Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) to Hold Event on Urine Diversion May 30th
If you live in Falmouth or the surrounding towns, you’ve likely been hearing quite a bit about urine diversion recently. That’s because MOST of the nitrogen in our waste is found in the urine. When we flush our toilets, the urine and all of the nitrogen that it contains goes into our septic tanks, out into our yards via the septic leach field, and eventually makes its way into the groundwater. Nitrogen entering our coastal and fresh waters is the main reason the water quality of the coastal water bodies on the Cape is degrading. To what extent can we reduce the main source of nitrogen to our bays, ponds, and groundwater by simply diverting the urine at the source?
From the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR) site:
Come learn the basics and hear about the prospects for urine diversion in our area. Earle Barnhart and Hilda Maingay of the Green Center in East Falmouth have been researching and using waterless composting eco-toilets for 25 years. In the last ten years their research focus has been on urine diversion technology. They will explain how urine diversion works and how it can help improve coastal water quality. Bryan Horsley, Environmental Project Assistant with Barnstable County’s Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) will cover the results of the recent urine diversion study done by the Green Center in cooperation with MASSTC. He will also review the previous 2012-14 Falmouth eco-toilet project and explain a proposed future Falmouth urine diversion pilot project.
Also featured in this workshop is a panel of community members who will share their experiences with various types of urine diversion toilets in their homes and help demystify the technology.
This event takes place on Thursday, May 30, 2024, 6:30PM – 8:30PM. Doors of the Visitor Center open at 6:15PM.
For more information contact Joan Muller joan.muller@mass.gov.
