TY - JOUR
T1 - Field testing of a prototype mechanical dry toilet flush
AU - Hennigs, Jan
AU - Ravndal, Kristin T.
AU - Blose, Thubelihle
AU - Toolaram, Anju
AU - Sindall, Rebecca C.
AU - Barrington, Dani
AU - Collins, Matt
AU - Engineer, Bhavin
AU - Kolios, Athanasios J.
AU - McAdam, Ewan
AU - Parker, Alison
AU - Williams, Leon
AU - Tyrrel, Sean
PY - 2019/6/10
Y1 - 2019/6/10
N2 - A prototype of a non-fluid based mechanical toilet flush was tested in a semi-public, institutional setting and in selected peri-urban households in eThekwini municipality, Republic of South Africa. The mechanism's functionality and users' perception of the flush were assessed. User perception varied depending on background: Users accustomed to porcelain water flush toilets were open to, yet reserved about the idea of using a waterless flush in their homes. Those who commonly use Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets were far more receptive. The user-centred field trials were complemented by a controlled laboratory experiment, using synthetic urine, -faeces, and -menstrual blood, to systematically assess the efficiency of three swipe materials to clean the rotating bowl of the flush. A silicone rubber with oil-bleed-effect was found to be the best performing material for the swipe. Lubrication of the bowl prior to use further reduced fouling. A mechanical waterless flush that does not require consumables, like plastic wrappers, is a novelty and could – implemented in existing dry toilet systems – improve acceptance and thus the success of waterless sanitation.
AB - A prototype of a non-fluid based mechanical toilet flush was tested in a semi-public, institutional setting and in selected peri-urban households in eThekwini municipality, Republic of South Africa. The mechanism's functionality and users' perception of the flush were assessed. User perception varied depending on background: Users accustomed to porcelain water flush toilets were open to, yet reserved about the idea of using a waterless flush in their homes. Those who commonly use Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets were far more receptive. The user-centred field trials were complemented by a controlled laboratory experiment, using synthetic urine, -faeces, and -menstrual blood, to systematically assess the efficiency of three swipe materials to clean the rotating bowl of the flush. A silicone rubber with oil-bleed-effect was found to be the best performing material for the swipe. Lubrication of the bowl prior to use further reduced fouling. A mechanical waterless flush that does not require consumables, like plastic wrappers, is a novelty and could – implemented in existing dry toilet systems – improve acceptance and thus the success of waterless sanitation.
KW - iterative design
KW - reinvent the toilet challenge
KW - science-design interface
KW - user testing
KW - WASH
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062442502&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.220
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.220
M3 - Article
C2 - 30852218
AN - SCOPUS:85062442502
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 668
SP - 419
EP - 431
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -