Finding a clean bathroom while camping can feel like hunting for treasure. Vault toilets are special outdoor bathrooms found in many parks and camping spots across America. This guide will teach you all about vault toilets for camping – how they work, why they matter, and how to use them without holding your nose.

Ready for some bathroom talk?

Key Takeaways

• Vault toilets store waste in underground tanks (750-13,000 gallons) and need no water or power to work.
• These toilets use a vent pipe system that pulls bad smells up and away from users, working best on sunny, windy days.
• Maintenance crews should empty tanks when they’re 75% full and clean surfaces daily with disinfectant.
• Vault toilets help protect nature by keeping waste contained and save money in remote areas where plumbing isn’t possible.
• ADA rules require at least 32-inch wide doors, 60 inches of turning space, and grab bars to make vault toilets usable for people with disabilities.

What Is a Vault Toilet?

A vault toilet is a simple bathroom you’ll find at many camping spots. It has no running water and works by storing waste in a large tank under the ground. These tanks can hold between 750 to 1,000 gallons of waste, with some bigger ones holding up to 13,000 gallons! I saw these all over national parks during our family camping trips last summer.

The U.S. Forest Service puts these toilets in places where trucks can reach them but water pipes can’t go.

Unlike regular flush toilets at home, vault toilets don’t need water to work. They’re perfect for remote areas like campgrounds where pipes would cost too much to install. The waste sits in a concrete vault until a special truck comes to pump it out.

Most have a vent pipe that helps control smells and keeps bugs away. My kids were scared to use them at first, but they got used to these handy outhouses pretty fast!

How Does a Vault Toilet Work?

Vault toilets work on a simple system that needs no water or power. The toilet sits on top of a large tank buried about five feet deep in the ground. This tank holds all the waste until it gets pumped out.

The waste drops straight down from the toilet into this underground vault. Most vault toilets have a vent pipe that sticks up high above the roof. This pipe pulls air through the building and up the pipe, taking bad smells away from users.

The dark vent pipe heats up in the sun, which helps move air up and out.

The cleaning process happens when trucks come to pump out the vault. These trucks suck up all the waste and take it to city water treatment plants. Workers pour a concrete slab over the vault during setup and connect both the toilet and vent pipe to it.

Many modern vault toilets now use special designs to fight odors. They might have fans powered by solar panels or chemicals that break down waste faster. Good vault toilets should last many years with proper care, making them perfect for remote camping spots where regular plumbing isn’t possible.

Design and Construction of Vault Toilets

Vault toilets need smart design to work well in remote camping spots – they use concrete tanks, special vent pipes, and tough building parts that can stand up to weather and heavy use, plus you’ll find cool tricks in modern models that help keep smells down and make them last for years!

Materials Used in Vault Toilets

Vault toilets come in two main types: concrete and plastic. Concrete vault toilets stand strong in many parks and camping areas. These sturdy structures can last for decades with the right care.

Plastic vault toilets use a special material called reinforced cross-linked polyethylene. This tough plastic fights against cracks and leaks that might happen over time. The plastic won’t break down easily in harsh weather.

Many camping sites pick the cross-linked polyethylene models because they arrive ready to set up. This makes them faster to install than building a concrete toilet from scratch. The plastic tanks hold waste safely without letting it leak into the ground.

Both types work well to keep campers happy and protect nature at the same time.

Ventilation and Odor Control Features

Beyond the sturdy materials used in these outdoor facilities, good airflow makes all the difference in a pleasant bathroom break. The “sweet smelling toilet” (SST) system works like magic for campers who dread smelly outhouses.

This clever setup pulls fresh air through the building and pushes bad smells out through a special pipe. My family camped near a vault toilet with this system last summer, and we were shocked at how odor-free it was!

These vent pipes stick out at least three feet above the roof. They have screens to keep birds and bugs from getting inside. The system works best on windy, sunny days. Without enough wind or sun, the smell-fighting power drops.

Most modern vault toilets in parks now use this air flow trick to keep things fresh for campers. The simple design works without power and needs very little care.

