In a first for the tunnelling industry, French construction groups SPIEBATIGNOLLES TPCI, EIFFAGE GC, purchased an EnviroLAV toilet installed onto a TBM Lyon-Turin project. The electrically powered EnviroLAV is positioned at the rear of the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) gantry, allowing for quick and simple installation and service on-site.
The Compact model EnviroLAV features a small footprint of less than 1.5m2, an ideal size for the tight confines of the TBM where space is a limiting factor. In addition, foldaway steps allow for further maximisation of space.
Waste management and sanitation are often one of the last considerations on a tunnelling project, with most sites installing plastic porta-loo-style toilets that require weekly emptying. The EnviroLAV provides a more economical solution to this problem due to the unique waste breakdown process that reduces emptying requirements to just once per year based on standard usage.
To make maintenance trips even more efficient, the JV has also purchased a MineARC Waste Transfer Tank, which allows the EnviroLAV toilet to remain on the gantry during the project’s entire life. The emptying process is simple, utilising a gravity feed to transfer waste from the EnviroLAV to the waste transfer tank. The unit can hold up to 2000L, equivalent to two full standard EnviroLAVs.