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I went to Mongolia a little over a year ago. It is a beautiful country... but, outside of the city, no toilet facilities. Most people have a pit with boards over it for facilities (and it is as disgusting as it sounds). And out in the desert, it’s hard to even find a bush for privacy.

I read an article soon after my visit to Mongolia. The Mongolian government is trying to encourage more tourism—up to 2 million a year by 2020, I think was the goal. One of the issues they are facing is that the lack of toilet facilities outside of the city is the top complaint that tourists to Mongolia have.

Airports in Asia have signs telling people not to stand on the commode. I surmise that because many people in Asia do not have toilets, they do not know how to use one—and so must be instructed not to balance on it and squat.

Many places in Asia have safe water and waste disposal, but the toilets are the open hole in the tiled floor. Clean and safe, just not the toilet fixture. (Probably is a more natural body position as well for taking a dump.) But yes - if you are used to squatting over a hole, you would probably think you needed to somehow squat on a toilet.

I always wondered why they have signs for the “no standing” - but then assume they know what the toilet paper is for. All of the places that just have the holes just have a hose for washing it down - and for washing your hands afterwards (no toilet paper - so bring your own!!!)

I was surprised to see it in a restaurant's bathroom in Northern Italy. Me? I prefer the toilet!

Interesting article on the percentages. Here in Seattle we are spending millions (billions?) on rainwater overflow retention. Rarely we will get enough rain at one time, and the sewage treatment facilities can't handle it and dumps it into Puget Sound. So this once every two year type of occurrence is costing a lot. Meanwhile, Vancouver, B.C. on the north end of Puget Sound does not even have a waste treatment facility and dumps their raw sewage into the Sound!