X-runner is a portable, waterless toilet that is designed for private households in poor urban areas.
The toilet has been specifically designed for slum areas, where the population does not own the land and lives in small, crowded spaces. Typically, sewage systems are non-existent and slum dwellers are forced to defecate on the streets or on open fields. Resulting, health issues, such as epidemics are created, ground water gets contaminated and people lack the basic dignity of having access to private sanitation.
Annually, 4 billion people are suffering from diarrhea, an illness that can often lead to death, especially for children. According to the World Health Organization, diarrhea could be reduced by 32% merely through improved sanitation.
In order to adjust to the economic circumstances of people at the base of the pyramid, we aim to produce x-runners as low-cost as possible. Consequently the toilet’s design is sleek and simple:
The two main parts consist of an odor-proof plastic tank and a toilet cover. As soon as the toilet is full, the cover can be detached and the tank is converted into a rolling device with the help of a metal bar. It can then be rolled to a nearby public toilet that is hooked to a bio-digester. Here, methane gas will be produced from the faeces. The x-runner owner can benefit from the gas by using it for cooking, for light, or to charge his cell phone.
The innovation is not solely the product, but also the integration in an existing system of technologies that has already been proven in its feasibility.
Sulabh International, pioneer of the Indian sanitation movement, agreed to support the x-runner team in its aim to set up a pilot project in Delhi. Sulabh will support the product testing of 30 prototypes with test families and the help of local trainers.
Together with engineering students from the Technical University Berlin we are currently in the process to finalize the development of the prototypes. We will post regular updates on our progress.
For further information visit www.xrunner-venture.com
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Via Widget