File:Colourful "Otji toilet" (UDDT) attached to a house in Otjiwarongo, Namibia (5201186408).jpg

English: Two Otji-Toilets attached to the house

Photo provided by Sonja Berdau in Nov. 2010

ABOUT The Clay house project (CHP) is a namibian non-profit organisation with a Trust board. The „NAMIBIAN CLAY HOUSE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TRUST“ is registered since 1991.

CONTACT P.O.Box 1496 Otjiwarongo Namibia Phone +264-67-304548 Fax +264-67-304557 chp@africaonline.com.na <a href="http://www.clay-house-project.org" rel="nofollow">www.clay-house-project.org</a> Manager: Peter Arndt Co-Manager: Abraham Simon Front Desk: Tertu Shilongo

THE OTJI-TOILET The so called Otji toilet uses a perforated container as collecting device under the toilet pot separates solid from liquid. The solid stays in the container while the liquid runs through a perforated concrete panel underneath the container, from where it filtrates into the ground. After approximately six months the container is filled up with solid. Using a hook, it can easily be moved to the drying area of the installation without entering the tank. There, it will dry out completely and then reduce volume and weight while a second container is collecting the droppings under the toilet pot. After another six months, when the second container is full, the dry solid will be removed from the first container, which can be used again for the next turn. Access is gained by a black metal lid on the backside. The toilet will never fill up, neither with solid nor with liquid. Due to the perforated concrete panel, the tank stays clean and hygienic all the time. A sun based ventilation-system at the back of the toilet provides fresh air, which keeps it dry and ensures an odorless use. After a decomposing the dried solid can be used as a worthy fertilizer.

...INSIDE THE HOUSE: A simple solar operated ventilation system can be installed, so that the toilet can be built indoors, providing modern living comfort. The solar panel on the roof saves in 3-4 hours enough energy to feed an accumulator and a connected fan for 24 hours of ventilation. This system works completely independent from water and electricity networks – everywhere.

+++++++++ The GTZ Namibian Water Resources Management (NWRM) Project together with the Omaruru Basin Management Committee (OmBMC) supported the construction of 21 so called "Otji toilets" in an informal settlement in Omaruru, Nambia. For the next year the municipality of Omaruru together with the support of GTZ and the OmBMC is planning to scale up the implementation of the dry sanitation system in the informal settlements of Omaruru. Further Basin Management Committees supported by GTZ are also planning to implement the locally designed dry excreta management system. The Otji toilet uses a perforated container as collecting device under the toilet pot which separates solid from liquid material. The solids stay in the container while the urine runs through a perforated concrete panel underneath the container (or the urine collects on the walls of a concave-shaped toiled bowl), from where it infiltrates into the ground.

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More documents about Otji toilets can be found in the SuSanA library (just put Otji in the search field): <a href="http://www.susana.org/library" rel="nofollow">www.susana.org/library</a>