Air treatment
Toilets in aircraft do not flush with water; suction removes the waste into a collection bin below. When one flushes the toilet, it opens a valve in the sewer line, and the vacuum in the line sucks the contents out of the bowl and into a tank. Since vacuum does all the work, it uses very little water or the blue sanitizing liquid to clean the bowl.
Most vacuum systems flush with just 2 litres or less. When the aircraft is on the ground the waste is flushed into a lavatory cart, which discharges it into a septic tank near the airport. The Delhi airport has 10 such suction vans, which complete the activity in 20 to 25 minutes.
The sludge from the pit is made into cakes and used as manure, says Praveen Puri, general manager (environment), Delhi International Airport Limited. The volume of waste at the Delhi airport has increased in recent years as the air traffic has doubled in the past three years. The international airport receives 65-70 flights daily compared to 215-230 domestic flights. The wastewater collected from both domestic and international airports is treated and used for horticulture and construction purpose.
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