Chemical toilet
- Slovak term: Slovenský termín
- Receptacle used for defecation and urination that contains a strong chemical disinfectant which retards decomposition and reduces smell (WHO 1992).
- A toilet using chemicals to disinfect the waste instead of simply storing it in a hole to decompose (World Plumbing Council Working Group 2008).
Explanation
There are three common types of modern chemical toilets. In the first type, a cylindrical bucket fitted with a plastic lid and seat holds about 50 mm depth of chemical fluid and usually has a capacity of 20-30 litres. The two-tank system includes a flushing-liquid reservoir of fresh water where a deodorizing chemical is pumped manually to the rim of the pan and a waste-storage tank for discharge. The single tank system is fitted with a flushing pan. A manual or electrically operated pump recirculates oil, drawing it from the base of the tank through a filter and discharging it around the rim of the pan. The pan has a counter-balanced flap so that the contents cannot be seen (WHO 1992).
A simple chemical toilet is sometimes found in homes where indoor plumbing is not available. An even simpler chemical toilet consists of a seat on a container or bucket of water, with a solution of chemicals used to disinfect and deodorize (World Plumbing Council Working Group 2008).
Example
A chemical toilet uses formaldehyde as a common form of disinfection chemical. It can be irritating to the skin, nose, and throat. Formaldehyde is being replaced by other proprietary blends such as glutaraldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds. The new chemicals have non-staining dyes and nature-identical perfume oils (World Plumbing Council Working Group 2008).
