Chemical Toilet FAQs

Dumping a chemical toilet's waste
Parts & Fittings for porta potty or chemical toilet
Prep for use & chemical treatments
Pump repair / replace on chemical toilet
Temperature concerns: freezing or high temps
Home made toilets - no septic system?

Chemical Toilet & Porta Potty Parts & Fittings FAQs

What's the thread type on the waste tank on a Century 6210 portable toilet - so I can connect it to an RV dump station

What thread is the waste tank thread (type, thread per inch) on a Century model 6210.

I can’t find a fitting to go into a step on RV dump station. In my area the cement pad tapers to the foot operated cap and you would get waste on your feet while rinsing waste into dump.

Folks frown on dumping porta pots into campground toilets. I want to build my own fitting. On 2019-07-03 by Kim Capasso

Answer by (mod) - Century chemical toilet properties & parts

Kim

We discuss the Century portable toilet line and give contact information for the company Century Chemical who make them at CHEMICAL TOILETS

But I emphasize that the threads on the dump fitting cap are very rough and are not standard and vary by manufacturer.

In my OPINION a better approach to making a connection between that fitting and anything else will involve using a soft flexible rubber or neoprene hose and a lightweight hose clamp.

Watch out that you don't over-tighten the hose clamp lest you snap the thin plastic of the toilet's dumping fitting.

You could certainly give your toilet's manufacturer a call to ask if their toilet emptying spout threads match any common US, UK, EU, or metric standard, or you could make your own measurements.

BUT I can pretty much assure you that the company is NOT likely to recommend attaching ANYTHING to the plastic emptying spout on the Century 6210 portable chemical toilet. The risk is that you damage the hinged spout and ruin the toilet.

Also, having examined the plastic toilet emptying spout on several models and brands it seems to me that the threads will NOT match any common US (inch) nor other country (SI) metric scale pipe threads.

Rather the chemical toilet manufacturers use a wide-spaced coarse thread molded into the plastic spout and into the toilet spout cap.

If you absolutely must attach a pouring extension you do not need to match the threads: you'd use a large-diameter soft rubber or better, clear soft plastic hose that pushes over the pouring spout end and relies on friction to seal sufficiently to empty the toilet.

So all you really need is the Outside Diameter (OD) of the plastic spout. Find a tube that is just a few mm smaller than that, or use one that's a few mm too big and add a hose clamp (do not over-tighten or again you'll risk damaging the toilet).

Below, for other readers is the Century 6210 portable chemical toilet.

I have found that with a little practice and some experimenting on just how to rotate and aim the emptying spout on the toilet you can pour into even a small diameter drain line without spillage. I've regularly emptied into a 6" and even a 4" diameter septic access port.

Where can I get replacement parts for a Campmaster CM6010 Toilet?

I have a campmaster cm6010 10l portable toilet and the 2 clips that hold the waste tank onto toilet have broke.where can I purchase some new replacement clips from and how much? On 2016-12-09 by Amanda

Answer by (mod) -

Amanda

Regrettably, Campmaster toilets are made in China, marketed by AHM Group in Australia and New Zealand so you may have to contact the marketer directly. Contact Campmaster in Australia at tel: 03 9799 9940 or in New Zealand ask the Kiwis at 09 251 1300

If you live in a different country than those two, try the company's website www.campmaster.info

Need info on Parts & Supplies for West Marine Headzyme Toilets

I bought some West Marine Headzyme several years ago. I was wondering drying if it is still good. It had no alchol. Thank you. On 2016-06-07 by Allen

Answer by (mod) -

Allen I think that West Marine no longer sells Headzyme though the company does offer a range of chemical toilet treatments and deodorants. You might want to contact the company directly to ask about the Headzyme shelf life.

Call West Marine at Call (800) 262-8464, or send an email query to the company at productadvice@westmarine.com

Chemical Toilet Chemicals & Water Pre-Charge FAQs

Tip: See

• HOW TO ADD CHEMICAL DEODORANT / DISINFECTANT to a chemical toilet
• HOW TO ADD WATER to the CHEMICAL TOILET FLUSH TANK

How do I treat a chemical toilet so it can be left for weeks?

