ERAM Scientific Solutions, manufacturers of India’s first electronic toilets named eToilet, has firmed up plans to spread the message of ‘Responsible Public Sanitation’ to mark the World Toilet Day. World Toilet Day is being observed across the world on November 19 under the aegis of the United Nations.

The Eram Scientific Solutions e-toilet is built out of stainless steel and is validating processing technology developed by Caltech (California Institute of Technology). The prototype undergoing tests uses an electrochemical reactor to process effluent which need not be segregated into liquid and solid. The final treatment provides water for toilet flush or safe discharge. It can cater to 100 users per day.

The e-toilet is fully unmanned and automated, ensured enhanced cleanliness and hygiene through auto flushes and floor washing, is integrated with the Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology for remote monitoring, is environment-friendly and conserves energy, has easy to install pre-fabricated steel structure, and has a mobile app for remote monitoring. The concept of the Connected e-Toilet Infrastructure (CeTI) ensures transparency and accountability of operation and maintenance; maps and connects all units via web and mobile; monitors the operation and maintenance even from remote locations; locates the nearest e-toilet facility through maps and the e-toilet mobile app; provides feedback on their cleanliness and hygienic status; enables status of the unit where one can rate or review the facilities through the app.

For decades, sanitation - the safe and clean disposal of human urine and feces and related hygiene practices - has been widely overlooked as a sustainable development issue. This inattention has been due largely to widespread sensitivities about managing human waste and a lack of understanding of its pervasive impacts.

However, sanitation is quickly gaining prominence as one of the most important development challenges of the 21st century, and for good reason: Some 8.42 lakh (1 lakh = 100,00) people in low- and middle-income countries die as a result of inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene each year, representing 58 per cent of total diarrheal deaths. Poor sanitation is believed to be the main cause in some 2.80 lakh of these deaths.

Eram Scientific has installed modern units at the Motor City in Kuwait, a township hosting the first Formula 1 track in the region. They have opted for Eram e-toilets and she-toilets, which Dr. Siddeek Ahmed cites as one of the biggest achievements. These may have cost a fortune, but save a lot for customers in Kuwait given that water is a most precious commodity. Each litre of water costs a lot, and seven litres required for each normal flush would mean draining out a lot of money. The Eram technology saves as much as six liters for every flush and appealed instantaneously to the Motor City which hosts at least 30,000 visitors for a Formula 1 racing event. Each unit comes with air-conditioning, piped music, bathing soap, towels and other supplies catering to international standards. — SG