FAQ

Q: What does the Foss water system do? 

A: The Foss water system is a self-contained system that treats and recycles domestic wastewater, converting waste blackwater and grey water to clean, reusable water that can water lawns, run appliances, and flush toilets.  This means the Foss toilet system only needs to be connected to electricity, without needing a sewer connection or a septic leach field. 

Q: Why do we need a toilet system like this?

A: The Foss toilet system is designed to meet the new challenges  of aging infrastructure, climate change, water scarcity, and global development. We believe that innovation in the wastewater sector is needed for the challenges of this century. Poor sanitation is also the largest killer of human lives globally after childbirth, with 3.5 billion people without safe sanitation.

Q: How was this technology developed? 

Dr. Ruby Lai has been working on this technology since 2018, while she was a researcher at Columbia University and Stanford University, working with the Reinvented Toilet program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Q: What stage of development is the technology? 

A: Prototypes have been built and tested, and we are seeking interest in small pilot opportunities.