Is there no way to treat a toilet so that it can be left for weeks? Thing is we only use the toilet a couple of times when we visit a remote cabin.

Getting the toilet to a dump point is a mission, so it would be good if there was a way to avoid it each visit. - Mark 2/1/2012

Reply:

Mark, if you use the proper amount of disinfectant I've found that a chemical toilet is just fine left alone for weeks;

 

Should I put a little water in the basin of a porta potty before use?

Should you put a little water in the basin of a porta potty before using it. (May 21, 2014) Andy

Reply: yes

I do that, though the instructions don't require it.

My OPINION is that a little dilution of the chemical toilet treatment chemical improves its performance right after the toilet has been emptied, cleaned, and re-charged with chemical.

That's particularly the case if the treatment chemical you're using is a dry powder. It helps keep the bottom reservoir deodorized and sanitary.

 

How much water should you put in a 50 gallon toilet holding tank?

How much water should you put in a 50 gallon holding tank On 2017-10-03 by Bill

by (mod) - ratio of adding chemicals to water in a chemical toilet

Bill,

Typically you purchase a chemical toilet treatment like Thetford's AquaKem used for odor control, toilet paper breakdown, detergent treatment. The bottle will contain additive quantity usage guidance.

For example, one 8 oz bottle of this example toilet treatment will treat 40 gallons (152L) of liquid waste. In hot water additional treatment might be needed for a holding tank.

If 8 oz treats 40 gallons 1 oz treats 5 gallons or 1/2 oz treats 2.5 gallons.

How long for porta potty chemical to take effect?

How long does it take the blue chemical solution for porta-potties to take effect on human urine and feces?

How long does it take the blue chemical solution for porta-potties to take effect on human urine and feces? On 2019-07-20 by Tracy

by (mod) - Deodorizing: moments; breakdown? for disposal: never

Tracy:

To offer a more thorough answer to your question I'd need to know what "effect" you're asking about.

Basically the chemical treatment solution for porta-potties or chemical toilets is a combination deodorant and disinfectant whose job is to control odor and to prevent formation of dangerous (explosive) and of course smelly methane gas. That effect should be virtually immediate.

The chemical treatment may also help break down solids and toilet tissue but after decades of using chemical toilets I've never seen much waste breakdown in the toilet reservoir.

With the proper dose of chemical solution recommended by the manufacturer (that is in turn set by the size of the toilet reservoir tank in gallons) the effect of odor control and methane control should be from moments after the first use.

To improve the efficacy of the chemical toilet treatment provided by the manufacturer, and recognizing that that chemical is usually concentrated and viscous, when I have cleaned the chemical toilet and am returning it to use I add both the recommended dose of treatment chemical and also a flush or two of water so that there is a bit of water mixed with the chemical at the bottom of the holding tank.

Thetford recommends adding about 1/2 gallon of fresh water to a 5-gallon reservoir toilet when the chemical is added to the toilet.

The quantity of toilet treatment chemical doesn't have to be exact to the millileter, but you should follow the manufacturer's instructions. See details of how much chemical to add at

PORTA POTTY CHEMICAL: HOW MUCH to ADD

Can I use household chemicals as an alternative to over-the-counter toilet deodorants & disinfectants

there are alternative effective recipes for use in Portable toilets that can be made from household chemicals. Do you know of any such mixtures that are available - Colin 6/12/11

Reply: yes, ... maybe, ... sort-of

Raft-camping down the Colorado River we carried an ammunition can used as an emergency day-toilet. Inside the can were supplies including ziplok plastic bags, toilet paper, and a small bottle of diluted bleach.

The routine was to defecate into the baggie and also use it to dispose of toilet paper. Since all of that waste had to be packed out of the Canyon, and because the can was exposed to high temperatures during the day, we poured a little bleach into each baggie to slow the decomposition and gas production - avoiding an exploding ammo can.

But in general I don't recommend do-it-yourself toilet chemical experiments since there are health and safety risks.

