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Date:         Sat, 29 Jan 2011 04:07:40 -0500
Reply-To:     Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: PORTABLE TOILETS
Comments: To: Richard Jones <Jones@COLORADO.EDU>

On Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:24:39 -0700, Richard A Jones <Jones@COLORADO.EDU> wrote:

>An option, which I haven't used, is to empty the smaller one in >various BLM or FS pit toilets, every few days as needed.

Richard, Except for the newer so-called "green" chemicals, dumping portable toilet chemicals in a pit toilet will undesireably inhibit the bacterial action needed for decompostion of the waste. The same goes for a toilet serviced by a septic tank, though a small amount of chemicals will likely not do much harm.

The good news is that pit toilets, which are nothing more than an outhouse over a hole in the ground, are increasingly rare, even in the remote,wide- open spaces in the West. There are still a few here and there, but not many at all. The BLM and USFS toilets to which you referred are almost certainly vault toilets, now usually prefabricated concrete structures, often delivered in one piece ready to set on the "basement", which is the vault. These do not rely on bacterial action to decompose the waste, but are instead pumped out periodically, so portable toilet chemicals will not have an adverse affect on vault toilets. However, trash in the toilet is a big problem because it fouls the pump when the vault is being emptied.

Bill


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