Our ecological toilet project began in February 2017, with funds from the local municipal government and visiting tourist groups. Each project takes 4-6 days to complete, and involves: digging trenches and holes for the septic tank and tubing, laying a concrete floor for the bathroom, and installing a toilet, sink, tubing and the composting septic tank.
Since 2017 we have installed 18 ecological toilets throughout the community of Peñas Blancas. There is a waitlist of 26 more families who wish to participate in the project. The counterpart contributed by each family includes the walls and roof for the bathroom, river rocks to fill the wastewater filter, and in some cases the family is responsible for digging the necessary trenches and holes. |
Traditionally, families use latrines, or outhouses for human waste. These are typically simple holes in the ground without any lining to prevent leeching.
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Our solution is to install indoor toilets that work with composting septic tanks, turning the waste into fertilizer.
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Families and tourists visiting the region support every step in the process. The final product is an indoor bathroom, many of which are the family's first.
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