BloomEco

BloomEco is a sustainable and user-inclusive toilet system that improves sanitation in marginalized communities while reducing waste volume and producing nutrient-rich fertilizing materials.

According to UNICEF, 4.5 billion people do not have access to toilets at home or one that doesn't safely manage human waste, with approximately 892 million people still practicing open defecation. This lack of access to proper sanitation facilities has serious consequences, including the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. These diseases can lead to illness and death, particularly among children and vulnerable populations. 297,000 children- more than 800 every day, die annually from diarrhoeal diseases due to poor sanitation and human waste-contaminated drinking water. Women are also closely affected by this issue as well. According to UNICEF, 50% of rape cases happen when women defecate in the open. Lack of household sanitation, specifically toilet facilities, adversely affects the safety of women and girls, leaving them more vulnerable to sexual violence. Lastly, in developing countries and rural areas, accessible toilets for those with mobility issues are often difficult to find or nonexistent. BloomEco aims to address all of these problems by providing a sustainable and user-inclusive solution that can improve sanitation in marginalized communities while also reducing waste volume and producing nutrient-rich fertilizing materials.

BloomEco is a toilet system that addresses the lack of access to proper sanitation facilities in millions of communities. The toilet system separates urine and feces and uses various treatment methods to make them safe to use as fertilizer, such as a vacuum flush system, solar panels, solar photovoltaic systems, heat exchanger, heat pump, urine-diversion dehydration system, pasteurization system, cooling system, and holding tanks. This not only improves sanitation in marginalized communities by providing a sustainable and user-inclusive solution but also reduces waste volume and produces nutrient-rich fertilizing materials. In addition to improving sanitation, this system also helps in preventing the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery by effectively treating the waste and making it safe to use. The toilet design is also chair height and has grabbing bars on the base part of the toilet to make it more accessible for those with mobility issues. These design features address the problem of accessibility for those with mobility issues, which is often a challenge in developing countries and rural areas. The system also addresses the safety concerns for women by providing a safe and accessible toilet option. Overall, BloomEco is a solution that addresses the pressing issues of proper sanitation, accessibility, and safety in marginalized communities.

BloomEco was developed as a solution to address the urgent need for proper sanitation among marginalized communities. Currently, BloomEco is specifically targeted toward East African countries with dry and arid climates. With 4.5 billion people worldwide lacking access to toilets in their homes. The consequences of open defecation are dire with hundreds of thousands of children dying each year from preventable diseases due to open defecation. Furthermore, women and people with mobility challenges are at an increased risk of sexual violence and lack of accessibility to toilets. 

My solution, BloomEco, addresses these pressing issues by providing a toilet that is accessible and environmentally sustainable for marginalized communities. I eliminated the need for water or traditional electricity in my design, which are both scarce resources in rural areas in places like East Africa. BloomEco addresses the need for proper sanitation in an environmentally friendly manner and also makes it accessible with its mobility features such as grabbing handles and chair-height toilet frame. 

The implementation of BloomEco will not only have a direct and meaningful impact on more than half of the population but more specifically the lives of marginalized communities by providing them with equal access to toilet facilities. This will lead to improved health outcomes, increased safety and security, and an overall improvement in the quality of life. Additionally, it will have a positive impact on the environment.

As a first-generation Kenyan American immigrant, I was deeply affected firsthand by the lack of basic infrastructure and sanitation facilities in my hometown. Four years ago when my mother and I visited my aunt’s house in Kenya, I witnessed firsthand the effects of open defecation and the lack of sanitation facilities. Despite being considered one of the nicer houses in the village due to its construction with cement rather than natural materials like mud and sticks, my aunt's house lacked basic infrastructure like running water, electricity, and proper sanitation facilities. It was a stark contrast to the life I knew in the states, fundamentally changing my understanding of the world and our access to resources. Using the bathroom meant using a large pre-dug hole in the ground that posed a risk of falling in and attracting flies and mosquitoes carrying diseases like malaria. Those who were too old or weak to dig a hole relieved themselves on the street, potentially contaminating the water supply and causing fatal illnesses. The dire lack of resources I witnessed during my trip to my hometown profoundly impacted me. Not only were my relatives and villagers unable to afford to purchase water at the market after their drinking water was contaminated by human waste, but their lack of access to essential resources was further exacerbated by their inability to access proper sanitation facilities. 

