effort and simple explanations of the build process. God Bless

[@cynthiacrawford6147]

It is very nice!

[@nannettehuffman8397]

And I would hire you to build one for me!!

[@auburnandgrey4457]

Agreed. Excellent build and design.

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

Thank you!

[@scottsatterthwaite4073]

Unfortunately, not legal in most parts of the U.S. Hopefully, our legal system will catch up with science soon.

[@terrijuanette486]

Have you see Paul Stametz' video on using oyster mushrooms to convert/eat up human waste products? Apparently, solid waste beds can be seeded with oyster mushroom spores and the mushrooms eat/convert the potentially hazardous waste into non-hazardous material (called mycoremediation). I'd love to see someone use it and do a video on their experience. Add'l Note: Mycologist, Paul Stametz, purchased a property in the 'Boundary Waters' areas where human waste is strictly controlled. His video on how he removed all signs of human waste via mycoremediation (using oyster mushrooms) was very intriguing.

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

I will have to take a look at that! Thank you!

[@patty9265]

This is by far one of the nicest out house I have seen for off grid living. Well done.

[@TheKnightsShield]

You could also make a pedal operated soap dispenser, rather than having to push down on the plunger with your hands, so that the whole hand washing process is handsfree.

[@mrsteveinsandiego]

Hands free? How do YOU wash hands without rubbing them together? That's what my mama taught me more'n 70 yrs ago.......jus' sayin', like, yuh know what i mean? 😉

[@lindalarsson1436]

There were no dogs around. Sysrem seemed very complicated and high maintenance

[@anneoconnorao]

You are a beautiful teacher, thorough and easy to listen to! Your outhouse is the most technical and rustic making it pleasing to the outdoorist! Nicely done!! If there were awards to be given I would nominate you or vote for your design, execution and tutorial!! Bravo!!

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

Thank you!

[@oldtimefarmboy617]

In the Texas Panhandle there is a business that uses all of the manure from feed lots to create compost. Some local document shredding companies get rid of their shredded paper by taking out to where he compost manure and he mixes it with the manure and builds mounds a couple of 100 yards long. He also mixes microbes and water together and sprays it on the mounds as they are being built. He has a machine that he can use to drive along the mounds and turn them over while adding more microbes. By the time the mounds make their way to the other side of the field the paper and manure has been turned into a rich compost that he sells to gardeners, landscapers, and farmers who he has spreaders to spread it out over their fields. He can also make specialty compost. If you have iron poor soil he collects iron dust and chips from machine shops that he can mix into the manure. One time he got a contract for compost to be spread under a new electrical transmission line that required a certain percentage of wood chips to be added to the manure as it composted. His compost is so good that he has rice farmers in Louisiana and Mississippi that buy his compost and pay to have it trucked out to their fields. So, if your composting is done properly, there is no reason why it can not be spread over your yard and watered in or in your garden if mixed into the soil.

[@firstandlastname2090]

very clever. I love simple solutions. Only thing I'd change would be to divert rain runoff into water tank.

[@chrisamar5137]

This excellent video on his off-grade outhouse was done over a year and a half ago. People have asked comments about freezing temperatures and the author of the video obviously has decided not to answer questions. I myself have been thinking of an outhouse on my off-grid property and this gives me some interesting ideas. For me at the southern edge of the Adirondack mountains freezing is definitely an issue. But I am appreciative of the information and the video and the time to produce it. Thanks.

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Disappointing, especially when he asked for comments and questions. Have you considered a small wood stove for your design? I lived in upstate NY for three years, but I didn't do any winter camping. I know how cold it can get.

[@MrAdam100576]

I was looking into many off grid designs for a project in New Hampshire and considered the following: you could bury the water cistern and use a solar pump. It could be noisy and solar is certainly not as reliable in cold Temps but the water wouldn't freeze if you built it correctly and used the right insulation. 2. There are heating elements that could used to keep the pipe Temps just above freezing. Would solar provide enough consistent wattage? Not sure. 3. With this design you could probably shut off the outside sinks and figure out how to insulate the inside line to prevent freezing while keeping the main water supply unfrozen (either by burying or conditioning. I've heard that just having a pilot light in an insulated room is enough to prevent freezing in some cases...if the water volume is large enough). Good luck.

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

Sorry to be slow to respond to comments. We are in NC so we rarely get consecutive days of sub freezing temps. When we do, we shut off the valve from the tank to the handwashing lines and then drain the hoses by stepping on the pedals. That said we often forget to do that and have not had any damaged hoses or valves. The polycarbonate roof keeps the closet and the outhouse much warmer than the ambient temps.

[@HeliPadUSA]

The clean water chamber could just collect rainwater and be still be mounted high for gravity feed. Screens for bugs and leaves.

