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SUN-MAR COMPOSTING TOILETS AT THE ECOLODGE
RENDEZ-VOUS, SABA,
DUTCH WEST INDIES
The Ecolodge Rendez-Vous is located in a moist tropical climate
at almost 1,700 ft elevation. It consists of a restaurant and 12
guest cottages that each sleep up to 4 persons. We have equipped
2 cottages with the EXCEL NE composting toilets and the remaining
10 with CENTREX NE systems and a Sealand 1-pint flush toilet. The
only reason we switched from the EXCEL to the CENTREX system was
that some guests had a slight problem with the height of the EXCEL
and the “visual” impact of the drum’s content.
The latter is really an “out-of-sight, out-of-mind”
aspect and it doesn’t bother all guests.
Both systems work beautifully and require very little maintenance.
We turn the CENTREX units twice a week and use the compost for fruit
trees and flower beds. We have the gravel leach field under the
concrete slab that supports the unit. This prevents the leach field
from in-filling with soil during heavy rains. The concrete slabs
are slightly slanted to create better drainage of liquids. So far,
we have had no problems with non-biodegradable objects in the toilets
and our guests are entirely happy with the product. As we are totally
dependent upon rainwater collected in cisterns for all our water
supply, the water saving aspect is extremely important to us.
Tom van’t Hof
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