An aqua privy is an underground watertight vault filled with water that receives excreta and wash water from a drop-pipe, allows solids to settle to the bottom, and discharges effluent to a soakage pit. Maintaining a aqua privy involves keeping the liquid level at the flow line, cleaning the slab once each week (at least), checking the sludge depth once each year, and emptying the vault and disposing of septage as needed. This technical note describes how to operate and maintain an aqua privy. Read the entire technical note before beginning operation or maintenance.