Bigger cucumbers in Kyrgyzstan thanks to ecosan toilets

World Toilet Day remembers us that proper sanitation is not common all over the world

18.11.2014 |

World Toilet Day (19 November) is a good moment to remember that there are 2.5 billion people in the world who do not have access to proper sanitation, as for example toilets. This affects their health, dignity and security. But is has also consequences for the environment and the social and economical development. WECF introduced ecosan toilets in areas where proper sanitation is lacking. CAAW is one of the organisations promoting them in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz users tell how they are benefitting from these toilets.

An elderly Kyrgyz couple in the village Mangyt has since ten years an ecosan toilet next to their house. It was one of the first toilets that was built in the village and the pair is still very happy with it. They especially appreciate the toilet when it rains, as it has a roof and they stay dry inside. Apart from that the toilet is a comfortable place to go and it is very warm inside, the couple tells. Their plan is to get the blueprints of the toilet and build other ones for their family members.

Another user experienced that the urine that was stored in her ecosan toilet has a beneficiary effect. She uses the urine as a fertilizer in her garden and on her field. This has led to a difference in the quality of her plants. She showed us two cucumbers. One was irrigated with water and the other one with a mix of urine and water. The second cucumber is larger than the first one. The lady has used the urine as a fertilizer for the past two years and said it is a great to have a natural fertilizer so readily available. She does not need to buy chemical fertilizers from the market. The benefit of the urine as a fertilizer has also been noticed by her neighbours, who now come to the lady and ask her for her urine.

More information on ecosan toilets and Urine Diverting Dry Toilets can be found here.

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