Sanitation (waste) system design/alteration question

[tpenfield]

I have a fairly complete sanitation system on my 'new' boat, similar to the design illustration below . . .

the system appears to be designed to take in sea water as its water source for the toilet, and then I have it set to discharge into the holding tank (not over board).

I would like to avoid using sea water as the source, due to the increased bacteria count that would be introduced into the system. For now, I have been using water from the sink (i.e. the boat's fresh water system) to provide water for the toilet bowl. It is not a good solution over the long term though. . . .

I did a bit of searching here on iBoats, but did not come up with too much specific to my question/issue.

I would like to convert the toilet to use the boat's water supply (a pump driven pressurized system) instead of sea water. I could probably modify the toilet's supply plumbing and connect it to the cold water supply from the bathroom sink, but I am worried about all the things that could possibly go wrong at the toilet, in terms of it continuously letting water flow into the bowl, etc. I was thinking of a momentary valve of some sort that would provide a small amount of water to the bowl prior to/after use & flushing.

I'm thinking it would need to be fairly goof-proof, so the typical crew member could use the toilet without too much training, etc.

Any comments, experience, ideas in switching the toilet from a sea water supply to the boat's fresh water supply. ??? T.I.A.

BTW-the boat's water supply is not used for drinking water, as we carry bottled water (and beer) for drinking purposes.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: Sanitation (waste) system design/alteration question

TP,

Try running your water supply to the toilet from the fresh water tank. That way your water is drawn out of the tank just like it would from the through hull except it is clean water. I have my Carver set-up that way. There is a Tee fitting at the outlet line running from the fresh water tank to the fresh water pressure pump. Since it is before the pump there is no presuure on it and the check valve at the pump prevents pressurized outside water from coming in through the line. As longs as there is water in the fresh water tank you will be good to go.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Sanitation (waste) system design/alteration question

TP,

Try running your water supply to the toilet from the fresh water tank. That way your water is drawn out of the tank just like it would from the through hull except it is clean water. I have my Carver set-up that way. There is a Tee fitting at the outlet line running from the fresh water tank to the fresh water pressure pump. Since it is before the pump there is no presuure on it and the check valve at the pump prevents pressurized outside water from coming in through the line. As longs as there is water in the fresh water tank you will be good to go.

Brilliant. Thanks for that. I had not considered plumbing it at a point before the pump. I can just install a tee fitting up near the fresh water tank (which is in the bow) and run the line back to the head compartment, etc. and splice into the toilet supply line. I will probably just cap off the existing supply line that goes to the thru-hull.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Sanitation (waste) system design/alteration question

UPDATE:

I finished the plumbing alteration, so now the toilet pulls water from the fresh water tank . . .

I added a new pick-up to the fresh water tank . . . (light colored tubing)


Then I routed the hose along the starboard side of the v-berth . . .


And on into the 'can' . . .


I plugged up the existing supply line (dark colored hose) but left it there in case I ever wanted to revert back to the thru-hull plumbing or possibly make it selectable.

Hooked it up to the toilet . . . and pumped away.


So, we will see how things work out during the net few outings, etc.