[@KTUBE1770]

Best outhouse I’ve ever seen

[@hipdogdsv]

This is the best outhouse/composting toilet video I have ever seen. I love your set up. I'm going to try to do something very similar. I'm living in my unfinished tiny cabin and do have a flushing toilet but I poop outside in my make shift outhouse until I decide for certain how I want to build it. I really like everything about your set up. I do compost my solid waste with dirt and worms. No smell at all.

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

Glad you like it. Good luck with your project!

[@karlau1084]

Excellent video, thank you. Well thought out, detailed, and easy to follow.

[@bradleywhite7664]

Excellent! Best off grid waste management system I’ve ever seen. Well done explaining the build. Going start saving for one myself:) respect….

[@Rusty_Nickle]

Looks awesome. You could put a fitting on the end of those faucets and slow the water down it doesn't need to be flowing that fast just to wash your hands. Might save you some tank filling

[@sholland42]

I just checked out their website and was shocked at how expensive an outhouse can be, especially when a shovel could replace the whole thing.

[@IAmPhoenixRising81]

Same here, who has 5 grand to spend on a toilet alone, then the rest of the material to finish the build, insane

[@lindalarsson1436]

​@@IAmPhoenixRising81 I agree. Too expensive. And the youruber ignored many questions

[@lindalarsson1436]

The maintenance alone was shocking. Example the tree stick.to pick off toilet paper off stuck. Why not put in a garbage pail near toilet . Alot had to be taken apart and put back together.

[@lindalarsson1436]

I like Nate Petroski ideas better. He even installed a bidet .

[@AlexJones-vq5dm]

This is something every house need asap .

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Only people wise enough to live in the country can take full advantage of this resilient tech.

[@shelleybayless8968]

This is absolutely beautiful, and fascinating! I love how every detail was carefully considered. I would’ve liked to see a shower, but I still love it.😍👍

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

We thought about adding an on demand propane heated shower. The Juulca brand is what we considered. It would not be difficult to add that into the closet. In fact the closet in the original designs was going to be the shower.

[@menw7470]

Thomas Crapper would be proud of this ingenious solution!!!

[@vickigonya9432]

Clear and concise tutorial ! Im blown away at how nice this is!

[@cabinman]

I couldn't imagine the cleanup required after a few explosive episodes.

[@yolandazhong845]

This is the best solution i have ever seen on the internet so far!

[@stef1lee]

Now that is pretty awesome. Very well thought out design and very much a must have. We will for sure have one for our camp.

[@fredsimmons2793]

You had me at rat trap spring!

[@MikeH-sg2ue]

Great job, & a nice explanation! All that’s needed now, is a bookshelf, & a magazine rack! Have a good one!

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

It's over $4,000 for one of those toilets!!!! 😱😱 Guess I'm doing a standard outhouse like the Amish use!

[@paperburn]

But the cost in Europe is half the cost. ?/?💩

[@timothyalanogrady]

Yeah i just looked it up its 4500.00 plus shipping 😢

[@janicelane8979]

Put in regular septic system and use collected rain water to flusj

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

@@janicelane8979 That's fine, until you're in a drought.

[@danielhall5364]

Would have been nice to use rain catchment to top off your washing water. An IBC tote to catch and treat the rain water and a solar pump to top off the 35 gallon tank.

[@sknap2728]

Very interesting! This is definitely a great idea for parks and similar sensitive areas. Same with folks living off grid.

[@Naturelover00023]

I loved what you’ve done! Simple, clean and functional. I want one !

[@tutekohe1361]

Very clear and thorough explanation of an excellent design.

[@deronaldbaggett3828]

Great Work, Out house and video!!! My wife was totally against the composting toilet idea but this one she might be alright with!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@ourmainelife455]

Excellent video. We’re going off grid and will definitely be looking into this

[@AhJodie]

This toilet is genius and the bird noises was fabulous. Thank you for sharing and it would be great to have this at my house.

[@YukonianOrangutangInSpace]

Amazing craftsmanship. Based. 10/10 would utilize this outhouse.

[@mikejoos6495]

This is beautiful! Only thing I would change is going to a black tank instead of a clear/white to keep mold from growing.

[@Nachos_with_a_slice_of_lime]

Good catch

[@deannemckee5081]

Nice! I would love one on my farm. Would have to figure out a winterization tho.

[@objuan6]

Well done ! Very tidy

[@jwilliams8320]

Well thought out answering all my questions.

[@fw2010uta]

love this and thank you for posting!!!

[@CarraIsNerdy]

What a thorough video! Thanks... I'm feeling inspired and informed ☺️✌🏾

[@privatepilot4064]

Awsome high tech Urination Station and Poop Portal! Very well done!

[@a.scotth.9955]

Pretty ingenious, that use of a rat trap!! Really impressive!!

