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December 2004 | ![]() |
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0423 1310P-SDTDC |
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Brenda Land, Sanitary Engineer |
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Ken Earlywine, a former U.S. Department of the Interior (USDI) National Park Service employee developed the original micro-flush toilet design. Ken is now a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service employee working on the White River National Forest in Region 2. Ken submitted a proposal to the National Recreation Steering Committee requesting that the USDA Forest Service Technology and Development program transfer the micro-flush toilet design technology to the field. San Dimas Technology and Development Center (SDTDC) received this project through the national steering committee process. This tech tip, written by the SDTDC Sanitary Engineer, is the result of Ken’s technology transfer request. BACKGROUND Toilet facilities in flood plains need to be portable to prevent water pollution when the water level rises. The portable toilets used as temporary facilities at events are inappropriate for long-term use because they are easy to vandalize, to tip over, and to have inappropriate materials placed in them.
Joe Welch Companies, Inc., constructed the land-based, micro-flush toilets in these two NRAs to a USDI National Park Service design. The two main designs are a floating sanitation facility (FSF) (figure 1) and a land-based movable sanitation facility (LSF) (figure 2). Micro-flush toilets also are suitable for use with fixed-toilet vaults. | |||
Floating Sanitation Facilities Figure 1—Floating sanitation facility.
The typical floating steel platform is 28 feet by 32 feet and has a 4,000-gallon holding tank. The minimum recommended 20- by 20-foot platform will carry a 1,000-gallon holding tank. The deck is constructed of a long-lasting fiberglass material. Lake water is used for flushing. A double-walled holding tank fixed below the structure’s floor stores the effluent. Solar panels supply the power. The FSFs at Lake Mead NRA are cleaned and checked weekly, and pumped out once or twice a year. The toilets are removed from the lake and stored during the winter. Land-Based Sanitation Facilities Figure 2—Land-based accessible sanitation Twenty-five solar-powered units are placed along the Boulder Beach District shoreline at Lake Mead. Each LSF has one accessible unisex restroom and one standard unisex restroom. Each restroom has a stainless-steel Microphor micro-flush toilet and a waterless urinal (figure 3). The units at Lake Mead NRA are cleaned and checked daily. They are pumped out every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer and the freshwater reservoir is refilled. They handle approximately 1,000 uses between pumpouts. Figure 3—Waterless urinal and stainless-steel Figure 4 —Water-level change at Lake Mead. The micro-flush toilets held up well to heavy use, although a few mechanical problems occurred with the systems. The cam operating the toilet flapper needs to be cleaned and adjusted periodically, and the battery needs to be replaced every few years. Both ARAMARK Construction Division and Joe Welch Companies, Inc., will build custom-designed micro-flush sanitation facilities. The color and siding material, the number of restrooms, and the sizes of holding tanks may be specified. Vault-Toilet Sanitation Facilities The Microphor stainless-steel toilet, model LF-320, used at Lake Mead NRA is a micro-flush toilet suitable for public facilities. It uses between 1 and 2 quarts of water per flush. This drop-through, nonrecirculating toilet with a flapper maintains a water- and air-tight seal between the bowl and holding tank. The Microphor toilet uses compressed air or electricity and water pressure to assist in emptying the bowl. For price lists and design assistance, contact Microphor, Inc. Pricing (2004) Joe Welch Companies, Inc.— Land-based sanitation facility (LSF) Double restroom unit, one side Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible: $21,500 Single ADA-accessible restroom: $16,000 Single non-ADA accessible restroom: $14,000 ADA-accessible ramp: $2,850 ARAMARK Construction Division— Floating sanitation facility (FSF) Flotation platform, 4,000-gallon double-walled waste tank, double restroom, porta-potty dump station, boat-pumpout system, solar power system, anchor system, motion sensor lighting, and alarms: $161,500 Microphor, Inc. Contact manufacturer for prices.
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Additional Information ARAMARK Corp. Construction Division Joe Welch Companies, Inc. Microphor, Inc. Information contained in this document has been developed for the guidance of employees of the Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), its contractors, and cooperating Federal and State agencies. The USDA assumes no responsibility for the interpretation or use of this information by other than its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official evaluation, conclusion, recommendation, endorsement, or approval of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |