Indian Company Launches Solar-Powered Self-Cleaning Toilets

By Mridul Chadha, cleantechnica.com   October 23rd, 2014

An Indian company has announced a potentially revolutionary leap in sanitation and hygiene with the launch of a solar-powered toilet to coincide with the launch of the Clean India Mission.

Eram Scientific has announced the launch of the innovative “electronic toilet” armed with “state-of-the-art technology to address public sanitation challenges.” This product has been specifically modified for use in schools.

Made of mild steel, the enclosure of the toilet is sleek and aesthetically pleasing, the company claims. The unit is self-sustaining and equipped with internet connectivity for remote access.

A user needs to insert a coin to initiate operation of the toilet. Upon the insertion of the coin, the door opens and a light is turned on. The user is even directed through voice commands. Water usage is also automated in this toilet. The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 liters of water after 3 minutes of usage or 4.5 liters if usage is longer. All these operations are conducted using solar panels making the toilet completely “off-grid.” The toilets to be installed in schools are expected to be usable free of charge.

The solar-powered toilet in schools can prove revolutionary in India. Lack of sanitary facilities in schools in semi-urban and rural areas is among the leading reasons for parents not sending their children, especially girls, to the schools.

A recent report filed by a leading Indian newspaper claims that the Directorate of Education found that several schools in India lack adequate number of toilets for their students. One of the girls’ schools in the national capital Delhi has a ratio of one toilet for 1,669 students. Boys’ schools fare only marginally better.

Officials of the Directorate say they usually aim for a ratio of one toilet per 100 students but would strive for a short-term target of one toilet per 140 students. Non-government organisations are hopeful that following this survey by the Ministry of Human Resources and the launch of Prime Minister’s Clean India mission there will be a significant change in the ground-reality. Technical advances like the solar-powered toilets launched by Eram Scientific can certainly play a crucial role in this regard.