Composting toilet in barn lavatory: has anyone done it?

[arlosmine]

Hello again, farm people!
I’m tinkering with the layout for the barn on the property I’m potentially purchasing, and I’m strongly considering using a composting toilet in the barn lavatory for several reasons.

1. lowers water consumption. Well is low GPM, and I want to conserve well use. Many composting toilets are non-water using units.
2. Area is somewhat arid (dry summers, wet winters), and I want to limit unneeded water use for conservation reasons. I like the idea of guiding the barn towards a conservation-oriented ideal.
3. I wouldn’t have to tie into a septic system, saving big $$$
4. installing “real” bathroom is cost prohibitive, but my clientele would not tolerate a porta-potty. I also dislike the idea of spending $ on potty rental when I could “own-a-potty”.

So far, the reviews I’ve read online sound promising. It appears that I’d need to have the room and potty well-vented, and a good door seal to discourage flys from congregating.

The barn will be a small training operation. 12-ish horses and a small school. I’m guessing 10-15 “uses” per day.

Any experienced users?

[kashmere]

I’ve never seen a composting toilet at a barn, but I’ve used them in many other situations and I don’t see any reason not to install one in a barn. They can have a bit of a smell - but… you’re in a barn, so who cares? As long as you keep it basically clean and do whatever maintenance work is required, I’d say go for it.

[fordtraktor]

Well, having grown up regularly using an outhouse at my Grandma’s (she used one until 1986…growing up in West Virginia is an adventure!) I can tell you that I’m not a big fan. Even if you do everything right it still isn’t a smell I’d want in the barn. Aficionados claim there is no smell but I have never used one that didn’t smell.

All the reviews of composting toilets I’ve read indicate that gnats are a consistent scourge. One of the companies now sends out gnat control products when you buy a composting toilet. I am not surprised.

If you are going to do it, I would absolutely put it in an outbuilding and not in the barn itself. There is a very good reason why outhouses are traditionally not located attached to the home when it is possible to separate them.

[NoSuchPerson]

I’m curious about this as well. I would like to have a toilet and sink in an outbuilding, but my septic system is “grandfathered in” and I’m pretty sure that if I wanted to add another input, it would all become subject to current code and I would have to put in a bigger tank and enlarge the drainfield. $$$$

They have composting toilets in so many of these tiny homes I see on HGTV that I have wondered if it’s a viable alternative for my situation.

[Guilherme]

This might be a viable alternative:

https://incinolet.com/

No water required. Does require electricity. Must be used correctly.

We have one in our weekender LQ and it has worked well for us for many years. They are very popular in the marine industry and in Europe where water or waste disposal facilities are not available or very limited.

Take a look and see!

G.

[msj]

Guilherme, you beat me to it!

I put an Incinolet toilet in my barn a few yrs ago. While it never had the amount of usage the OP is looking for (10-15/day), it was great. Easy to clean, nice to use, and a heck of a lot cheaper than running water line back to another area and having to deal with another leach field, thereby cutting off grazing area.

I wholeheartedly endorse this!

[Guilherme]

Yes, they are a good product.

Mike Rowe got to clean one on a fishing boat because it needed repair and before the repair he needed to do “The Dirty Job”!!!

G.

[gumtree]

Based on actual use and installation of a Sun-Mar composting and an Incinolet don’t be fooled by the advertisement that say “No water” needed.

While it is true they don’t use water like a flush toilet they are not “self cleaning” like a flush toilet. Even a well designed flush toilet doesn’t always clean itself depending on the size/type of the deposit. Something to keep in mind if you don’t like cleaning your own toilet bowl from time to time.

Yes the liners work well enough most of the time. Again depending on “things”. There are many pluses for both and both have their drawbacks.

The “drawbacks” are more of a personal/individual “comfort” level. One thing to install in one’s home another to expect clients, people in general to feel the same about using them.

They are not inexpensive. Nor is installation if not a DIYer.

A low flush toilet uses a bit over 1 gallon of water. Having lived in an off grid cabin and had to haul and store water for the basics. I understand the value of 1 gallon of water.

I understand the value of water in the very arid parts of the country. But considering horses can waste a lot of water just drinking out of a bucket. I don’t think using 20 gallons of water a day with a flush toilet much of a waste. Nor would a lot of your boarders I would guess.

If you don’t have to deal with the “code police” there is really no need to have an expensive leach field/septic-system installed for a low use toilet.

I installed a holding tank and plumbed the toilet to that. When needed I paid the “Honey Dipper” to come by and pump it out.

The whole set up cost a lot less then purchase price of these. I did have an easily accessible water line in the building.

[PeteyPie]

[QUOTE=gumtree;8901953]
Based on actual use and installation of a Sun-Mar composting and an Incinolet don’t be fooled by the advertisement that say “No water” needed.

While it is true they don’t use water like a flush toilet they are not “self cleaning” like a flush toilet. Even a well designed flush toilet doesn’t always clean itself depending on the size/type of the deposit. Something to keep in mind if you don’t like cleaning your own toilet bowl from time to time.

Yes the liners work well enough most of the time. Again depending on “things”. There are many pluses for both and both have their drawbacks.

The “drawbacks” are more of a personal/individual “comfort” level. One thing to install in one’s home another to expect clients, people in general to feel the same about using them.

They are not inexpensive. Nor is installation if not a DIYer.

A low flush toilet uses a bit over 1 gallon of water. Having lived in an off grid cabin and had to haul and store water for the basics. I understand the value of 1 gallon of water.

I understand the value of water in the very arid parts of the country. But considering horses can waste a lot of water just drinking out of a bucket. I don’t think using 20 gallons of water a day with a flush toilet much of a waste. Nor would a lot of your boarders I would guess.

If you don’t have to deal with the “code police” there is really no need to have an expensive leach field/septic-system installed for a low use toilet.

I installed a holding tank and plumbed the toilet to that. When needed I paid the “Honey Dipper” to come by and pump it out.

The whole set up cost a lot less then purchase price of these. I did have an easily accessible water line in the building.[/QUOTE]

That’s a great idea. How did the holding tank work? Did you dig out a hole and place it in there so that the whole system worked with gravity, or did you raise the toilet up a few steps above the level of the holding tank?

How many people use it regularly?

How often do you call the Honey Wagon?

How do you know when the holding tank is full – some unpleasant surprise or do you just somehow check it from time to time (that doesn’t sound like fun!)?

I realize this will vary by region but how much does it cost to have the holding tank pumped?

[OTTB2]

I feel like at this point a outhouse might be better… Not as bad a port a potty but again depends on your client.

[PeteyPie]

More questions for Gumtree:
If OP is using toilets 15 times a day with a one-gallon toilet, let’s just say 20 gallons a day are filling the holding tank. That is 600 gallons a month. How big are the tanks on the Honey Wagons? Can they empty that quantity in one trip so that it would be a monthly service? I realize this is not your business but you know a lot of stuff…

[cherham]

We have an Envirolet (by Sancor) marine vacu-flush toilet installed in our barn. It uses a composting tank rather then a septic tank. We have had this unit installed for approx 8 years now. It works great and does flush with minimal water so it looks and appears as a traditional flush toilet. The composting unit is located in a separate attached room so you cannot hear the pump nor is there any smell whatsoever.

Hubby does clean out the composting part twice a year but it not difficult to do and because all the waste is composted it is basically scooping out dry compost material.

This unit is not inexpensive however but better then installing a new septic system just for the barn. We have 6 boarders (all ladies) and I can tell you it is a very popular room with lots of use! The only problem we have had is politely telling the ladies to keep the toilet paper use down to minimum. Unfortunately a few of our boarders use far too much toilet paper for a composting toilet to handle and we do have to add water once in a while to flush down. No big deal really though.

Oh and you have to buy marine or RV grade toilet paper. One ply only so it decomposes completely. Sorry ladies…the 3 ply thick fuzzy toilet paper is definitely a no-no.

