Warning: This is a Shitpost!
One common question we get from people who are unfamiliar with boating and alternative living is, "What facility do you have for human waste?"
That's a legitimate question, don't you think?
Let's delve deeper into sh*t here.
You see, one of the popular collection and storage systems for human waste (eaten food) on a narrowboat is a cassette toilet—a clever mechanism with great engineering.
This cassette toilet is inserted in a designated cavity that's connected below the toilet and that's accessible from the outside.
Some mechanisms are connected to prevent backflow from the toilet bowl.
The cassette is neatly stored in a cabinet. Out of sight, out of mind.
Special toilet fluid for freshness, and breakdown of waste. Therefore, there's no unpleasant scent on the boat.
Elsan Point, also known as a Chemical Toilet Disposal Unit
Entering an Elsan is like going on a blind date. You never know what shit is in store for you.
Elsan facilities are dotted along the canals for boaters who are cruising, and they are also located at marinas, as in my case.
Not bad, eh?
This is built right over a manhole, so they can pump when needed.
Something's got to be done, rain or shine, and emptying the toilet when it's full is not a load of shit!
The funnel's top left rotates and helps with precision in aim when emptying, and the button right helps to release pressure, which releases the 'eaten food'.
There's a hose that's convenient for rinsing out the cassette, and it's a good idea to run the hose and shake the cassette to ensure that all the content is completely disposed of. I make sure to rinse several times until the water runs clear.
One of the things I like about the material of the cassette is that I can hose it down and clean the entire cassette for proper hygiene before re-installing it back on the boat.
Waste disposal is made easy.
Wheelbarrowing my waste makes it easier and fun, as it helps to avoid spillage or accidents and helps reduce the number of trips needed to and from the boat.
To save time, I combine disposing of my regular household waste in the facilities provided, and I aim to do this on a Tuesday when the garbage truck comes for collection.
The area is kept clean and orderly, and it pleases me to see that there are several bins for proper segregation of items: plastic, cardboard, general household waste, and glass.
In addition, there's a collection point for ashes from my wood burner that I leave at a pickup point for recycling.
Alternative living requires alternative systems.
In general, garbage and waste disposal are responsibilities that boaters take seriously, or things could become catastrophic, as you might imagine.
This is also one of the most unglamorous sides of living on a narrowboat. However, something's got to be done, and with care, they don't have to be sh*t at all.
I'm pleased that my mobile was not ruined while capturing these shots in the rain because that would have been sh*t.
Location: Devizes Marina, UK, on March 12, 2024.