Our Very Own DRY LATRINE

We think it is important to have some first-hand knowledge about the technologies are we promoting in our roles as "Community Development Facilitators" here in the mountainous region of Guerrero, Mexico. (How many of you are smiling to know our job description/title only 1 1/2 years later?!) So at our home, there is a worm bed, compost pile, gray water filtration system, drip irrigation garden, AND a completed, functioning dry latrine. Our hats go off to Martin, who did the 96% of the work. The Work and Learn team that was here in July did the other 4%. There is a urinal, toilet, and sink inside. All three of these are connected to one tube which carries the water out of the dry latrine to a bogenvillia bush. There is a big window in our dry latrine which provides a lovely view of the town. (High enough so no-one can see in.) The toilet is special - in the front part there is a separator, so the urine is carried away (to a plant). The excrement falls in the back, down into a barrel. After every poop, we dump a scoop of saw dust on top of the poop in the barrel. Once the barrel is full, we will put a lid on it and let everything decompose for a year. After that we will have some great organic fertilizer. So the secret is keeping the whole system dry. No smell. No flies. Works great. There are a few differences between this dry latrine and the ones we are building in the communities. This one is larger, has a tiled floor and large window. Martin is a Chicago carpenter after all. :) Come check it out!