Toilets in an Open Farm

 This is so fundamental and so needed, so much of importance has been given throughout history by eminent personalities like Gandhi. But it remains still elusive. Everytime i see a person defecating by the side of rail track in clear visibility to even foreign tourists, i feel so fallen. But when station arrives I forget, move past. Head towards a star hotel only to find the costly toilet doesnot have a hand shower. Have they not thought how inconvenient it will be to use paper for people with piles or differently abled.... Aircrafts have such a tiny toilets making so much noise because they use air and water, you get scared, embarrassed that you donot wish to go.  Airports are the best but have partially open dividers.


Trivancore Samasthan Guest Toilet

Surprisingly Mogal emperors have not made it good either. While they were lavioush in decorating everything with gems and marble, toilet is very rugged (Ref Amer Fort).  But Kerala kings had designed it more comfortable for even their guests (Ref Trivancore samasthan).

Moving past you live in giant apartments with septic tanks at basement which no houseowner would have ever visited, whose whereabout only the builder knows. There is no escape route for the toxic gases generated which often get routed through ill maintained cement pipes adjascent to kitchen vents or the gas gradually bouce back through the same internal route reach upto toilet to fill the bathroom and later attached bedroom mildly to pull long term health effects. Thanks to creature comfort - spilt A/C, false roofing, double insulation, curtains, no fresh air anywhere to let the air go out.

Coming back to the toilet. What is the best one  to have in an open farm ?  Western or Indian ? 

Western toiles are convenient in the sense one donot have to bend. Lazy people like me and People with perceived disability of knee joints prefer this. But this is only perceived. When "push comes to shove" any human being including heavy weights can always sit down without injuring themselves unless some doctor has operated their knees and made it a showpiece bolting inorganic metal pieces inside. But that is not the concern. For a proof observe the railway carriage, where often when western is busy and other is free people are at home.

Concern is that western toilets are effective only if it is constantly attended and kept clean and dry. That is impossible to achieve in public toilets. Especially when it is unisex, men use it differently than others and if the ring is not lifted for pee with few drops of spill, then no one can use it then onwards. Moreover western toilets are designed to be kept dry at the floor, which can seldom be maintained that way. complete water wash of the floor would be better than having a little water marks here and there. Imagine railway carriage where chained mug cannot reach you and there is no paper!

Western toilets may be a must for knee operated patients. It is not a priority for normal person in an open farm where people of different kinds will be visiting. There will be workers, officers, family members, students, research scholars... The only way to keep toilet clean would be through frequent water wash and that is better done in Indian toilet by pouring water in whichever way you want. If western is still required can be constructed at a ratio of say 1:5. ie., for every five indian, one can be a western, but kept under lock and key.

So Western toilet is out, atleast for first few commodes.

"Indian toilet is not only the oldest form but also the most scientifically proven form for human anatomy which the western world has been realizing of late and embracing it gradually" Reference Guruprasad.

The squatting position offers complete evacuation and healthy bowl movement. It is more familier, natural and occupies less maintenance.

Next question the following questions have to be answered.

a) Which type of flushing?
b)  How much water required ?
c) what will happen to waste if left open? Should it be closed ?
d) What will happen if flooding happens?
e)  Is there threat of ground water contamination ?
f) Can we use acid or detergents ?
g) What if toad, snake or other animals creep in. What should be the height ?
h) Who will clean the toilet after every use.
g) What is periodic maintenance required
h) Should it be available in the night (lighting condition)
i) Where will the manure be used?
j) Will there be odour ?

Most of these questions are answered by Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabhinternational in his famous two pit design. Reproduced "Sulabh flush compost toilet is eco-friendly, technically appropriate, socio-culturally acceptable and economically affordable. It is an indigenous technology and the toilet can easily be constructed by local labour and materials. It provides health benefits by safe disposal of human excreta on-site. It consists of a pan with a steep slope of 25°-28° and an especially designed trap with 20 mm waterseal requiring only 1.5 to 2 litres of water for flushing, thus helping conserve water. It does not need scavengers to clean the pits."

Radhamurali Farms will use the following design. Toilet at 2 feet height having u tube to hold some water to act as buffer zone and then the tube landing to one of the pits two dug with JCB to be switched to another pit after 4 to 6 months. The pits may be partilly closed with wire gauze but open enough to allow sprinkling of dust, ash and other material.  The first pit will be covered with mud to become compost, added with microbes to accelarate decomposition  when the second pit is operational. There can be a no planting zone for 10-20 feet around, to be filled with shurbs of known kind.  Design to take care that snakes cannot enter inside.

Period. The balance work is easy. Local pulumber know most of it. I estimate this should not cost more than Rs.12,000/- (170 dollars) including walls and roofing.

Reference:

http://guruprasad.net/posts/why-indian-toilet-is-best-scientific-reason/
http://www.sulabhinternational.org/content/two-pit-system