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SST Waterless Restroom Vs. The Outhouse
Romtec SST Traditional
(Click Here to download .pdf)
Have you ever had to pass on using an outhouse restroom due to odor and appearance? I know that I have, and for that reason I find myself “holding it” often.
Most outhouse restrooms have very little venting and often, they stink. The ventilation system in a typical outhouse restricts fresh air from entering and then there is nowhere for the odor to go, except back through the toilet and into the restroom. The smell coming up through the toilet usually dominates, and you either have to hold your breath, or breathe in that awful smell.
Romtec SST Aspen
At Romtec I learned about the SST Waterless Vault Restrooms (Traditional’s and Aspen’s). I soon realized that Romtec’s SST Waterless
Vault Restrooms have an advanced ventilation system, and have no odor problems unlike other outhouse restrooms. Romtec’s design brings fresh air in through a vent next to the toilet leaving the stinky air to be pulled up through a 12” vent pipe which is attached to the vault.
It’s great that there’s actually a waterless outdoor restroom that is odorless and looks inviting. I am glad to be a part of Romtec, who has made your outhouse restroom experience a whole lot better.
Please explain how these waterless systems work. Is it similar to an outhouse needing to be emptied from time to time? How is that done?
Thanks for the comment on the SST restroom design. The structure sits above an underground vault, (750 or 1000 gallons), that is designed to pull odors from the interior exhausting the fumes from the vent stack above. Hence the name “Sweet Smelling Toilet”. The vaults do need to be emptied from time to time as needed depending on capacity:
750 gallon vault = approximately 15,000 uses
1000 gallon vault = approximately 20,000 uses
The same companies that provide pumping services for Porta-Johns can be used to empty the vaults when needed. The vault is sloped towards the exterior accessible clean out, for easy cleaning. The SST system was designed in the 1970’s in collaboration with the USFS, to provide odorless waterless restrooms, and has been a standard since.