Terra Preta Toilets 1 Dorothee Spuhler, seecon gmbh

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Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 3 Contents 1.Concept 2.How it can optimise SSWM 3.Design Principals 4.Treatment Efficiency 5.Operation and Maintenance 6.Applicability 7.Pros’ and Cons’ 8.References

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 4 What are Terra Preta Toilets? Terra Preta Toilets are sustainable dry sanitation systems in four steps: Collection - Lacto-fermentation – Vermicomposting – Terra Preta The main features are: Urine Diversion The addition of a special microbial mix to the separately collected urine and faeces (conservation of nutrients via processes similar to lacto- fermetnation) The addition of charcoal to faeces Production of fertile black soil similar to Terra Preta by vermicomposting 1. Concept Sources: GENSCH (2010 b); OTTERPOHL (n.y. b); GUENTHER (2007)

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 5 What is Terra Preta? America. It was generated by pre- Columbian native populations by incorporation of charred residues (charcoal) together with nutrient rich material (kitchen waste, excreta, bones, ash residues etc.) into the soil. Charcoal is the black residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by pyrolysis, the heating biomass in the absence of oxygen. This black carbon is stable and remains in the soil, further it acts like a sponge for water and nutrients in the soil making it extremely fertile. 1. Concept A typical arid soil from the Amazonian region (Left). The fertile, carbon rich and fertile Terra Preta soil (right). Source: GUENTHER (2007) Terra Preta is the name for the special human made black soil in South

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 6 How does it work? Terra Preta Toilet collect urine and faeces separately. To both, urine and faeces, a mix of anaerobic microorganisms is added. Faeces are lacto-fermented (much like yogurt) by the microorganism in anaerobic conditions transforming the organic matter and nutrients into earth conserving carbon and nutrients. The microbial mix in the urine prevents the bacterial urease process, that transforms urea into ammonia (NH 3 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). (This is normally happening when urine is conventionally stored leading to NH 3 and CO 2 loss to the atmosphere). Urine is transformed in a nitrogen rich liquid fertiliser. Faeces are further transformed into stable compost, similar to Terra Preta, by worm enhanced composting (vermicomposting). Kitchen wastes can be treated the same way as the faeces and any other organic waste of the household can be added to the vermicompost. The combined treatment results in no gas emissions and thus no odour and no pollution of the atmosphere 1. Concept

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 7 Terra Preta Sanitation can be applied to any kind of urine diversion dehydration or composting toilet. Thus it provides a safe on-site waterless sanitation system. Solid organic wastes (from the kitchen or garden) can be treated together with toilet products. Waterless means, no water is required and no water is polluted and needs to get cleaned/treated again. The final product of these systems is a compost with similar properties as the highly fertile Terra Preta. Terra Preta can be incorporated into the soil, nutrients are recycled on a local level and food production is increased. In Terra Preta, no gases are produced, reducing thus emission of greenhouse gases, caused by traditional sanitation. The carbon remains in the soil in a stable form (black carbon) for centuries contributing to the carbon sequestration (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere. 2. How can it optimize SSWM?

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 8 Main elements of Terra Preta Toilets Terra Preta toilets can be newly constructed or adapted from any other existing toilet (e.g. UDDT, composting toilet). Mandatory design elements are: 3. Design Principals A toilet (including superstruct ure, seats and slabs) Airtight faeces collection chamber Airtight urine collection vessel Urine diversion (Vermi)com -posting site Microbial mix Sources: GENSCH (2010 b); OTTERPOHL (n.y. b); GUENTHER (2007)

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: Design Principals Sources: TILLEY et al. (2008); GENSCH (2010 b); GUENTHER (2007) Terra Preta Toilets adopt the Terra Preta Sanitation (TPS) approach to urine diverting toilets. TPS is: (1) Collection (2) Lacto-fermentation, (3) Addition of charcoal and vermicomposting, (4) Incorporation of terra preta compost into soils. Overview on the Terra Preta Sanitation process

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 10 Urine Collection Urine can be collected in any airtight, sealable container. Most simple urine collection containers are jerrycans The microbial mix is introduced into the urine container before use. About 0.5 L for a 20 L jerrican of the microbial mix. (GENSCH 2010 b) In normal conditions, urea contained in the urine is lost to the atmosphere as ammonia (NH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) via a process called urease. With the microbial mix, urease is prevented: ◦ No gas emission ◦ No bad odour ◦ Conversion of NH4 and CO2 in the urine ◦ High fertilising value of urine After 1 month to 6 month (OTERRPOHL n.y. a; FACTURA et al. 2010), the urine can be used as liquid fertiliser or added to vermicompost to enrich it in nutrients. 3. Design Principals

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 11 Faeces Collection As for urine, any sealable bucket can be used as collection chamber. The microbial mix is added after each use or after the bucket is full. The container is sealed after each use The container is sealed after it is full and left beside for lacto- fermentation Lacto-fermented for at least 1 month (-6 month) (OTERRPOHL n.y. a; FACTURA et al. 2010). Carbon and nutrients are transformed to stable soil No gases, no odour Addition of charcoal mix To add black carbon No humidity, no odour In vermicomposting, the faeces with the added mix are transformed into black earth and humus, similar to Terra Preta. 3. Design Principals