Furthermore, using bleach or PineSol or similar household cleaners in a portable toilet is likely to leave you with no place to dump the toilet when it needs to be emptied and cleaned.

That's because RV parks and other porta-potty waste receivers won't want you dumping into their systems a mix of waste that includes chemicals that kill off bacteria.

Killing off septic tank bacteria with bleach or household cleaners interferes with septic tank function and can lead to not only ground water contamination but also costly septic drainfield failures or increased costs of extra septic tank pumpouts.

Are porta potty chemicals smelly? Can the chemicals be flushed into a home septic tank?

We are considering getting a chemical toilet for use in our home's bathroom.

My questions are, can chemical toilets be flushed into a home septic tank, and do they smell really bad after a bowl movement?

Any suggestions as to which type of chemical toilet would be good for in-home use would be greatly appreciated. - K.S. 1/23/13

Reply: With proper chemical use these toilets are not smelly, and yes a low-usee toilet can be dumped into the septic tank (with restrictions)

Chemical toilets are not smelly - at least not from urine or feces that are placed in the toilet, any more than a water-flush toilet.

The deodorant recommended by the manufacturer is placed in the chemical toilet holding tank along with a small volume of water as a starter; it's effective both in odor and sanitation;

If you don't use a recommended treatment chemical, indeed the toilet may smell and also may be unsanitary if not emptied very frequently.

Provided you follow the dilution and usage instructions, limited emptying of a chemical portapotty type toilet into a home septic tank should not be harmful - the preservative in the deodorant should be quite dilute.

Details are in the article CHEMICAL TOILETS

We discuss the worry of dumping chemical toilet chemicals into the septic tank in more detail at

RV HOLDING TANK DUMP INTO SEPTIC TANK?

Chemical Toilet Use in High or Low Temperature Environments FAQs

Tip: See FREEZE PROTECT a CHEMICAL TOILET Porta Potty

How do I keep my porta-potty from freezing?

I want to keep my porta potty in my van for occasional use during the upcoming Michigan winter. How do I keep it useful without it freezing? - Bonnie Jones 10/5/11

Reply:

Good question Bonnie.

Short answer: to keep a portapotty in a van in freezing conditions, first buy and use RV wastewater and flush water environmentally safe antifreeze product from an RV supplier.

We leave a chemical toilet in a remote cabin in northern Minnesota through very deep freezing weather. But first we empty the water from the flush reservoir and we empty the toilet base as well. Then we leave a very small quantity of water along with toilet treatment chemical in the toilet base receptacle.

By that means the toilet is almost ready to use when people return to the cabin. All that's needed is to add water to the flush reservoir.

I would not leave any water in the toilet nor waste in the toilet in freezing conditions. The risk is that frozen water or wastewater breaks the toilet and later thaws, leaving a mess in your van.

For buildings (or vans) where we need to leave a portapotty in ready-to-use condition in freezing conditions we'd have to add a heat source OR we'd need to add an antifreeze mix to be sure of avoiding damage. You MIGHT get away with letting a small amount of waste in the toilet bottom freeze but it's risky.

If you check with your local RV suppliers you'll find that they sell RV wastewater holding tank antifreeze for use in those larger vehicles. Basically it will be an environmentally safe product that can be used in both the flush water supply and in the wastewater holding tank.

Be sure to follow the proper dilution instructions on the product label so that you don't over-dose your porta potty nor the dumping station into which it is later emptied.

Also see FREEZE PROTECTION for PORTABLE TOILETS

High temperatures on a boat may create a porta-potty or chemical toilet hazard?

4/23/14 Anonymous

How do you avoid high heat on a boat?, and should I be worried about this?

Reply: Not if proper chemical treatment is used, otherwise yes heat is a concern with some portable toilets & some fixed, waterless incinerating toilets

Anon,

If you are asking about a chemical toilet for boat use, in normal use the addition of odor control treatment chemicals to the toilet base should prevent troublesome methane gas formation at problem levels by controlling the amount of bacterial action - basically stopping it.

