In India, lack of toilets has resulted in defecation in open places, which has created a major sanitary problem. With increased awareness among the people, the government and a number of organisations have come up with public urinals and toilets in various areas. However, most of these public toilets have not been able to live up to the hygienic standards required in a urinal. Most of these toilets remain out of use. People also hesitate to use these toilets because these are very dirty and unhygienic. Hence, new and innovative solutions are required for the betterment of these public toilets.
Eram Scientific Solutions, which is a part of the Eram Group (a Saudi-based $1 billion technology research and development company) came up with India’s first electronic or e-toilet to solve the problem of public toilets in India. For the first time in 2012, the company introduced the revolutionary idea of technology-based toilets to address the problems associated with public sanitation in the society.
What is e-toilet?
e-Toilet is India’s first unmanned Electronic Public Toilet. It is portable, eco-friendly and hygienically maintained with a GPRS-enabled system, monitoring the toilet remotely. Eram Scientific Solutions has named this e-toilet ‘Delight’.
How does an e-toilet works?
These toilets work on a sensor-based technology. It has a self-cleaning and water conservation mechanism. These are unmanned toilets with automated access control. There is remote diagnosis and management through web reports. Waste processing is done through STP. These portable toilets have GPRS-enabled units for real-time updations.
Functionalities
• The user has to insert a coin.
• The door opens automatically.
• The sensor-based light system is turned on once the user enters the toilet.
• There is a programme set on these toilets that flushes 1.5 litres of water after three minutes of usage and 4.5 litres if the usage is longer. The basic idea is to conserve water.
• This e-toilet also is programmed to clean the platform on its own after the toilet has been used by 5 or 10 persons.
• There are not only audio commands inside the toilet to guide the user but also an instruction note pasted outside the toilet to make the user understand the functioning of this toilet.
Features
• The e-toilets are made of durable and corrosion resistant materials like mild steel or stainless steel.
• They look appealing and the automated cleaning mechanism keeps these toilets clean unlike other public toilets.
• These modular toilets can be installed in two to four hours’ time.
• The innovative portable designs are apt to fit in the most crowded areas of Indian towns and cities.
• It is equipped with a Bio Membrane Reactor that helps to recycle the water and reuse it for flushing and cleaning. This is all the more useful in those areas where the drainage tank facility is not available.
• There are solar panels available for alternate energy needs.
• The e-toilet also has a napkin incinerator, napkin vending machine, stainless steel wash basin and a mirror installed inside, considering the basic needs of the female users.
Implementation Status
Till date, Eram Scientific Solutions has installed more than 600 eToilets and around 200 STP units across 13 states in India. More than 150 e-toilets have been set up in various schools.
Installation of e-toilets in India is indeed an effective step towards the creation of urban sanitation infrastructure to create a better quality of life for citizens and tourists. The basic concept of e-toilet offers a full cycle approach in creating a sustainable sanitation by combining mechanical, electronics and web-mobile technologies for remote monitoring of the entry, usage, exit, cleaning and sterilisation. The portable e-toilets also generate revenue.
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