As I returned to my life in the United States, the plight of the villagers in my hometown continued to weigh heavily on my mind. Determined to make a difference, I set out to find a solution to the sanitation issue that plagues many impoverished communities. I envisioned a sustainable, user-inclusive toilet that would not require traditional electricity or water, and would repurpose waste in an eco-friendly way. My goal was to improve the lives of those in marginalized communities living in places without access to toilet facilities by providing them with access to this essential amenity. With this goal in mind, I reached out to experts in the fields of sanitation and waste treatment for advice and also my peers who live in such conditions to create a solution. With that knowledge, I set out and developed a solution to the sanitation issue that plagues many marginalized communities. 

I began working on this project with my family as my motivation. I wanted to create a solution that would be accessible to them and others like them. Over the summer, I directly gathered data from the target population. Through that, I was able to assess their wants and needs. I had no prior knowledge of waste treatment or sanitation, so I began researching both subjects. Despite spending months on research and gathering data, I still felt as though I needed advice from experts in the fields. I spent weeks cold-emailing professors in the fields. After thirty emails, I finally got my first response back. I discussed my idea with him and he answered all of my questions regarding it. Through his help, I was able to determine what was feasible with my project and what was not. Finally, I was able to create a CAD model of my prototype. 

BloomEco is an innovative solution because it addresses the lack of access to proper sanitation facilities in millions of communities by using a combination of solar power and cutting-edge technologies such as a vacuum toilet system, urine-diversion dehydration system, pasteurization system, cooling system, and holding tanks. The system separates urine and feces and makes them safe to use as fertilizer, providing a sustainable and user-inclusive solution that can improve sanitation in marginalized communities while also reducing waste volume and producing nutrient-rich fertilizing materials.

My solution is a significant improvement over traditional sanitation systems because it eliminates the need for water in the flushing process, which is particularly important in areas where water is scarce. Additionally, the use of solar power makes the system more environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The toilet is also designed to be accessible for people with mobility issues and provides safety for women.

I expect that BloomEco has the potential to be catalytic in the market, as it could lead to broader positive impacts from others in the sanitation space. By providing a sustainable and user-inclusive solution that addresses the pressing need for proper sanitation in marginalized communities, BloomEco could inspire other companies and organizations to develop similar solutions and drive change in the industry. I believe that my solution could help to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, improve the safety of women and girls, reduce the number of preventable deaths due to poor sanitation and increase accessibility to those with disabilities.

My impact goal for the next year is to provide access to proper sanitation facilities to at least 1,000 people in marginalized communities. I plan to achieve this goal by implementing and scaling my BloomEco toilet system in areas where access to sanitation is limited.

I plan to start by partnering with organizations interested in providing sanitation facilities in communities in need of them. Together we’ll work to identify communities in need of my solution. I will conduct thorough assessments of the communities to understand the specific sanitation needs and constraints. From there, I will work with communities to develop a comprehensive implementation plan that addresses their specific needs.

I will then proceed to procurement and installation of the necessary equipment and infrastructure, including solar panels, vacuum pumps, and holding tanks. I will also provide training to the communities and maintenance personnel on how to operate and maintain the system. Additionally, I will monitor and evaluate the performance of the system, gather feedback from the communities, and make adjustments as needed. Lastly, I will continuously measure and report the impact of the system on the community and the environment.

I believe that by working closely with the communities and organizations, I can effectively implement my solution and achieve my impact goal of providing access to proper sanitation facilities to at least 1,000 people in marginalized communities. My goal is to have a positive impact on people's lives and improve their health, safety, and wellbeing.

