Environment-friendly toilets launched in Moldova

They do not pollute the environment and don’t need water to work, as the collected waste can be used to fertilize soil. They are the first toilets of the EcoSan type in Moldova, also called “dry toilets”. The first ones were installed in the lycee from Rusestii Noi village, Ialoveni district, Info-Prim Neo reports. The toilets were built within the EcoSan project, of the Water and Drainage program of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). They are the result of the cooperation between the Ialoveni raion Council, the mayor office of Rusestii Noi, the lycee administration and the SDC. Thus, 260 students will have improved sanitary conditions. According to a communique by SDC, “EcoSan” stands for “ecological sanitation”. This environment protection technology is largely used not only in developing, but also in developed countries. Among those Sweden, Finland and Germany use them most largely. The functioning principle of these toilets is that they hold the urine and feces in separate compartments. Thus they hold in the smell and after a storing period they can be used to fertilize fields. Unlike the outdoor toilets – most frequent in Moldova’s rural areas – the EcoSan toilets do not pollute the underground waters. Worth of mentioning is that 80% of the village wells in Moldova are polluted and cause severe health problems. Unlike the usual toilets the EcoSan ones do not use the average 27 liters of water a day per one person and don’t need to get connected to drainage. The EcoSan Project contributes to the Millennium Development Objectives no. 7 (insuring sustainability of environment). SDC’s Water and Drainage Program supports the improvement of water supply and drainage system since 2001, having cooperated with local people and authorities.