How to Quickly Build a Bathroom on a Dacha: 3 Simple Methods

A toilet in the form of a separate building on the plot is a big problem for life at a dacha, especially in cold seasons. How to solve this issue is explained by architect Nikita Morozov.

Nikita Morozov is an architect and founder of the KM STUDIO design bureau, where young architects and designers create interiors in various styles—from art deco to loft.

Installing a toilet inside the house

Choose a room so it is located next to an external wall of the house as close as possible to the septic tank. This way you save on pipes and don't have to run utilities through rooms.

First, make a partition separating the room from other rooms using a framed wall with a plywood or OSB finish. To make the toilet warm, place thermal insulation material inside the frame.

Install a door separating the bathroom from other rooms. For proper air circulation, there must be an opening of at least 5 millimeters between the bottom edge of the door and the threshold.

Drill holes in the walls and floor to bring in water supply pipes and the sewage pipe. Mount adapters or taps on the walls for connecting the toilet and sink.

Protect the walls from moisture by applying a waterproofing layer or covering them with plastic panels. In the second case, additional insulation can be added by laying polystyrene, mineral wool, or foil-faced polymer fabric under the frame.

Install a ventilation hole in the ceiling. You can use just a simple exhaust fan, but I prefer to install a basic electric fan and connect it to a separate switch — this makes forced ventilation of the bathroom much easier.

Bio-toilet

It is also possible to create a comfortable toilet on a dacha without a septic tank and internal water supply. For this, you will still need to set up a room, but waste disposal will be done using biological treatment systems.

There are several types of bio-toilets suitable for use in private houses.

Composting

Systems with partial waste disposal work either on peat or a mixture of peat and wood shavings. When interacting with waste, the material composts, and subsequent portions are added to the container using an automatic doser.

Systems with full waste disposal work on a similar principle, but composting is done more reliably, and the result is effective fertilizer.

Separation

In the waste processing stage, the effluent is separated into liquid and solid fractions: solids are extracted for composting, and liquids are filtered in a special block.

Thermal

The system requires about 5 kW of power, so it can only be installed in houses with good power supply. Waste is burned down to ash, and moisture evaporates through a condenser.

Cryogenic

Masses entering the bio-toilet are frozen, which allows almost all microorganisms to be destroyed and eliminates unpleasant odors. The downside is dependence on power supply.

SFA Sanipump

Pressure sewage systems, also known as Sanipumps, grind and remove wastewater from the bathroom to the sewer or septic tank where it's difficult to lay conventional drainage. These systems are used when the bathroom is far from the main sewer or located below its level.

Sanipumps grind waste without using chemicals, so they are compatible with septic tanks and can be connected not only to toilets but also to sinks, shower cabins, bathtubs, washing machines, and dishwashers.

To install an SFA Sanipump, electricity and cold water supply for the bathroom are required. The grinder is installed behind a standard toilet with horizontal outlet, diverting wastewater through a small-diameter pipe — 22–32 mm.

All pressure sewage systems are equipped with a check valve to prevent delayed activation of the equipment and avoid the risk of backflow into the toilet or other fixtures.

Installation and maintenance are very simple, but it's better to hire installers. Note that different brands and types of pumps have varying performance, noise levels, waste grinding efficiency, and design. These are important parameters to consider when choosing, not after installation.

Cover image: Design project by Olga Tishkova