How the ELOO Works

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The Enviro Loo, although not a composting toilet, provides the right environment to treat and stabilize human waste by the natural processes of dehydration and evaporation. The waste is reduced into an inoffensive and harmless, dry ashlike material, which is then disposed of according to county, state, and Federal regulations.

The Eloo operates by separating the liquid and solid waste. This waste is subjected to ambient heat and directed airflow to achieve the necessary dehydration and evaporation to convert this waste, with ancillary bacterial and biological activity, into the dried ashlike material which is approximately 5-10% of its original mass (solid waste). Approximately 100% of the liquid waste evaporates.

The liquid waste drains into the trap area below the solid waste drying plate (see above drawing). By separating the solid and liquid waste, anaerobic conditions (cause of odor) do not occur. Constant, directed air flow through the intake pipes, around and over the drying tray, then up through the vent pipe facilitates both the dehydration and evaporation of the waste. The turbine on top of the vent pipe aids in the air flow and dehydration processes.

Installation of the unit should be with the back of the unit placed to collect the most sunlight and heat. The heat build-up (radiant heat) is absorbed through the UV protected black polyethylene plastic of the manhole cover and vent pipe. The increased internal temperature causes convection airflow which adds to the airflow through the intake pipes.

Depending on the climatic conditions where the Eloo is installed, additional solar fans can be added to the unit to increase air flow. Local state regulations may require a high water alarm be placed in the Eloo. SWSLoo provides a choice of solar or battery alarms, either audio or visual or both, to meet state and/or county requirements. Testing of the Eloo indicates that the evaporation and dehydration processes continue working until the interior temperature of the unit reaches a low of 1 degree farenheit, which means that the Eloo will continue to operate in most climatic conditions in a very large range of temperatures.