EkoLakay toilet

SOIL Haiti

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The EkoLakay is a household ecological toilet. Under this social business model, households pay for EkoLakay toilet installation and a service plan which includes weekly waste collection by SOIL. It is brought to one of SOIL’s two composting waste treatment facilities and transformed from human waste into safe, organic, agricultural-grade compost.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Dense urban areas without piped water or sewer connections. Currently, SOIL claims to be one of the largest waste treatment operations in Haiti..

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

SOIL Haiti

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Toilet cost: $22 (FerroCement model ) – $50 (Wooden model) USD. The price of the toilet is typically factored into the monthly services fee, which is 4-5 USD per month.

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Other waste disposal methods and technologies in urban Haiti.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Households in dense urban areas without piped water or sewer connections.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Both wooden and cement toilet models are manufactured locally.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Open source. ^Interview ^with ^{representative}

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Customers pay approximately $4-5 USD per month which covers toilet installation, carbon cover material, and weekly waste collection..

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

The Ekolakay serves an estimated ~4,000 people in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haïtian (as of March 2016).

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Capacity (Liters)

20 L (5 Gallon) faeces collection container and ~12 L (~3 Gallons) urine collection container.

End product

Agricultural-grade compost.

Storage conditions (Environmental, Temperature ºC)

During composting, soil must achieve 122F for at least 7 days to meet WHO standard for safe treatment of human waste; compost is considered ready for re-use when temperatures in the pile return to ambient levels, ~6-9 months.The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (ideally 30:1), sufficient aeration and moisture content (~50-60%) are also important in facilitating thermophilic decomposition.

Toilet type

Urine Diverting Dry Toilet.

Treatment Method

Solid waste is treated by thermophilic composting. Urine treatment is not specified.

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

EkoLakay toilet specs: * Height (with plastic seat): 21″ * Length: 20″ * Width: 15.75″ * Weight: 28 lbs * Materials: local wood, imported plastic toilet seat, locally made plastic bucket and urine gallon (all materials are purchased locally) * The toilet has a 5 gallon (19 liter) bucket that is changed out each time it is full.

The waste treatment process involves transport to a composting waste treatment facility where the solid waste is covered with bagasse (a by product of sugar cane juice extraction). Over the next few days the temperature of the compost rises, effectively killing any viruses contained in the human waste. The waste is mixed with carbon matter and undergoes a rapid decomposition process for 6+ months until it is transformed into nutrient-rich agricultural compost.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

Technical support is provided by the collection service providers.^Interview ^with ^{representative}

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Replacement components are provided as part of the service contract.^Interview ^with ^{representative}

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Service providers recover any toilets that are defective or at end-of-life and recycle and dispose of them appropriately.^Interview ^with ^{representative}

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Unknown

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

An independent study on SOIL’s composting process found that the Haitian EcoSan composting process was effective in inactivating E. coli and Ascaris spp. in latrine waste within sixteen weeks.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

SOIL Haiti

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Waste handling requires protective clothing.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Unknown

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Tilmans, S. et al., Container-based sanitation: assessing costs and effectiveness of excreta management in Cap Haitien, Haiti.Environment and Urbanization, 2015. 27(1): p. 89-104

Berendes, K. Levy, et al Ascaris and Escherichia coli Inactivation in an Ecological Sanitation System in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. D. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0125336. **This study is one of the first to document efficacy of an ecological sanitation system under field conditions and provides insight into composting methods and monitoring for other international settings.

Designing the Next Generation of Sanitation Businesses, a report by Hystra. September 2014.

User perceptions of and willingness to pay for household container-based sanitation services: experience from Cap Haitien, Haiti. K. Russel, S. Tilmans, S. Kramer, R. Sklar, D. Tillias, and J. Davis. Environment and Urbanization. August 2015: 27(1): 1-15

Additionally, SOIL has published a variety of research, available here

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

SOIL’s waste transformation process exceeds the World Heath Organization’s standards for the thermophilic composting.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Field trials and pilots.

Other information

Informational video

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Solutions Library

Sign In

To search & compare 600+ essential technologies

Laveo Dry Flush Toilet

Cranfield Nano Membrane Toilet

Loowatt Toilet

L’uritonnoir Dry Urinal

Tiger digester tank

Sun-Mar Excel NE Composting Toilet

Clivus Multrum composting toilet systems

Savvyloo

Xipoti toilet

Change: Waterless toilet

EkoLakay toilet

SOIL Haiti

In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors