The FSDS (Field Septic Disposal System) (formerly known by the much catchier name of BiPu) is an example of Rapid Relief Deployment. It deals with one of the essentials - safe sanitation, i.e. a nice, hygienic toilet. It’s in use in emergency locations, and at least one developed world application (a golf course in Tasmania) where it was more affordable than connecting to the main sewer, and I’m led to believe it’s working well.

(Mind you, a lot of things sound good when you first hear the reports, but are more problematic in practice. This needs looking into.)

What would make it even better:

• Turn it into a composting toilet (without compromising public health).
• Open at the bottom (where it is far enough from water sources, and far enough above the water table), so that later on it can be covered over and a tree planted above all that nutritious… stuff.
• A no-mix style of toilet bowl, to direct at least some of the urine away, to improve the digestion or composting of the waste.
• Make it cheaper, to enable widespread deployment. The older model BiPu was quoted at A$320 (US$290) which clearly makes it only an option for well-funded emergency programs. Even then, that adds up to a substanial sum of money when dealing with a large displaced population.
• Make it from locally available materials. (For rapid deployment in emergencies this is less important that the fact that it can be flat-packed and kept on stand-by; but using local materials means it’s easier for people anywhere to use it and adapt it however they wish.)

Note that there may be a conflict between strict public health priorities and strict composting toilet requirements - in particular the water flush is likely to make it more of a septic system, rather than a composting system. But in an emergency, preventing cholera is more critical than fertilizing the crops.

Recent information isn’t easily found - when I head to Aceh (Sumatra) soon, I’ll check out how the BiPu systems there have worked out.

See also: WASTEWATER TREATMENT / DISPOSAL IN DISRUPTED STATES EAST TIMOR (MILITARY & CIVIL), Robert Patterson, (inventor of the BiPu/FSDS) (2001)