Reinvent the toilet: Water Diverting Toilet & Community Sanitation Centers
Themes: Life Science & Health, Social Impact
Early prototype
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
Click to enlarge
Why?
The need for better sanitation in the developing world is clear. 2.5 billion people practice open defecation or lack adequate sanitation facilities, and the consequences can be devastating for human health as well as the environment.
How?
By employing multidisciplinary as well human centered design approaches a water diverting toilet and community sanitation centers have been developed which meet the needs and aspirations of inhabitants of urban informal settlements.
When?
Early prototypes have been tested in informal settlements in India. As a follow up the further development and implementation is being explored in collaboration with India commercial partners, NGO’s and academic institutions.
Dr. Jan Carel Diehl