Urine-Diverting Dry Toilet: Design, Manufacturing, and Performance Testing of Earth Concrete

This thesis addresses sanitation challenges in South African informal settlements by adapting an open-source urine-diverting dry toilet (UDDT) user interface for sitting use and for children, and by evaluating earth-based concrete as a lower-cost construction material for the toilet structure. Modified steel molds, based on the original open-source design, were used to cast concrete user interfaces, which were tested for urine-trap efficiency with satisfactory results, and matching concrete seats were produced for adults and children. Cement-stabilized and unstabilized earth concrete mixtures were tested against conventional concrete for mechanical strength and water erosion resistance. Both earth mixtures showed inferior mechanical performance but cost under 65% of conventional concrete, and the cement-stabilized mixture, when coated with brick sealer or linseed oil, achieved erosion resistance comparable to conventional concrete.