A chemical toilet collects human excreta in a holding tank and uses chemicals to minimize odors. They do not require a connection to a water supply and are used in a variety of situations. These toilets are usually, but not always, self-contained and movable. A chemical toilet is structured around a relatively small tank, which requires frequent emptying. It is not connected to a hole in the ground (like a pit latrine), nor to a septic tank, nor is it plumbed into a municipal system leading to a sewage treatment plant.[1] When the tank is emptied, the contents are usually pumped into a sanitary sewer or directly to a treatment plant.
The portable toilets used on construction sites and at large gatherings such as music festivals are well-known types of chemical toilets. As they are usually used for short periods and because of their high prices, they are mostly rented rather than bought, often including servicing and cleaning.[2] A simpler type of chemical toilet may be used in travel trailers (caravans) and on small boats.[3]
Many chemical toilets use a blue dye in the bowl water. In the past, disinfection was generally carried out by mixing formaldehyde, bleach, or similar chemicals with the toilet water when flushed. Modern formulations are nitrate-based and work biologically.[4]
- ^ "What Is a Chemical Toilet? (with pictures)".
- ^ "Account Suspended". Archived from the original on 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
- ^ "Caravan toilets: the ultimate guide". www.outandaboutlive.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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