By Venus H. Sarmiento

Dagupan City (27 August) -- Just what is a floating toilet and how does it work?

The 'floating sanitary toilets' (FST), a local innovative sanitation technology, was developed by the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health for La Union, Pangasinan and Ilocos residents.

The FST is a low cost pour-flush sanitation facility which floats on water. Its structure and waste treatment materials are made of locally available indigenous materials such as bamboo, nipa, sawali, used plastic drums, sea corals or river gravel/stones, charcoal and garden soil.

It was conceptualized in response to the challenge of preventing the contamination of the different bodies of water with e. coli, vibrio cholera and other micro-organisms causing severe diarrheal diseases and outbreaks.

So how does the FST work?

There are actually three models of FST. For FST Model A, the fecal materials go to the digestion chamber then it is de-sludged offshore. This model is good for one to two persons.

For FST Model B and C, the fecal materials go to the digestion chambers where an aerobic decomposition occurs. The effluents then go to the treatment chamber which further improves the quality of the wastewater to levels within the DENR wastewater standards.

Model B is good for one household composed of four to five persons, while model C is communal and can serve four households.

The FST's primary targets are fish cage/fishpen watchers and operators, households living along riverbanks or coastal areas, floating villages and people needing sanitation facility for aqua culture activities /projects in open rivers and seas.

The cost of materials for FST is quite minimal as per the estimated cost of operation and maintenance per person. Model A costs 18,000 with a P3 cost of operation and maintenance per person. Model B costs 25,000 with maintenance of one peso per person while model C costs 50,000 with less maintenance of less than one peso.

The FST is beneficial both for the bodies of water and the public. Aside from being a low-cost sanitation facility option for bodies of water, it is easy to use and readily accessible. It provides government and the constituents of the opportunity to resolve sanitation issues in a collaborative manner at an affordable cost.