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 12 Lacto-fermentation and vermicomposting Lacto-fermentation A microbial process used for sterilisation in food industry (e.g. yogurt, Sauerkraut, etc.) Pathogens are killed (due to acidity) No gases, thus no volatilisation of organic matter or nutrients Vermicomposting Earth worms break down organic matter together with nutrient rich matter Their cast forms complex humus molecules Organic matter and nutrients are conserved in the soil 3. Design Principals Source: OTTERPOHL (n.y. b)

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 13 Added material 3. Design Principals Charcoal mix: Charcoal Stone dust Finely cut wood Some limestone or volcanic soil Wood can be replaced with any other bulking agent to raise C/N necessary for vermicomposting. The mix can be prepared in advance and stored close to the toilet (keep it dry!). Microbial mix: Similar to commercial available effective microorganisms (EM) mix, but specifically designed to prepare for vermicompost and for free! Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus mesentericus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Azotobacter croococcum and Lactobacillus Available at the Technical University Hamburg- Harburg (TUHH, Institute of Wastewater Management and Protection, aww, Germany) or from the Xavier University Sustainable Sanitation Center (Philippines) To prepare a lacto-fermentation microbial mix, on can also take an Inoculum from Sauerkraut liquor. Picture sources: OTTERPOHL (n.y. b); GENSCH (2010 a)

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 14 Health aspects Lacto-fermentation is an established process for food sterilisation in the food industry. Vermicomposting is an established process for the treatment of organic waste and has also been applied to faeces and faecal sludge. (BUZIE and OTTERPOHL n.y.; OTTERPOHL n.y. b) A recent publication indicates a 99 % inactivation of indicator bacteria. (FACTURA et al. 2010) But the process is still new and the effect on other organism (more persistant pathogenes) requires further investigations! 4. Treatment Efficiency Source: FACTURA et al. (2010)

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 15 Operation and maintenance for Terra Preta Toilets are relatively low, but crucial for a good sanitation! Main tasks ◦ Add microbial mix and charcoal mix -Urine tank: before use -Faeces chamber: either after each use or before lacto-fermentation ◦ Control airthightness of faeces and urine tank ◦ Clean urine pipes from deposits ◦ Change the urine and faeces tank when necessary Vermicomposting: check moisture and temperature Preparation and maintenance of the stock microbial mix (GENSCH 2010 b) ◦ Feed the the microorganism once a week with some water and sugar source (blended bananas, sugar cane juice etc.) which as been cooked and cooled down previously (for sterilisation) ◦ Sugar content of the solution 3 to 5 % ◦ Label the bottles containing the microbial mix and keep them away from children 4. Operation and Maintenance (O&M)

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: 16 Terra Preta Sanitation can be applied to every toilet in any climate (even though high temperatures enhance the process) at household, institutional of community level. Compulsory criteria are ◦ A separate collection and storage facility for urine and faeces ◦ Space for vermicomposting ◦ Need for liquid fertiliser (urine) and Terra Preta ◦ Availability of charcoal and microbial mix They are particularly adapted to ◦ Urban or indoor toilets as no gas and no odour is produced ◦ Where soil degradation is an issue 5. Applicability

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: Pros’ and Cons’ Advantages: No odour and no need for ventilation or dehydration system Urine, faeces as well as organic wastes can be treated together Requires little space Production of liquid fertiliser and highly fertile, long lasting soil (Terra Preta) Contributes to reducing green house gas emission Potential for carbon sequestration High pathogen reduction Disadvantages: Relatively new technology (requires further research) Operation and maintenance is low, but crucial for correct functioning (e.g. growth of microbial mix) Need for Terra Preta compost and urine fertiliser required

Terra Preta Toilets Find this presentation and more on: References FACTURA, H., BETTENDORF, T., BUZIE C., PIEPLOW H., RECKIN J., OTTERPOHL R. (2010): Terra Preta Sanitation: re- discovered from an ancient Amazonian civilisation - integrating sanitation, bio-waste management and agriculture. In: Water Science and Technology, accepted for publication GENSCH, R. (2010) a: Terra Preta Sanitation (TPS) Workshop, April 5-8, Cagayan de Oro City: Sustainable Sanitation Center, Xavier University GENSCH, R. (2010) b: Terra Preta Sanitation. Overview. Cagayan de Oro: Xavier University, Sustainable Sanitation Center GUENTHER, F. (2007): Carbon sequestration for everybody: decrease atmospheric carbon dioxide, earn money and improve the soil. In: Energy and Environment submitted ( ). Available at: [Accessed: ] OTHERPOHL, R. (n.y.) a: Terra Preta Sanitation- full reuse in sanitation and bio-waste-management. Hamburg: Institute of Wastewater Management and Protection (aww), Technical University Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH). Available at: [Accessed: ] OTTERPOHL, R. (n.y) b: Waste Water Reuse in Buildings. Hamburg: Institute of Wastewater Managemetn and Protection (aww), Technical University Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH). TILLEY, E., LUETHI, C., MOREL, A., ZURBRUEGG, C., SCHERTENLEIB, R. (2008): Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies. Duebendorf and Geneva: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science (EAWAG) & Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) Available at: Accessed: ]

Terra Preta Toilets 19 “Linking up Sustainable Sanitation, Water Management & Agriculture” SSWM is an initiative supported by: Compiled by: