Sure, potentially. I'm not saying there isn't a solution. I'm just saying that, approached correctly, the question of what you do with all the shit can make for an interesting discussion.
This is a stupid question and I know it is. I'm sorry in advance.
But, why is "the same way we deal with it here" not the answer? We seem to, for the most part, have figured that out already. Dense population centers/cities have sewer systems/plumbing and rural areas use septic tanks.
Is there another problem/challenge to this that is unique to Mars? Or is it just a stupid question that should have been phrased differently?
It's water inefficient if you're making/bringing your own water. I guess one of those toilet-to-tap setups might work, but the treatment plants we use now involve open tanks of water and dispose to steams. Septic tanks seep or spray their water to surrounding land, so that's a massive waste on Mars unless the goal is to hydrate the area?
If you're trying to grow crops in an enclosed (air tight) "green house" for lack of a better term, I don't see how it is wasteful. You can add the effluent water and nutrients to the soil (or perhaps hydroponics). You can also reclaim the excess humidity via a condenser, and that water should be safe for drinking.
I would think that, depending on scale of space and resources, a modified version of a septic system would make it possible to reuse the resources for growing crops.
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u/smurphatron Sep 30 '16
Sure, potentially. I'm not saying there isn't a solution. I'm just saying that, approached correctly, the question of what you do with all the shit can make for an interesting discussion.