Maintenance of Vault Toilets

Keeping vault toilets clean takes work, but regular pumping of the tank and daily wipes of surfaces will keep campers happy – read on to learn the tricks park rangers use to fight smells and keep these outdoor bathrooms fresh for your family’s next camping trip!

Cleaning and Waste Removal Process

Vault toilets need regular cleaning to stay fresh and work well. The waste removal process keeps these camping bathrooms safe for everyone to use.

1. Vault toilet tanks need emptying when they reach 75% full to avoid overflow issues.
2. Professional pumping trucks remove waste from the underground tanks at least once a year.
3. Staff must wear gloves, masks, and eye protection during cleaning for safety reasons.
4. Adding 2.5 gallons of PORT and 15 gallons of water per 1,000-gallon vault helps control smells.
5. During busy camping seasons, staff add 1 gallon of PORT between cleanouts to manage odors.
6. Daily cleaning includes wiping down toilet seats, walls, and floors with disinfectant.
7. Campers should always wear gloves if they need to handle any waste materials.
8. Toilet paper gets checked and refilled each morning in most well-run campgrounds.
9. Trash cans need emptying daily to stop bugs and animals from visiting the toilet area.
10. The concrete vault gets sprayed with water after pumping to remove stuck waste.
11. The ventilation pipe needs checking for clogs that might trap bad smells inside.
12. Forest Service staff test for leaks that could cause groundwater contamination.
13. The area around the toilet building needs raking and cleaning to look nice for campers.
14. Special bacteria-killing cleaners help stop the growth of germs on surfaces.
15. The waste goes to a treatment facility after pumping, not straight into the ground.

Tips for Long-Term Durability

Keeping vault toilets in good shape takes work but pays off for campers. These simple steps help toilet buildings last longer and stay nicer for everyone to use.

1. Check the toilet building often for cracks in the concrete vault or walls that could leak waste into the ground.
2. Clear plants and trees in a 20-foot circle around the toilet to help air flow better and reduce smells.
3. Make sure the floor stays sloped toward drains so water runs off instead of pooling inside.
4. Clean toilet seats, walls, and floors with safe cleaners that won’t hurt the waste breakdown process.
5. Add a thin layer of sawdust after cleaning to help control odors and speed up waste breakdown.
6. Keep the vent pipe clear of leaves, bird nests, or other blocks that might stop air flow.
7. Raise manhole openings above ground level to stop rain or flood water from getting in.
8. Paint the outside walls every few years to protect from sun and weather damage.
9. Fix grab bars and other parts right away if they break to keep the toilet safe for all users.
10. Post clear signs about proper use to stop people from throwing trash in the toilet.
11. Set up a regular pumping schedule based on how many people use the toilet, not just when it gets full.
12. Install screens on vents to keep bugs out while letting air flow through.

Advantages of Vault Toilets for Campers

Vault toilets save campers money while helping the earth – they need no water, last for years, and work great in places far from cities where plumbing doesn’t reach.

Environmental Benefits

Vault toilets help keep our camping areas clean and safe. They stop waste from leaking into lakes, rivers, and drinking water. I noticed this on our family trip to Yellowstone last summer – the vault toilets were placed far from water sources.

Unlike old pit toilets, modern vault systems fully contain waste in sealed tanks. This design follows strict rules that protect nature. The concrete vaults block harmful stuff from touching soil or water.

Many parks now use these eco-friendly toilets instead of older types. They work without water too, which saves this precious resource in dry areas. My kids were happy to learn that using vault toilets helps save water and keeps fish healthy in nearby streams.

Cost-Effectiveness for Remote Locations

Beyond helping the planet, vault toilets save money in far-off camping spots. These simple structures cost much less to build than flush toilets that need water pipes and sewage systems.

For family camping trips to remote parks, this means more places to go when nature calls!

Vault toilets need almost no daily upkeep. Park rangers don’t have to fix broken pipes or deal with frozen water lines in winter. The basic design means fewer parts to break down. A single concrete vault can last for decades with proper care, making them perfect for national forests and state parks with tight budgets.

Families planning camping trips will find these facilities at many remote sites where other toilet options would be too costly to install or maintain.

Challenges and Potential Drawbacks

Vault toilets face some tough problems like bad smells and hard access for some people – but don’t worry, we’ll show you smart fixes for these issues!

