Microflush

There's a huge need for better sanitation in the developing world. Introducing the microflush toilet:

  • Environmentally friendly and water efficient
  • Doesn't become a vector for malaria or other diseases
  • Low cost/low maintenance
  • Provides greater safety for women and girls
  • Overall, far superior to pit latrines as a sanitation solution
  • Successfully deployed in homes, schools, hospitals and other institutions.

History

The microflush toilet was invented by the late Dr. Stephen Mecca, a Professor of Physics at Providence College in Providence, RI through a grant provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Mecca did more than simply develop the toilet. He was actively involved in deploying it in Africa, Asia and Latin America, both through the Rotary Foundation and GSAP.

Details

For a more detailed explanation of the microflush toilet, click here. (hyperlink to video  )

To learn its secret ingredient, click here.

For technical details, click here, here, and here.

The microflush toilet has inspired other, similar designs such as the Tiger Toilet.

Training

It's easy to learn how to build the microflush toilet.  A series of videos are available that provide step by step instructions.  

If you would like to translate these training videos into other languages, please contact Walter Hughes at walterkhughes@gmail.com

Becoming An Entrepreneur

We believe the only route to clean water and sanitation is through entrepreneurship, not charity.  Our goal is to empower men and women around the world to create businesses that will provide clean water and sanitation.

For many, an excellent starting point is to learn to build microflush toilets.  There are now trained toilet makers in more than 20 countries around the world:

You can also teach yourself.  To learn how to build a microflush toilet, please look at our video training series.

Toiletmaker Forum

One of our key objectives is to reduce the cost of the typical microflush toilet.  The lower the price, the more people who can afford to make the purchase. We believe the best way to reduce costs is through continuous innovation.  To help foster that, we're sponsoring a forum for toilet makers to share their best ideas.

As a result of collaboration amongst toilet makers, here are some of the latest innovations helping to drive down costs.

(Materials Forthcoming)

Want to share ideas with other toilet makers.  We run a forum on WhatsApp.  To learn more about this, click here.    

Financing the Microflush

Besides training men and women to build microflush toilets, we believe it is critical to get banks and microfinance institutions to provide finance.  We've done this successfully, using the following three step model:

  • Step 1: Save money for a down payment
  • Step 2: Figure out what you can build yourself
  • Step 3: Obtain a six month loan from a microfinance institution

Banks and microfinance institutions such as Stegenor Microfinance in Ghana have successfully financed the purchase and installation of microflush toilets.  Customers are able to finance their toilets by making weekly payments.  Toilet loans provide a good source of business for organizations such as Stegenor.

Support

Your financial support of our work to promote the microflush toilet is vital.  Your contributions are tax deductible in the United States through our 501c3 organization.  Please click here.

Rotary

We work closely with Rotarians and the Rotary Foundation to promote the microflush toilet.  

A Rotary Global Grant helped finance the creation of the microflush toilet training videos.  

To learn more about Rotary's involvement with the microflush toilet, click here.

FAQs

(Forthcoming)