Urine Diversion System for
Barrel Composting Toilet, Option #2
(Updated 1-15-13)
Option #2 requires less maintenance than either Option #1 or urinating into a bucket, both of which require periodically emptying a container of urine into a mulch basin. Option #2 consists of 3 basic assemblies: a urine diverter built into each barrel, an optional urinal for men and a subsurface leaching chamber. Perennial plant roots near the leaching chamber can uptake a portion of the urine.
Option #2 is described in the photos below. Also see materials list at bottom of page.
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Urine diverter in barrel toilet. |
Stainless steel screen to prevent urine drain from clogging. Urine drain is made from Super Quick Fill Funnel and secured to barrel with two #10 x 2" stainless steel machine screws and nuts.
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Urine diverter secured to front of barrel with stainless steel machine screws. Note urine drain hose at bottom of funnel. |
Close-up of urine diverter. Note rubber washer securing urine hose to funnel.
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Leaching chamber made from 1/2 of 5 gallon bucket. 1/2" diameter hole is drilled through side of bucket near top. |
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Leaching chamber is buried several inches below grade. In a 2 or 3 barrel system, only one chamber is required. |
Leaching chamber should be centrally located and hoses from all barrels led into it. |
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Urine drain hose exiting front of barrel. Note 1/2" plastic cable clamps and 1/2" stainless steel machine screws securing drain hose. |
Urine drain hose entering leaching chamber. Note: Drain hose must be level or preferably downhill throughout its full length. Uphill sections, even short ones, will tend to stop urine from flowing. |
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Men's urinal made from large funnel. Drain hose can be plumbed into leaching chamber for toilet if urinal is within 5-6' of leaching chamber. Be sure that hose goes downhill from urinal to leaching chamber. |
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Notes on construction:
--#10 stainless steel fasteners are used for securing the urine diverter to the barrel, for securing the urine drain hose clamps to the barrel and for securing the men's urinal to the wall. Holes for these fasteners should be drilled using a 3/16" diameter drill bit.
--The two holes for mounting the urine diverter to the barrel should be at the front of the barrel, about 2-1/2" and 4" below the top of the barrel. Inserting the urine diverter fasteners through these holes is easier if the holes are a bit larger than 3/16" diameter (7/32" is good)
--The hole for the urine drain hose to exit the barrel should be 1/2" in diameter and located about 12" below the top of the barrel.
--The urine drain hoses, one from the men's urinal and one from each barrel, will go into holes drilled near the top of the 5 gallon bucket leaching chamber. These 2 holes should be 1/2" diameter.
--Take care to be sure that hoses are level or downhill all the way from urine diversion funnels to leaching chamber. If not, air bubbles will form in uphill sections, preventing urine from flowing.
--Insert the hose into the funnel (this applies to both the urinal funnel and the diverter funnel), then press the hose into the rubber bushing. Use soapy water on the end of the hose and on the bushing to help get the hose into the bushing. Gently press the bushing down into the funnel for a liquid-tight seal.
Notes on use:
--The urine diversion system so effectively keeps urine out of the toilet barrel that some urine may have to be poured back into the barrel periodically to maintain sufficient moisture for effective decomposition.
--Occasionally pieces of cover material may fall into the urine diverter. If so, remove the screen from the diverter, turn it upside down and spray it clean with squirt bottle used for wetting toilet paper.
--Check bottom of diverter occasionally to be sure rubber bushing around urine drain hose is snug. A loose bushing can allow excessive amounts of urine to enter the active barrel, causing anaerobic conditions and resulting odors.
Materials List for Urine Diversion System
Urine Diverter (per barrel):
--Funnel, FloTool Super Quick Fill
#10714WR $3.50
(AutoZone)
--Fuel line, 1/4 I.D.
8'@$1.20/ft.
$9.00 (AutoZone)
--Rubber bushing, Servalite #RBU
220
$2.50 (Ace)
--Cable clamps, 1/2 plastic,
3@$.20
$1.00 (Ace)
--Machine screws, stainless steel, pan-head #10-24 X 2
2@$.40 $1.00 (Ace)
Flat washers, stainless steel, #10
4@$.20 $1.00 (Ace)
--Nuts, stainless steel, #10-24
4@$.15
$1.00 (Ace)
--Wingnuts, stainless steel, #10-24 4@
.25 $1.00 (Ace)
--Machine screws, stainless steel, pan-head #10-24 X 1/2 3@$.20
$1.00 (Ace)
--Nuts, stainless steel, #10-24
3@$.15
$0.50 (Ace)
--Sink screen, Danco # 88822
$3.47 (Home Depot)
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$24.97
Men's Urinal:
--Funnel, FloTool Giant #
10705
$5.00 (AutoZone)
--Fuel line, 1/4 I.D. 4'@$1.20/ft.
$5.00 (AutoZone)
--Rubber bushing, Servalite #RBU
205
$1.50 (Ace)
-Cable clamps, 1/2 plastic,
3@$.20
$1.00 (Ace)
__________________________
$12.50
Leaching Chamber:
--5 gallon plastic bucket, 1 @ $4.00
$4.00 (Hardware Store)
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Total $41.47