BloomEco is a combination of cutting-edge technologies such as a vacuum flushing system, solar panels, solar photovoltaic systems, heat exchanger, heat pump, urine-diversion dehydration system, pasteurization system, cooling system, and holding tanks. When flushed the solid and liquid waste is then sent into the holding tank, which uses a vacuum system to flush, eliminating the need for water in the flushing process. The vacuum is powered by a small electric pump, that is powered by solar panels. The solid and liquid waste from the holding tank is then separated. The feces is sent to a pasteurization system, where it is heated to 70-75°C for a period of time of around 30 minutes to kill pathogens and make it safe to use as fertilizer. The pasteurization system is powered by solar photovoltaic systems that convert the sun's energy into electricity to heat the waste. A cooling system is also incorporated to bring the temperature down before the feces is collected in a different holding tank. It uses the thermal energy of the pasteurization system to cool the holding tank. The thermal energy is captured by a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is connected to a heat-pump that uses the thermal energy to cool the holding tank. The urine collected in a separate container would be processed in a urine-diversion dehydration system, which separates the urine into solid and liquid components. The solid component would be removed and can be used as a fertilizer, while the liquid component would be sent through a multi-step liquid filtration process that produces clean water that would also be used as fertilizer. I also designed the toilet to be accessible for people with mobility issues. The toilet is chair height, meaning it is raised off the ground, which makes it easier for people who have difficulty bending or squatting to use. Additionally, the toilet has grabbing bars on the base part of the toilet which makes it more accessible for those with mobility issues.

Currently, my solution, BloomEco, is still in the prototype phase and has not yet been launched. However, in the next year, I plan to serve at least 1,000 people in different communities by providing them with access to proper sanitation facilities through the implementation and scaling of the BloomEco toilet system.

There are several barriers that currently exist for me to accomplish my goals in the next year.  Including financial barriers such as the cost of procuring and installing the necessary equipment and infrastructure and training local communities. Technical barriers related to the complexity and expertise required to develop and implement the technology. Legal barriers in terms of obtaining necessary permits and meeting regulations. Cultural barriers in terms of resistance to change or traditional practices that may conflict with the implementation of the system. To successfully accomplish my goals in the next year, I will need to identify, assess, and mitigate these barriers.

 I am currently not working with any organizations. 

My business model for BloomEco is based on providing value to marginalized communities by addressing their need for proper sanitation facilities. My key customers are communities in need of proper sanitation facilities and organizations and governments working to improve sanitation in these areas. The product that I provide is the BloomEco toilet system, which separates urine and feces and makes them safe to use as fertilizer, providing a sustainable and user-inclusive solution that can improve sanitation in marginalized communities, while also reducing waste volume and producing nutrient-rich fertilizing materials. The toilet design is also accessible for people with mobility issues and safe for women.

I will provide my product by partnering with organizations and if possible governments to identify communities in need of my solution. Conducting thorough assessments of the communities to understand their specific sanitation needs and constraints, and working with communities to develop a comprehensive implementation plan that addresses their specific needs. I will then proceed to procurement and installation of the necessary equipment and infrastructure, including solar panels, vacuum pumps, and holding tanks. I will also provide training to communities and maintenance personnel on how to operate and maintain the system. Additionally, I will monitor and evaluate the performance of the system, gather feedback from the communities, and make adjustments as needed.

In terms of revenue, I plan to generate revenue by seeking funding and grants from government and non-government organizations, impact investors, and philanthropic organizations that are committed to improving sanitation in marginalized communities. Additionally, I will also explore partnerships with companies in related industries such as waste management and renewable energy, and explore revenue streams through the sale of the nutrient-rich fertilizing materials produced by the BloomEco system. My ultimate goal is to make the solution sustainable and self-sufficient over time and not rely on continuous funding.

My path to financial sustainability for BloomEco includes a combination of different revenue streams such as grants and donations from government and non-government organizations, impact investors, and philanthropic organizations that are committed to improving sanitation in marginalized communities. I will also explore partnerships with companies in related industries such as waste management and renewable energy, where I could leverage their expertise and resources to expand my reach and scale. Additionally, I will explore revenue streams through the sale of the nutrient-rich fertilizing materials produced by the BloomEco system, which can be used in agriculture and farming. I will also explore service contracts with governments and other organizations, providing the installation, operation, and maintenance of the BloomEco toilet systems in exchange for a recurring fee. Furthermore, I will explore raising investment capital from impact investors and venture capitalists to fund the expansion of the solution. In the long term, my goal is to make the solution self-sufficient and sustainable by generating enough revenue to cover my expenses through a combination of the above revenue streams. I will continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of the system and make adjustments as needed to ensure financial sustainability.