I had to laugh a bit yesterday when the DHL guy brought two big and somewhat heavy packages to my flat: “Shit matters” is printed on the boxes. As a matter of fact, this is one of the best, smartest and cleverly plurivalent marketing claims I´ve ever came across. Shit matters: In the purest sense of the words, means that my (and your) shit really matters. And, that your shit turns to simple matter. Well, what´s inside the box? Of course, a so-called “no mix”-toilet, or, a bit more laboriously verbalized, a “source separation toilet”. I am seriously considering to install this one on my new boat.
There are many reasons for me to take a look at alternatives to ordinary boat lavatory-systems. For my Omega 42 yacht I´ve already bought the standard Jabsco pumping WC, but I was never really comfortable with the idea of having one of these aboard. My experience with pumping WCs is – funny to write it this way – “mixed”. It kind of works, but you´re never really satisfied. Also, they tend to become leaky and smelly over time. As I am not willing to invest in an electric WC either, this technology seems like a legit and very interesting alternative. So, lets open the boxes and take a look at what´s inside.
The parts of a modern NoMix toilet
Trelino, that´s the brand´s name, is a relatively young German company. They are proud of a strictly localized production, utilizing products sourced in Germany. The timber to make the WC´s corpus grows in the Black Forest, many of the other materials are recycled. Production takes place near Duesseldorf. The guys try to set up a fully controlled and green supply chain, their product is made to last. By taking out the different parts I can feel it: The wooden WC feels heavy, nothing is flimsy or cheap. A Trelino WC starts at 300 Euros, my Trelino “Timber” in size L clocks in at some 750 Euros.
A source separation toilet works – as the name suggests – by separating the solid from the liquid parts of our feces. This means, that the internal components of a NoMix toilet are made of two tanks. One is a solid plastic bucket – this is for the solid matter. And there´s also a canister that will collect the urine. The body is made in such a way that both containers cannot move inside it.
On top of both containers a plastic inlay is placed. This is similar to your ordinary toilet bowl, but with a distinct difference: The big opening is where the solid feces will be falling through right into the box underneath. The urine will be funneled through a small hopper and right into the blue urine canister underneath. On top of all a nicely carved wooden toilet seat is placed. Voilá!
It is indeed a very simply system. All Trelino components convey a sense of high-quality. The company is among the higher priced brands and well known already in the caravan community. There, NoMix toilets have indeed revolutionized the market: The internet is full of caravan owners throwing out their hated chemical-toilets, praising the advantages of the source separation-technology. In fact, my older brother is passionate for caravaning, owning a classy VW California. After asking him, he praised his NoMix-toilet with a glowing review as well. He also told me that in his circle of caravaning friends, almost all have already switched to NoMix toilets.
Why I might go for a source separation toilet
But why do I want to put this on my boat? Well, first of all: I hate pumping WCs, to be honest. On my last boat, the First 27 SE the WC was leaking from the start, even a complete replacement of the pumping unit didn´t do the trick. Secondly, by having the NoMix-toilet, I won´t need two hull-throughs for fresh and waste-water (valves are a constant source of maintenance and potential risk for water ingress), I won´t have to install a black water tank … since normally feces will be drained into the sea anyway, why installing such an overkill of tanks and pipes and valves anyway?
And just look at this design … I mean, this toilet looks like it had been taken right out of an Apple iStore. The design is very nice, clean and neat. I really like it. Can´t wait to put this Trelino Timber in the bathroom of my Omega 42 for the first time. It´s just a gorgeous piece of design. But back to the practical use and the reality of sailing. Being moored in a marina, usually, the facilities of the marina are used to take a dump and personal hygiene. When anchoring, feces are stored normally in the waste water tank, which is then opened and the stuff released when underway.