[Cheltenham]

well-- I’ve used outhouses that were smelly and…drafty…that left me very unenthused about au naturel crappers. BUT, here’s what I’ve used that is remarkably not gross and very effective. I have a 5gallon pail with a seat made to fit on 5 gallon pail— woody pet/ compressed sawdust horse bedding pellets. I take it with my in horse trailer for pit stops. I was turned onto it by a Tiny House article I read. put a sprinkle of the sawdust pellets in the bottom, use your composting toilet, when youre dones sprinkle some more pellets in to cover whatever you…deposited. Throw your T paper in, or in a separate trash if u wish. The pellets absorb so much moisture it’s incredible and there is no bad smell. None. Zero odors. I do throw mine out regularly if Ive used it—but on occasions when I forgot…left it in trailer…in summer heat…and thought oh no this will be so gross…no it wasn’t, no smell at all. The key is to layer it—so when u use the composting toilet you have clean pellets to throw down to cover on top and absorb the moisture. This is apparently a popular solution for Tiny Housers. You can adapt to a outhouse.

I have also seen/used the Sun Mar composting peat toilets at other peoples camps—same thing, works great, not gross, zero odors.

[Guilherme]

Before any installation it’s wise to check with your local zoning office to ensure you don’t get into trouble with The Authorities.

Since there is no effluent from an Incinolet I don’t think they require anymore than the permit necessary to run electricity.

If there is effluent, no matter how minor, then you’ll run into the Environmental Authorities. Some are reasonable; some are not.

In TN, AFAIK, a “holding tank” system needs to be permitted. It does not require a perk test but will require an inspection. The biggest risk with a holding system is a failure of “flushing system” component in the toilet tank and “waterlogging” your system. We have a low-water toilet in one bathroom and, after three years, had to replace the float valve as it would not fully close and would just keep running. We are on a standard septic system so it’s not a problem (except with the water bill). If you’re on a well then you have two problems.

In TN, a very low regulation state, permits outhouses but local authorities have the power to outlaw them. In doing some checking I found information that said Texas and New York don’t permit them but Alabama does. Didn’t verify any of that. I would think an outhouse might be a marketing negative for most folks today.

G.

[ThirdCharm]

We have Nature’s Head composting toilets… No problems yet.

Jennifer

[Beentheredonethat]

I’ve been to a barn that had a composting toilet. It was pretty nice. I despise outhouses.

[StormyDay]

There is also this type of toilet where you go into these bags. They fall through and then once a week or so you collect all the bags and throw them away. My cousins have one.
It may be cheaper to buy a small motor home with a toilet though. You could probably get a small, but clean one for 5k And as a bonus, you would have a very nice resting/sitting area for everyone.

[Guilherme]

[QUOTE=StormyDay;8902513]
There is also this type of toilet where you go into these bags. They fall through and then once a week or so you collect all the bags and throw them away. My cousins have one.
It may be cheaper to buy a small motor home with a toilet though. You could probably get a small, but clean one for 5k And as a bonus, you would have a very nice resting/sitting area for everyone.[/QUOTE]

True enough. But what do you do with holding tank effluent?

G.

[StormyDay]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;8902552]
True enough. But what do you do with holding tank effluent?

G.[/QUOTE]

Campsites have the proper disposal tanks. If she is close to a state park or a RV campground there is probably a small fee. (Most people are close to one)
You can pump into your own too, but that’s much harder

[Jarpur]

[QUOTE=StormyDay;8902513]
. . .
It may be cheaper to buy a small motor home with a toilet though. You could probably get a small, but clean one for 5k And as a bonus, you would have a very nice resting/sitting area for everyone.[/QUOTE]

We had to be out of our house for an extended period of time, due to needed repairs. A neighbor offered us the use of his small 5th Wheel travel trailer so that we could still stay on our property, and he set it up in such a way that the tank emptied straight into our house’s septic system. Therefore, the trailer did not have to be towed to a campsite or elsewhere to empty the tank.

As a matter of fact, he had bought the trailer for $5K secondhand. Perhaps Stormy Day’s idea would be feasible.