open design mould

More than 35% of the world‘s population lack access to safe sanitation. The vision of this project is to empower local craftsmen around the world to integrate EOOS Social Design’s ‘URINE TRAP’, a passive urine separation technology, into toilets that can be produced locally and integrated into already existing toilet slabs. The ODM was created by female designers and improved with feedback out of a co-creation process provided by craftsmen in South Africa.

Urine Diversion is key to improve basic sanitary conditions. Urine mixed with feces causes smell and larger tank or pit volumes, it increases the growth of pathogens which relates to diseases, nitrogen loads in aquatic systems and prevents eutrophication. The reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus for agricultural purposes follows a circular economy thinking and gives an opportunity to create business models such as the production of biological fertilizer for agriculture. Furthermore, the need of artificial fertilizer, the associated costs and emission of transportation and import are avoided.

The production is explained with step-by-step instruction and a video manual. The required skills are simple welding techniques and knowledge in concrete manufacturing. Before casting, a metal mold needs to be welded first. The mold can be further used to produce additional squat pans. Concrete is then poured into the finished mold and a standard PVC pipe is integrated to later be connected to a urine collection tank. After drying, the finished concrete squat pan is released from the mold and secured into a toilet slab.

The casted squat pan toilet can be used to update existing slabs. As a proof of concept, the O.D.M. has been produced in Durban, South Africa, with local craftsmen. In a co-creation process, feedback from this first basic production trials has been incorporated into the production manual. In 2020, a joint field test with Swiss Sandec and Helvetas Foundation started in Nepal. Toilets for 20 households will be produced by local artisans and implemented into an existing sanitation system.

This project has also been honored with receiving the Good Green Design Award.