Of course, when sailing in coastal area, more so in an inshore sailing area, it is suggested not to release the feces into the water. I think, in relation to the shit that is still dumped by commercial shipping, the little amounts of dookies and urine shouldn´t be a problem for the vastness of our oceans, especially since all animals are releasing theirs into the water as well. But of course, a NoMix toilet can also store and keep the stuff for a given time as well, making sure it is disposed of properly when in the next marina or ashore. For the urine canister it is recommended to discard their contents every two to three days, the solid matter, however, as it is completely dry, may remain longer. Mine can contain up to 10 liters … that´s a lot load of shit, really!
How does a NoMix toilet work?
After assembling the toilet, I have to laugh a second time: As a little marketing gag, the package also contains a pair of socks. Stylishly embroidered turds. These guys know how to deal confidently, openly and with a smile with that “serious” matter. The socks fit and so I take a seat to check how comfortable the toilet is. Well, no surprise: The wooden seat is warm and cozy, there is no difference to my home WC at all. Will it work? Well, let´s see …
The inley and separating bowl is perfect. If I´d proceed and let nature do its thing, the urine would be entering the forward part just perfectly and flow right into the urine canister. The large opening underneath my backdoor exit is also perfectly positioned. So I guess, this will work just as fine! And you know what? I am going to test it now!
Will it stink?
Isn´t that exactly what you´ve thought when you started reading this article? To be honest, the question of the odors of a NoMix toilet was indeed among the first I asked when I started to do some research into this topic as well. And guess what? “Will it stink?” is the single most asked question and top 1 search result when asking Google. And of course, the smell of this business is a legit top concern. But the whole internet as well as my brother all give an all-clear signal: When operated the right way, the only smell of a source separation toilet will be some “earthy”, not unpleasant, smell. Comparable to a flowerpot´s odor. Right now, I am as excited as you are, because I don´t know yet.
As urine is separated from the solid feces, and these are bestrewed with some “litter”. I will show this in a follow-up article, for now: This litter is a kind of kitty litter that will speed up the process of drying the feces. As there is no liquid matter, bacteria have no “food”, hence, no chemical reactions take place. The feces will just dry through, no smell at all. Except for the “earthy” component. Fresh urine, unless you haven´t eaten some strange food, is odorless as well. So it shouldn´t stink either.
The urine canister can be closed off with a separate lid, put in a nice Trelino transport bag and brought to a place where the contents can be disposed of. The bag is nice, so I wouldn´t have to walk around with a container full of piss in summer. If more of you guys go for a NoMix toilet, maybe, they also offer a boat-related print on the bag … So, in reality, there shouldn´t be any smell at all, apart from the odors which come naturally whilst taking a dump. The only downside, or let´s say, risk with this system is condensed moisture.
The Trelino NoMix toilet has a small venting opening at her back, but I reckon this won´t be enough. The company offers an electric fan that will make for constant ventilation of the toilet. I am sure, in case the toilet passes its test, I will surely buy such a vent as well for my boat.
Next step: Testing the Trelino NoMix toilet
All in all I am very happy after this unboxing. The brand I went for after my little research turned out to deliver solid, high quality. It´s a good feeling to having invested in a locally made and ecological responsible company as well. As for the product itself, I am really excited to start my 2 week test-phase now. Back in the shipyard I still keep my good old Jabsco just in case this all turns out not to be as promised. For now: Sit down, lean back and relax.
This beautiful piece of joinery will now be thoroughly tested at home. I have set up a protocol to make sure I “measure” the same scores and constant metering scales are applied throughout the test. I will check the obvious questions like “smell” but also the change over time. So you can buckle up and look forward to this next article: Are NoMix toilets really this big-time change in mobile hygiene and a real alternative to composting or chemical toilets or the classic pumping and electric WCs? We will see. If you have a NoMix toilet already on your boat (or installed in your caravan), feel free to leave a comment.
You might find also interesting to read:
Yacht lavatory refit, parts 1 and 5
Gloves on: Repairing a pumping WC on my boat
Electric toilets on yachts, a must-have?