Biodegradable toilet waste biodigesters are here to stay. In the last few years, they have become one of the safest and most environmentally friendly means of human waste management in Ghana today.
If you have constructed a biodigester or intend to have one constructed for your dream house, we have come up with a few things you can do to protect your digester and ensure that your investment is protected. Let me know of your experience in using a biodigester in the comment section below.
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1. Do not flush your water closet unit unnecessarily
Apart from saving water during hard times, it also affects your pocket.
This is the time to teach your children how to use your facility correctly. Even though a toilet can handle a reasonable amount of toilet paper and it’s safe to flush tissue in the newly designed biofil biodigesters, don’t use your toilet bowl as a universal garbage disposal.
Too much toilet paper can clog the drain. Don’t flush anything else other than human waste and toilet paper down the toilet.
When shopping for toiletries, pick a toilet tissue that’s been proven to break up easily when wet. This way, it won’t cause any trouble when it’s already in your digester.
2. Secure your biodigester.
The third most important thing you must do to protect your biodigester at this time is to secure it. What do we mean by this? Whenever you install a biodigester? the onus lies on you to protect your investment.
This means doing things that generally make your digester last longer. You can fill around your digester to bring it up to the desired level to ensure that soak holes dug for your digester work well. You can then design the digester to fit the general landscape of your compound.
3. Keep trees away from the biodigester.
In the landscaping and general design of your compound, beware of trees that have roots that grow and extend aggressively. They should be kept far from the digester to avoid any damage. You can plant grass instead in the drain field or soak hole area to prevent and minimize instances of soil erosion.
4. Divert rainwater and other wastewater away from the drain field or soak hole area
When the drain field or soak away designed for the digester is soggy, it would have challenges in absorbing the filtered wastewater. To prevent this, landscaping and foundation drains should be planned and executed accurately. Consult a professional regarding this matter.
5. Perform regular maintenance
Make sure a professional maintains your biodigester waste toilet at least once every three years. Remember, the frequency of having your maintenance done varies with each household and their lifestyle; the number of users and the type of facility. It’s best to consult a professional again to know how often you should have maintenance done.
Download the ebook on how to construct a simple onsite biodegradable toilet waste biodigester.
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