[@dannysmith9217]

Magnificent, thoughtful and super creative. Keep em coming, SAHWEET 👍✅😁

[@FloridaGirl-]

Love it 👍 Great job! Love the poly carb rood. Makes it so bright and not creepy like most outhouses! What about winter? Doesn’t the hoses freeze?

[@silverforest4682]

It's a wonderful idea. I'm going to try it!

[@H8ALLwokes]

I'm assuming the property is either in a warm climate or isn't in use during the winter months as YES the hoses & the holding tanks will absolutely freeze without a heat source or possibly adding a salt solution to the water which wouldn't exactly be friendly to the environment or to washed hands I would imagine! lol

[@joeljong931]

The clear roof already extends over the water tank which could be placed on a painted metal shelf and the entire top half of the closet insulated with the hoses placed internally to create a mini green house just to help keep it above freezing.

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

If it going to be below freezing for a couple of days we usually drain the tank of water and empty the lines. One night of freezing temps has not caused any problems thus far.

[@todayslist37737]

​@@joeljong931I like that, greenhouse. Kind of a self heating, insulating set up.

[@hunybeeee]

What do you do in the winter? How do you keep your water from freezing?

[@NorthFork]

this is a next level out house! I like the wash basin beside it idea, just building mine right now and got a few good ideas from the video!

[@hrhplease9119]

Excellent video very informative thank you. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Hunterhunter-ir9nz]

Thanks for spending the time to post this.

[@thorntonart]

Well constructed and super interesting design, thanks for sharing.

[@InJusticeAustralia]

That is just fantastic! It should be compulsory in every home instead of the wasteful polluting systems used now. Thanks for sharing. I just subscribed to learn more.

[@elwendiguy]

This is a great alternative. What was the total cost?

[@sustainableouthouse7753]

Project total $7,782.48 grants $3,000.00 out of pocket expense $4,782.48

[@maorahyahugro8glo538]

I just watched your video and tried to give it a like but my remote is acting up and it went to dislike. I was able to fix the dislike to a like but wanted to leave you a comment so that you would know it was a mistake and you deserve a 10+! I’m new to the whole desire of building an outhouse or anything for that matter and this was a very comprehensive video and I can’t wait to see more from you! I know absolutely nothing about building anything but I believe I’ll be able to accomplish a great building if I follow along and rewind as many times as I need to😂😂😂😂 great job!!!! I hope KZbin doesn’t include my accidental dislike as an actual one!!!!

[@s-c..]

Nice idea, neatly executed & brilliantly presented 👍

[@TheDeBator13]

A perfectly done, thorough, great video.

[@mikefeddersen2476]

Excellent video, you did a great job explaining everything.

[@Truckerchick04942]

This seems like a very EXPENSIVE outhouse setup.

[@ernaverheijdt2925]

Excellent. I want one. Thanks for sharing. Wish you more success as well.

[@plugnickle]

You are an excellent teacher!

[@sharmawade5498]

This so so amazing to see.👏🏾 Thx for sharing 🥰

[@exploringwithrune]

Amazing... Best off grid toilet I have ever seen, that is as close to a "normal" toilet as possible. Good job and good video 👍😀💪

[@Chinther323]

Very clever design and well executed.

[@pasqualhernandez5123]

This has got to be one of the coolest videos I've ever seen on KZbin!!!!!!

[@bfroutdoors]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@kevinjohn3873]

I've built a similar setup : differences are; roof is utilized as water catchment into 1000 litre pod; solar panel on roof to charge heavy cycle battery which provides lighting, exhaust fan and power for water pump at wash stand. All water from wash stand goes into the drop pit. Toilet is a reinforced sided drop pit with a heavy maceration pump set in the bottom of the pit. The waste is pumped out when needed to covered settling/decomposition pits . Once dried/decomposed , (usually six to eight months) this waste is used as compost in non food use gardens. 👍

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Nice. What region are you in?

[@kevinjohn3873]

@@PatrickKQ4HBD Western Queensland; Australia. Semi arid so water is a premium. 👍

[@shai7779]

That's the nicest outhouse I have ever seen.

[@anapantz]

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing.

[@shanesmith3091]

Yes, a very good tutorial, and I really appreciate that you show the actual waste. Many video makers are too coy to show what we do naturally. We have to be realistic about it to learn anything. I think the addition of specific red worms would be a good idea. The worms that come naturally will be normal earthworms whereas the red worms (sorry I don't know their botanical name) work specifically on poo and other organic materials (wood chips/shavings/paper). And the suggestion of a sloping pit floor sounds like a great idea, as they use this on some composting toilets, and the material slowly makes its way downhill while decomposing. I am wondering if it could be incorporated into a home (on an outside wall, of course)? The toilet system I will use also separates the urine from the solids, but in a conventional flush toilet, that flushes 2 litres for the solids and 0.2 litre for the urine. I will send the urine to mix with the grey water to dilute it enough to use on an orchard, while the solids can go into a very much smaller septic tank system, or into the municipal sewerage system. This will save a huge amount of water, as a conventional flushing toilet uses approximately 30 litres a day per person, whereas mine will use 3 litres a day per person.

