Toilet Standards

I mentioned previously I'd tracked down a copy of the Australian Standard for Waterless Composting Toilets at the National Library. AS/NZS 1546.2 was most recently updated in 2008.

The initial goal was to build a Jenkins-style lovable loo,

With an associated humanure hacienda.

Because simple is usually best. So, how does this fit with the standards against which we must adhere?

Well, firstly the AS/NZS 1546.2 only seems to apply to manufacturers of waterless composting toilets, not mere mortals wanting to build their own for personal use. Also, upon re-reading the Plumbing Code of Australia the part that refers to WCTs needing to comply with this standard doesn't apply in NSW, where local governments have jurisdiction anyway. One wonders at the point of having a national code at all. This is good, because whilst overall the spirit of the standard implies that the Jenkins model is in keeping with the intentions of the standard, there are a few specific points in the standard to do with limiting possible human contact with the pile that would come down to how people use the system rather than design features.

I'm not sure now exactly which standards we'll be assessed against when we go for approval with the council - potentially only their risk assessment about not contaminating water sources, which I think we have in the bag. We're going to see the Council in a few days for our voluntary pre-development-approval meeting so I will add this to my (rather extensive) list of things to ask them.