By Bob Difley
A fair dedicated to hi tech toilets is not something the average RVer would mark on his calendar and plan to attend, but it was interesting enough for Bill and Melinda Gates to host the Reinvent the Toilet Fair in Seattle, WA this week. The goal of the fair was “showcasing the designs and working prototypes of eight design finalists from around the world” who accepted the challenge to reinvent the toilet.
The Gates’ foundation offered the competition and prize money to stimulate scientists and entrepreneurs to tackle a household item that hasn’t changed much in 150 years, yet is still not accessible to an estimated 2.5 billion people around the world who lack modern sanitation.
“The qualifications for entering stipulated that the toilet must operate without running water, electricity, or a septic system, not discharge pollutants, preferable capture energy or other resources, and operate at a cost of 5 cents a day” writes Donna Gordon Blankinship in USA Today.
That’s a tall order, but the teams were up to the challenge, by turning solid waste into energy (in some cases to run the toilet system) or recycling waste into usable substances like animal feed. Prototypes will be tested over the next three years and successful trials will likely lead to marketable toilets.
But let’s take a step beyond the purpose of the challenge and figure that if the toilet is successful in developing countries by satisfying the required criteria, it wouldn’t be long before some entrepreneur starts looking for other markets, the RV market for instance.
Think what one of these hi tech toilets would mean for your RVing lifestyle–especially for boondockers. First, it would require no water supply to use it, therefore substantially extending your boondocking days before the necessity of refilling your water tank and dumping your holding tank. It would also use no electricity, conserving more amps in the batteries to do other things, and would not discharge pollutants, so would practically eliminate the need for a black water waste tank.
Usually when you hear about new wonderful products coming your way your first reaction is that they will cost a fortune, but the concept being the toilet challenge was to be affordable in third world countries, so how expensive could they be when they hit the RV market? Or am I being naive?
But on the surface, and with the positive results of the challenge, I would guess that you haven’t seen the last of these hi tech toilets–an no more smelly dump stations or waste tanks. That I can get behind.
For RVing articles and tips take a look at my Healthy RV Lifestyle website, where you will also find my ebooks: BOONDOCKING: Finding the Perfect Campsite on America’s Public Lands (PDF or Kindle), 111 Ways to Get the Biggest Bang for your RV Lifestyle Buck (PDF or Kindle), and Snowbird Guide to Boondocking in the Southwestern Deserts (PDF or Kindle), and my newest, The RV Lifestyle: Reflections of Life on the Road (PDF or Kindle reader version). NOTE: Use the Kindle version to read on iPad and iPhone or any device that has the free Kindle reader app.
Pingback: The Unemployed Mom
Fred Brandeberry
Hi guys & gals:
We see waterless urinals all the itme, why not other waste products as well.
Happy camping,
Fred b.
marianj`
I read about this subject in the newspaper, but like the idea for R.V ers . With so many people in the world we all would profit.
Jim
What would a FOAD be?
I am not up on that word
could not find it in the Dictionary
M. Anne
Political commentary, political correctness. Sounds like the thought police to me. Poor Butterbean is now a hater? Of course “W” was never dissed, was he? That’s all I have to say on the subject, lets get back to RV stuff.
Jim G
Mr Butter. REALLY? It serves no purpose to twist this into political commentary, IMHO.
Steve
Good article, Bob.
Water, especially shortage of potable water, is a big problem. Too many Americans are comfortable wasting precious resources. Flushing them down the toilet, so to speak.
There is good reason to use technology to solve some of the worlds’ problems.
I liked the toilet entry that met all the requirements and produced hydrogen as a byproduct. Be careful with that match!
Butterbean, get over your screaming hatefullness. This is not a political fourm. If you think you will change someone’s vote this way, you are mistaken. He is “President” Obama to you. FOAD.
butterbean carpenter
Howdy y’all,
The Gates HAVE been putting THEIR MONEY TOWARD SOLVING THE WORLD’S PROBLEMS for some time, now.. WHAT HAVE YOU PUT YOUR’S TOWARDS???
BILL GATES HAD A IDEA, HIS ‘OWN’ BRAINSTORM, ACTUALLY ‘WORKED’, HIMSELF, ‘BUILT’ A BUSINESS & PRODUCT TO SELL AND MADE A WHOLE LOT OF HIS OWN MONEY!!! THEN STARTED ‘GIVING’ IT AWAY, SO, OTHERS COULD DO THE SAME, WITH A LITTLE HELP..
‘EMPEROR’ OBAMA HAS ‘NEVER’ WORKED IN HIS LIFE OR SWEATED, EVEN!!!
Jim G
Remember that just 10-15 years ago the concept of using wireless technology to do what is so commonplace today began with fhis type of creativity and forward thinking
Bruce McLaughlin
There were several winners in this contest but the best were very expensive-several thousand dollars. All worked well but getting the cost down will be a problem. Make enough and that will help. And turn some of the waste into animal feed, yes they did. Some were solar powered, some hand cranked, all very ingenious.
gary sheldon
Vanishing, invisible edible poo !!!! MMMMMMMM!
josie
Feed to animals?? I think not. The Gates family is going just a bit far over the line with the environmental issues. Generally when we are in a Park, we use the facilities of the park, as opposed to our RV. I can understand the problem when boondocking, but there are alternatives available to carry extra water as well as empty the grey and black water into sealed containers. There are many dump sites available while on the road. Plan ahead.
hoppe
Just as long as the don’t re-invent and try to market the old Crapper ‘Upflush’ model first sold and used in Seattle. LOL
The UP part worked best when the tide was coming in.
Allison Hardy
What isn’t clear is whether there were any actual, usable prototypes developed and displayed at this fanciful fair.
So…what were they?
Tina Gallagher
I can see this as a blessing in countries and refugee camps in desperate need of sanitation. Disasters, public gatherings and other places would definately benefit.
This would not eliminate jobs in the porta-potty business; it would transform them. They would still need to be picked up, delivered, cleaned and so forth- just without dumping a lot of waste or stink.
For boondocking, Vandwellers and the military as well, it will become financially feasible very quickly. It would just be a matter of supply catching up to the demand.
Gary
You have touched the nerve center on what is really needed in the world. We have seen composting toilets, but there is still the matter of waste disposal. If this program really works , it will solve a huge pollution problem world-wide. Now, if it could only work for the RV industry not to mention the homefront, especially in the less developed nation, it would be something that the Gates can finally put their money to good use. We have enough computers. Do something for the world !!!!!!!!!!!