See HOW TO ADD CHEMICAL DEODORANT / DISINFECTANT to a chemical toilet

Watch out: if someone omits the recommended chemical toilet treatment, then it is possible that some models may use a holding tank that is too air-tight, un-vented, that could result in a toilet explosion. Check with the product manufacturer to make sure that the model about which you inquire is rated for high temperature locations and marine use.

At CAMPING & EMERGENCY TOILETS I describe a real-world worry about harmful explosions that can occur if un-treated sewage waste is kept in a tightly sealed container and exposed to high temperatures.

More about Marine Toilets suitable for both small craft and some larger boats, even submarines, along with their history can be read

at MARINE TOILETS.

Porta Potty Chemical Toilet Pump Repair FAQs

Tip: See REPLACE the ACCORDIAN VALVE on a Chemical Toilet or Porta Potty

Why the pump on the chemical loo has stopped?

Anyone have an idea as to why the pump on the chemical loo has stopped? There's plenty of water in it, but I haven't used it for about 14 months (Nov 18, 2014) KD

Reply:

KD:

If we're discussing an electrical pump,

Check for electrical power

Check for a stuck or failed float or switch control

Check last for a seized pump motor

If you are asking about a simple manual bellows type pump or piston pump see my comments just below.

Daniel Friedman

Century 8l porta potty flush pump not working: what lubricant does it use?

Our Century 8l porta potty pump will not work. Is there a special lubricant, or sealant, that should be applied to the pump internal rubber parts? (July 1, 2014) old Century

Reply:

Old,

You made sure there is water in the reservoir, right? Else nothing will pump.

If your toilet pump has a sliding rod type pump, try silicone grease.

Also be sure that any clamps or hose clamps are snug.

Check that the bellows itself has not become torn or punctured.

If the bellows type pump is leaky or damaged, you need to replace the pump.

See those details at REPLACE the ACCORDIAN VALVE on a Chemical Toilet or Porta Potty

if a little spray silicone doesn't get the valve or pump working again, order a replacement part from the manufacturer.

As we illustrate above, Thetford (and other companies) provide replacement chemical toilet pumps and pump parts and you can also buy these parts from various online vendors.

See this

Thetford Ii Porta Potty Repair Instructions [PDF] Thetford, at the company's website, local backup saved as RI-Porta-Potti-Repair.pdf

 

Porta Potty / Chemical Toilet Dumping FAQs

Tip: See WHERE TO EMPTY the CHEMICAL TOILET or "porta potty"

Where can I legally empty the chemical tiolet without need to stay in camping sites?

If I want to make a long trip around Europe with caravan/camper, is there any places where I can legally empty the chemical tiolet without need to stay in camping sites? For example: can I empty it in public tiolets like in gas stations etc.? (Sept 9, 2014) P.K.

Reply: best to use an RV dumping station even if that means paying a fee

PK

In my OPINION if the volume of wastewater were trival, say 1-4 gallons, I'd be oK with emptying that into an ordinary toilet.

Otherwise I would not, as you may damage the receiving system or even kill off bacteria in a gas station's private septic tank (preservatives / deodorants in the RV holding tank can have that effect). For an explanation see

RV HOLDING TANK DUMP INTO SEPTIC TANK?

But there are almost always RV parts and some other stations that post signs permitting emptying of RV tanks (caravan camper toilet holding tanks), typically for a fee.

That's where I'd "go".

Is it OK to dump my chemical toilet into the outhouse ?

I have a cabin way up north and are wondering about a chemical toilet instead of using the out house at nite because there are bears and wolves there. The out house is legal there. Would it be safe to dump the chemical in the out house - Dave

Reply: probably OK if not over-done

Dave,

OPINION: it would be safe to dump normal concentrations of chemical toilet waste into the outhouse but it will also have the effect of slowing down any biodeterioration that may have been expected there.

Since outhouses collect a rather concentrated dose of solid feces and liquid urine, the rate of break-down of waste is very slow anyway, and the usual procedure is to move the outhouse and bury the pit when it's near full.

I'm doubtful that modest doses of chemical toilet waste will make much of a change there other than perhaps reducing odors.