Odor Management Issues

Vault toilets can get stinky! The main cause is poor air flow. Without enough wind, bad smells hang around longer than anyone wants. This happens a lot in spots with too many trees or in deep valleys.

The vent stack needs sunlight to work right – it helps create a draft that pulls smells up and away. Many campers bring small air fresheners to help fight the smell, but these only mask the problem.

Good toilet design beats bad odors. The best vault toilets have tall vent pipes painted black to catch sun heat. This creates better air flow to move smells away from users. Some newer models add small solar fans at the top of the vent to boost air movement on still days.

Proper cleaning matters too – waste that sits too long creates hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. Regular pumping of the underground tank keeps these unpleasant odors under control.

Accessibility Concerns

Beyond odor issues, vault toilets face real access problems. Many older units lack ramps or wide doors for people with mobility needs. My family learned this the hard way during our camping trip last summer when my aunt couldn’t use the facilities in her wheelchair.

The Americans with Disabilities Act sets rules, but not all camping toilets meet these standards yet.

Families with small kids face other hurdles too. High toilet seats and heavy doors make these restrooms hard for little ones to use alone. The U.S. Forest Service has started to fix these problems by adding grab bars, lower sinks, and better paths to toilet buildings.

These changes help everyone – from grandparents to toddlers – enjoy outdoor trips without bathroom stress. Good design choices like flat ground around the toilet building and proper door width make a big difference for all campers.

ADA Regulations for Vault Toilets

Vault toilets in public camping areas must follow strict rules to help people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says these toilets need wide doors for wheelchairs – at least 32 inches across.

Inside, there must be enough room to turn around – about 60 inches of clear space. Grab bars must be on the walls, and the toilet seat should be between 17-19 inches high. I visited a campground last summer where the Forest Service had just put in new vault toilets.

My brother uses a wheelchair, and he could easily roll in, turn around, and use the toilet without help.

The path to the toilet matters too! ADA rules say the path must be firm, stable, and not too steep. Ramps can’t be more than 1:12 slope (that means for every inch up, you need 12 inches of length).

Signs must have braille and be mounted at the right height. Many campsites now have at least one fully accessible vault toilet. During our family trip to Yellowstone, we found that most camping areas had good access, but some older sites still need updates to meet these rules.

Conclusion

Vault toilets make camping trips more pleasant for families. They help the earth by saving water and keeping waste from hurting the ground. These sturdy units need less care than other camp potties, which means more time for fun.

You can find them in many parks across the country, ready for your next outdoor trip. Pack some hand wipes, hold your breath if needed, and enjoy the great outdoors with one less worry!

FAQs

1. What is a vault toilet and how does it work?

A vault toilet is a non-flush toilet with an underground tank that collects human waste. It uses a ventilation system to control odors and doesn’t need water to work. The concrete vault holds waste until it’s pumped out and taken to a waste treatment facility.

2. How are vault toilets different from composting toilets?

Vault toilets store waste in a holding tank while composting toilets turn waste into usable compost through decomposition. Composting toilets use microbes and need the right carbon to nitrogen ratio to work properly. Vault toilets require pumping, but composting toilets create organic matter you can use.

3. Do vault toilets smell bad?

Not if they’re well-maintained! Good vault toilets have ventilation systems that pull odors up and away from the toilet bowl. The U.S. Forest Service designs their vault toilets with tall pipes that create airflow to keep smells down.

4. How often are vault toilets cleaned?

Vault toilets in busy camping areas get cleaned daily. Less popular spots might see weekly cleaning. The underground tanks need pumping when they’re about 75% full to prevent overflow and keep things from getting unsanitary.

5. Are vault toilets better for the environment than portable toilets?

Yes! Vault toilets prevent groundwater contamination and soil pollution better than many portable options. They don’t use chemicals like those blue portable toilets at parking lots, and they help conserve water. This makes them more environmentally friendly for camping areas.

6. Can I find vault toilets at all campgrounds?

Most public campgrounds have vault toilets, especially those run by the Forest Service. Car camping sites almost always offer them. However, remote backcountry areas might only have pit latrines or require campers to handle their own waste disposal by digging cat holes.