[@DoubleOld7]

You've covered every eventuality. Super clever! 👍

[@1218kimber]

This is so cool. Thank you.

[@talusranch990]

De-liberalization chamber has good design. Maybe get some street poop from Portland. Room for a few chairs.

[@brilorify]

Great quality video! You should make more! We are interested & subscribed.

[@GaiaCarney]

Thanks for creating & sharing this, Sustainable Outhouse ⭐️ I wish more people understood that sewage is created, not naturally occurring! Even when we ‘squat in the woods’ the solids & liquids are (mostly) separated! With ‘normal’ toilets, we create sewage, add drinking water and then collect it all to be treated!?

[@1crazynordlander]

I am thinking of a place to escape to on the weekends and when I retire. This would be perfect.

[@tokach]

Many brilliant ideas))

[@Ricosyard]

WOW awesome setup

[@PeterBamboo]

This is amazing... we are an offgrid project in guayemala

[@wdodd2761]

That was very interesting and I hope someday to have some land to build something like that. 👍

[@MrAdam100576]

Wow! Amazing job! My only questions are related to winter conditions and whether or not a glass lid for the solids chamber would work to create higher decomposition temperatures. In theory you could use the cured solids for compost. Thoughts?

[@trudymaenza9672]

This is one humdinger of an outside toilet, wow!!

[@susanmei9980]

This is a fantastic design! My dad built an outhouse when I was a kid. We put a lot of work into it. But it was not this techno advanced. We put crushed limestone after using to help decompose. That storage room outside cd be adapted to a shower room. You hv all the plumbing installed. Depends on the climate tho. 🥶 Does your tank freeze in the winter?

[@RobBertholf]

very detailed. thank you.

[@zachflynn6195]

Great video! Loved to learn

[@dustinbutzler1031]

Hey how do you prevent your water from freezing in the winter?

[@Adogslife54]

Glad you asked that. I was thinking the same thing.

[@fnsfabrications6844]

Move south

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

@@fnsfabrications6844 Georgia here. It was 28F this morning in mid-November. Gotta go further. 😉

[@sebastienloyer9471]

Dig deeper

[@davidsmathers5621]

Good job

[@figtree6356]

I'm so curious what extra steps, other than build of course, it would take to include a bidet in this system. Phenomenal video, friend. Thank you for this! If you happen to have any resources to point me to regarding a bidet in combination with this system, please let me know!

[@genegreear4183]

Saw dust is better than wood chips to help decompose poop. It will also keep it from stinking. I saw the problem you have with toilet paper. I also don’t put toilet paper in my composting toilet. I have found by using one of those empty containers that handi wipes come in is the answer. I use double sheets to wipe my bottom and lay them on top of the handi wipe container. When I get done, I fold them all at one time in half. I open the big lid and drop them in. When the container gets full, I take the lid off and just shake it over a trash can. There is no oder while doing this. Then I tie the top of the trash bag and put it in a road side dumpster to be picked up every week. I think the toilet paper starts decomposing the poop on the paper or dries it up enough it doesn’t stink. Anyway. You didn’t convince me to go the same route you have gone but I did find it interesting. My system is just too simple and fool proof to change it. Later

[@gilgarcia3008]

How do you keep the water lines from freezing over in the winter, or to you drain all the lines?😊

[@mariavassilevaMoringaPowderSXM]

Thank you !! Can I have the measurements of the outhouse please

[@lightowl4345]

That is the fanciest most technical outhouse I've ever seen!

[@vickigonya9432]

This is ingenious!!!! Great idea!! Well executed!! I'd planned a dog bathing station with similar plumbing but this is better!!!!

[@TheNomadMonad]

Brilliant tool and demonstration. Thank you. Would like to follow the maker of this video for more info.

[@AustiuNoMatterWho]

i want these on every trail

[@Eric-fv3vd]

engineered and Presented well, beautiful job... Great system I just can't see how this is going to work in cold climate /Northern Canada...

[@pippishortstocking7913]

Ingenious design

[@evelyndorman5301]

This is GENIUS!!!

[@cliffpalermo]

Interesting concept. Lots of birds in this indoor space of his dialogue.

[@leemason4024]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Great build! So inspiring!

[@wanjeaniefoale8971]

How do you manage flies? Here in Australia, blow flies are a huge problem and are attracted to anything smelly. I suppose you would have to make the ventilation fly-proof and seal all the openings, wouldn’t you?