But I'd be sure not to overdose the chemical toilet - just use the required amount of chemical, don't dump whole bottles or packets of chemical into your chemical toilet or you'll be dumping more than needed into the outhouse, and you might risk leaching chemicals into surrounding soil.

 

Home Made Toilet FAQs

Tip: See CHEMICAL TOILETS as a SEPTIC DESIGN ALTERNATIVE

Our toilet is just a hole in the ground; How do I get or make a low-cost toilet whose waste can go on my garden?

I find your web resource very useful but ...

I have a summer cottage in remote area with no water system, we have to bring water from city in bottles.

We have a toilet which is just a square hole digged in the earth may be 1.5 meters deep and 90 cm. each side covered by wooden cabin.

So we do our job there. No wate tank or septic on our land parcel. I have two questions to ask:

1. Can you please recommend any liquid/powder or treatment solution which is eco friendly and which I can to add to the toilet hole

in order to biodegrade our human waste (urine and feces).

As you understand the odor is awful there so the the amount of feces is also increasing with time.

Are there any bacteria that eat up this biological human waste? I want to achieve two goals: Reduce the volume of waste that is already there and prevent terrible odor in the toilet.

2. I'm also considering to buy portable toilet.

I can't afford to spend 900 + on composting toilet so I'm for the one in the range of 60-100 dollars.

As I said ealier, there is no water system or sewage system. I read information about portable toilets chemicals and got impression that the main puporse of this chemicals is to prevent bad odor and degrade solid parts of feces.

But I want to use eco friendly bio substances to add to flushing part and waste part of the portable toilet and then empte waste container into my garden to enrich it with biodegrated kind of humus.

Can you recommend any brand and name of such substances (fluid or powder or concentrate) that will do the job?

- Anonymous by private email 2016/06/16

Reply: here is a very low cost portable toilet as well as links to procedures to build a traditional outhouse or latrine

• Rhino USA Portable Camping Toilet [Website] 2CD7C7DD CA-TOPOP-BLK (shown above) is a simple plastic frame or "bucket" that uses a disposable plastic bag insert.

The simplest and lowest cost portable toilet I've seen is the Rhino portable camping toilet shown above: it uses a simple disposable plastic bag to colect waste. But for daily full time use at your home, burying bags of human waste is probably not feasible.

My best suggestions for deodorizing a privy or open pit toilet are at

OUTHOUSES & LATRINES

and also see

LATRINE TYPES & CONSTRUCTION for more basic designs

For a simple portable chemical toilet, just search InspectApedia.com

for CHEMICAL TOILETS to see some very inexpensive suggestions.

I should add that there's no magic solution here; you cannot by any means I've seen, even with even the most modern technology for toilets, fully deodorize human waste, compost it, produce garden-safe humus, spend less than $100., and at the same time avoid any chemical deodorants. Those deodorants are basically chemicals that retard bacterial action.

For a simple, cheap outhouse deodorant that was also used to control flies, take a look at the discussion of old-time us of lyme in outhouses in the outhouse article above.

Where can I buy or make a chemical toilet in Ghana?

i live in an area which has a lot of salty water in the soil. if the water does not affect the manhole the salt would. i need this portable chemical potty to buy where can i get one in Ghana - Evelyn 11/9/12

Reply:

Evelyn portable chemical toilets are sold worldwide in most large cities at camping and RV suppliers, contractor supply houses and some plumbing suppliers; if you can't find a close source I'd just ask someone to bring one in for you - they're not heavy.

The Thetford toilet is particularly widely distributed, and back in 2011 we read of a whole collection of test-porta-potty toilets being brought from the U.S. to Kumasi by Danny Alexander.

However as you'll read in the article CHEMICAL TOILETS, a small porta-potty is not going to be very functional for permanent or regular use in a home with more than one or two occupants - you'll find that you have to empty and clean the unit daily; conversely, a very large reservoir portable toilet means that it may be heavy and awkward to carry to a disposal point.

Where electricity is limited, there is LP fuel shortage, or where cost matters, therefore ruling out an incinerating toilet, you might be better off considering a composting type toilet, even a site-constructed one.

See COMPOSTING TOILETS.