Study: Toilets Need Radical Redesign

Live Science ^ | 7/30/07 | Corry Binns

[Millee]

The Western World's dependence on flush toilets could be its environmental downfall.

Toilets that use less water, such as the "squat toilet" in which one squats over a hole in the ground, are prevalent in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa, but a new historical study suggests that after decades of flushing, it will take radical innovations for the mainstream West to adopt any new system.

"Most people can hardly imagine that other ways of handling human waste have ever existed," said study author Maj-Britt Quitzau, an environmental sociologist with the National Environmental Research Institute of Denmark. "But actually, systems did exist prior to the flushing toilet where human waste was collected within the cities and re-used in farming areas."

Since the 1900s, scientists have known that flushing away human waste comes with environmental consequences , such as using precious, potable water. Each year, a typical person will use almost 4,000 gallons of drinking water to flush away 75 pounds of feces and 130 gallons of urine, according to a 2001 study by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“squat toilet” in which one squats over a hole in the ground, are prevalent in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa,...Yeah! and that’s why diseases you never heard of are everywhere....The liberals want everyone to live in small apartments on top of each other downtown...The aroma would be third world for sure!

[etcetera]

"While drinking-water shortages plague millions in such places as India and in some African nations, Westerners continue to oppose alternatives to the flushing toilet."

So if I don't flush my toilet, some thirsty Indian or African will get clean drinking water...how?

This reminds me of my Mom - when I was little, she always said, "There are people in India who are starving" every time I wouldn't finish my dinner. I couldn't figure out how my eating all my dinner would save a starving Indian.

[bizeemommie]

That is exactly what I was thinking.

[jwh_Denver]

And clean the damn turlet at the same time!

[Graycliff]

Theres usually 6-8 of us every time we go to Canada and the toilets last for a full week. I’m not sure how often they have to swap out.

[nuke rocketeer]

I wonder how many f those friggin’ idiots have had to use an outhouse to take a crap in weather either below zero or over 90 degrees? How many of them have had to turn the crank or better yet clean out a composting toilet? How many of them have even dug a cat hole and used a leaf to wipe while hiking out in a wilderness area?

I love my flush toilet, and they will not take it away from me!!!!

[Clam Digger]

I love my flush toilet, and they will not take it away from me!!!!

They can take my flush toilet when they pry it from my cold, dead buttcheeks.

[Loud Mime]

The low-flow toilets allow a big flush if you continue to hold the handle down during the flush; you increase the flush of water when you do that.

[nuke rocketeer]

My grandpa refused to allow a flush toilet in his house until I was 12. And then only because my grandmother had gotten very sick and could no longer easily make the trip to the outhouse anymore. Us grandkids thought the outhouse was a real adventure as kids. As teeners, it was a PITA.

[SunkenCiv]

The Western World's dependence on flush toilets could be its environmental downfall.

And forget about toilet paper.

And takin' baths.

And burning oil.

And expressing yourself on the Internet, letters to the editor, or anywhere else.

And eating meat.

And killing "other animals".

Welcome to the road to serfdom.

[JACKRUSSELL]

Agreed!!! HATE our “water saving” toilets!!

HATE the "water saving" shower heads, too.