Sustainable sanitation pilot project

The pilot project at the Tarumitra Bio-reserve in Patna, Bihar, established an ecological sanitation (ecosan) complex featuring urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) and waterless urinals. The facility separates waste into three streams—urine, greywater, and faeces—allowing for the safe reuse of human excreta as organic fertilizer and soil conditioner for crops such as mustard, onion, potato, cabbage, and chickpea. The complex incorporates sustainable design elements including solar panels for lighting, natural ventilation, and the use of campus materials for construction. By integrating the facility into an environmental education centre, the project uses visual materials and presentations to overcome user apprehension and promote the principles of closed-loop systems. Tarumitra has since become a local knowledge node, providing expert support for other initiatives, such as a pilot project at the nearby Prakash School.

• The ecosan complex utilizes a system that separates waste into three distinct streams: urine and greywater are collected in a dedicated tank, faeces are held in processing chambers, and anal-cleansing water is filtered through sand before entering a field.
• The project demonstrates the agricultural utility of 'humanure', with treated urine being used as an organic fertilizer for crops including chickpea, cabbage, potato, onion, and mustard, alongside ongoing research into its use as a pesticide.
• The facility incorporates several sustainable and inclusive design features, such as solar panels for lighting, natural ventilation, and the installation of ceiling-suspended ropes to assist users with mobility difficulties in squatting or rising.
• To address initial visitor apprehension regarding the use of ecosan toilets, the project implemented the use of visual materials and presentations to explain the benefits of closed-loop systems.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2014). Sustainable sanitation pilot project. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-fs-2014-biharecosan-tarumitra.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Sustainable sanitation pilot project. 2014. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-fs-2014-biharecosan-tarumitra.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Sustainable sanitation pilot project |date=2014 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-fs-2014-biharecosan-tarumitra.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2014sustainable, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Sustainable sanitation pilot project}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2014}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/sei-fs-2014-biharecosan-tarumitra.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }