SANITARY SOLUTION The EnviroLAV is a semi-permanent structure that can be used above and below ground wherever there is access to compressed air or electricity
Australian mining-refuge chamber manufacturer MineArc Systems has launched its latest innovation in self-contained portable toilet systems, the EnviroLAV, which is suitable for use in mining, industrial and remote locations, .
Designed to be simple to operate and maintain, the EnviroLAV is a semipermanent structure that can be used above and below ground wherever there is access to compressed air or electricity.
Available in three sizes – standard, dual and compact – the system’s waste tank requires empty- ing just once every 12 months. The EnviroLAV therefore reduces operating costs by a significant margin, compared with typical portable toilets currently on the market, MineArc asserts.
The company explains that this takes into account the time and effort wasted on standard systems, from removing the units from underground to emptying and cleaning them each week.
Additionally, MineArc notes that, in 2014, the EnviroLAV was awarded the Australian Prospect award for excellence in mine safety, acknowledging its innovative, sustainable waste management system. Since then, the EnviroLAV has been embraced by mines worldwide.
Underground mining contractor Byrnecut Offshore Ghana occupational health and safety trainer assessor Jason Haslemore says the company approached MineARC after looking for a more practical toilet system for under-ground mining in an offshore operation.
“MineARC had the ideal solution with their new EnviroLAV toilets; the result was a more robust, safer and more hygienic system than currently on the market today,” he states.
Haslemore comments that Byrnecut is most impressed with the simplicity of setting it up, the ease of movability underground and the need for minimal maintenance of the system under- ground for lengthy periods.
“From conception, design, fabrication and support, MineARC has achieved another fine benchmark for the underground mining industry. I would recommend the EnviroLAV to those who are seeking a real-world, simple solution for underground operations,” he enthuses.
Additional Features
An optional addition to the EnviroLAV System is the waste transfer tank, which is a fully portable unit that provides an even more cost effective waste removal process.
MineARC explains that using a gravity feed system for the transfer of waste from the EnviroLAV to the waste transfer tank, the unit can hold up to 2 000 ℓ and can be stacked vertically, thereby further increasing efficiency during emptying.
MineARC’s nontoxic EnviroZYME solution breaks down matter with every flush, involving no hazardous chemicals that could be harmful to the environment. The company’s range of accompanying hand wash and degreasing spray and starch-based toilet tissue are also completely ecosafe and biodegradable.
“While other chemical toilets require special means of dumping, waste from the EnviroLAV can be pumped into any pre-existing waste treatment works with minimal environmental impact,” MineARC concludes.