This is one of those subjects that most do not like to talk about, and those who do, can talk for hours: How to deal with human waste on river trips. Technology and regulations have changed, and so has the river runner's outlook on this topic. In the past all you needed was a 20mm rocket box lined with a trash bag to collect waste. The bag was then deposited at a landfill after the trip. Those days are a thing of the past, however.
In October 1993, the EPA ruled that human waste could not longer be disposed of in landfillsthere were exemptions for small sources, but the new regulations started the ball rolling and now on most rivers in the West, the old rocket box, garbage bag combination toilet is illegal. That leaves only a few options for boatersRV dump stations, or SCAT machines (a device that cleans your toilet for you) for waste disposal, and a "bagless" toilet system for the river. The market has taken advantage of this new ruling, and the cost of a waste management system is now fairly high. (A SCAT machine along costs $15,000 $20,000.) But there are ways to make waste disposal more economical.
What system is best for your trip? Well, it depends on how much money you have, how many days you'll be on the river, and how many folks are on your trip. You can make your own toilet system for around $100, or you can spend upwards of $1,000 for a complete setup made out of aluminum.. Some of the large outfitters that had to gear up last year spent as much as $10,000. But you don't have to toss around that kind of money.
The critical thing with your new toilet system is that it cleans out easily, and that it holds up to the rigors of river travel whether that is just the daily wear and tear of packing and unpacking, or the unexpected flip! You can make a bagless toilet out of a rocket box and a fabricated cleanout lid, however, you need to paint the inside of the box and calk the gasket on the inside of the lid to make the system watertight and cleanable. Or you can buy a readymade plastic system for a lot less than those made of aluminum. The plastic systems work quite well for the private boater, but may not stand up to the abuse of a commercial trip.
At the NOLS Utah Base, we bought tow courses' worth of aluminum boxes and clean out lids and spent around $2,000. They work well, but the price is high, so we make one system out of rocket boxes and went to the local RV dealer to purchase the pieces and parts to make a cleanout lid (each box cost $15 and the lid cost approximately $30). The result for $90 we had another toilet that works as well as the $1,000 system.
How many containers should you take? There is a pretty simple way to figure this. A rocket box will hold about 6070 uses/box. This will vary depending on whether or not you put liquid waste in the box more on that subject later. Here is another method of figuring out how many boxes you need:
(No. of people X No. of campsites =
Unit User Days (UUD)
Example: 20 people X 10 nights =
200 UUD
Now divide this number by the use factor:
45 heavy...55 light.
200 UUD/45 = 4.4
200 UUD/55 = 3.6
So split the difference and call it 4.)
One factor that might affect capacity is how much liquid is put into the toilet. If folks just need to urinate, then they need not go in the toilet, rather they should sue whichever method the land agency managing the river recommends for disposing of urine. But if they need to make a deposit in the box, then it is recommended that they be allowed to urinate in it also (which was not the case with the old system). This will keep things in a liquid state that will make the cleanout process a little easier. Liquid volume needs to be monitored. When the box is 2/3 full, you should fill it up with river water and let it slosh until it is time to dump. Some sort of liquid deodorizer can be used: Pinesol or "green goo" work well and can be bought at an RV supple house. Use twoply toilet paper it does not have many binders in it and tends to break down easily.
Who would of thought that a subject like this would be so technical? And let's not forget about one of the most important, but less technical things: Picking a site for the "boom box." You need to find a place that offers some privacy, but on the other hand, the hike should not be so long that you need to take lunch with you. Scenic beauty is also pretty important. On the subject of hygiene, there should be a good wash stand that is part of the system located wherever you put the door. The wash stand that we use at NOLS fits into a supply box that also holds the paper, soap, and deodorizer.
When you get to the takeout it is time to start thinking about who is the lucky one who gets to dump the toilet. The job really is not that bad if you have the right tools and attitude. Most managing agencies are making sure that some sort of appropriate dump station is within reasonable proximity of the takeout. That information should be posted either at the putin or takeout, if it is not, ask a ranger.
The tools you need include a good cleanout lid with a heavy duty dump hose (it is worth the money to buy the premium quality), 50 feet of garden hose to help flush out the system, heavy duty rubber gloves, and a scrub brush. All of these fine accessories can be waiting at the takeout for you, there is no need to bring them on the river. Water pressure is pretty important to help facilitate the flushout. When you are done cleaning everything out, put a little "green goo" with a small amount of water in each box to help combat any odor. Don't forget to wash your hands when you are done.
I guess I fall into the category of being able to ramble on for hours about waste disposal, plus I enjoy trying new things. You just never know how much trial and error, and hopefully not too much error, is involved in getting rid of your waste. Happy dumping in more ways than one.
Mark "Sparky" Donahue and his wife, Pip Coe,
are the NOLS Utah Whitewater Base Managers.
Before coming to the school, Sparky worked for the
Nantahala Outdoor Center for 10 years as both part
of the management team and as a guide trainer. He
has worked adventure travel trips in South and
Central America, and has guided on both the Middle
Fork and the Main Salmon, as well as in the
Grand Canyon, With 20,000 plus river miles, Sparky
has become quite a river waste management expert
over the years. Sparky and Pip have been with
NOLS since 1991.