The Kailash Ecovillage project converting human excreta into organic foodstuffs and sanitized compost using new international building codes for compost toilet and urine diversion systems

Abstract

Since March 2014, a sustainably focused community located on a 0.7 hectares site in Portland, Oregon, USA, has been undertaking an experimental composting toilet system modeled after the Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standard (WE-Stand) set out by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). This system collects urine and hot composts human excreta in a dry-composting toilet system for eventual use on the community's organic gardens. The system design reduces the need to access municipal water, sewer, and electrical infrastructure, enhancing emergency preparedness. It conserves an otherwise wasted nutrient flow, and safely produces a valuable compost. The system consists of urine collection vessels, multiple portable collection containers for excreta, toilet paper, and additive, and a compost processor. Urine diversion has allowed the community to reclaim nitrogen and other nutrients otherwise lost in conventional sewage systems, resulting in large savings of potable water and significant carbon sequestration via topsoil creation. Logs showed thermophilic compost temperatures. Compost and urine pathogen testing met American National Standards Institute and National Sanitation Foundation Standard 41 requirements.

Keywords

• ansi
• building code
• cohousing
• compost toilet
• container-based sanitation
• dry toilet
• ecological sanitation
• ecovillage
• emergency preparedness
• humanure
• iapmo
• nsf-41
• urine diversion
• we-stand