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Study: Toilets Need Radical Redesign
Live Science ^ | 7/30/07 | Corry Binns

Posted on 07/30/2007 7:55:43 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: environment; naturalresources; plumbing; water; westerncivilization
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Why Western Civilization is better, # 954,014: we don't have to squat over a hole in the ground to go to the bathroom.
1 posted on 07/30/2007 7:55:44 AM PDT by Millee
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To: Millee

Damn Lo-Flo toilets are bad enough. Where one flush used to do the job, now it takes 3 or 4 flushes.


2 posted on 07/30/2007 7:57:01 AM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
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To: dfwgator

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


3 posted on 07/30/2007 7:58:30 AM PDT by Millee (Tagline free since 10/20/06)
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To: Millee
"But actually, systems did exist prior to the flushing toilet where human waste was collected within the cities and re-used in farming areas."

Never mind that the life expectancy back then was about 42 years...

4 posted on 07/30/2007 7:58:46 AM PDT by dirtboy (Impeach Chertoff and Gonzales. We can't wait until 2009 for them to be gone.)
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To: Millee
"But actually, systems did exist prior to the flushing toilet where human waste was collected within the cities and re-used in farming areas."

 

Jobs Americans don't want to do.

5 posted on 07/30/2007 7:59:46 AM PDT by Fintan (Feiny hates me. Dasher hates me. Where's the beer???)
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To: Millee

Do the French still dump raw sewage in the Sine?


6 posted on 07/30/2007 7:59:56 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter ( Who is America's George Galloway?)
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To: Millee

Toilets need a radical redesign!?

Man, this is one issue I simply do not give a sh*t about!


7 posted on 07/30/2007 8:00:05 AM PDT by DangerDanger
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To: Millee

What the hell is an environmental socialist?


8 posted on 07/30/2007 8:02:56 AM PDT by Cvengr (The violence of evil is met with the violence of righteousness, justice, love and grace.)
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To: Cvengr

Pardon me, What the hell is an environmental sociologist?


9 posted on 07/30/2007 8:03:52 AM PDT by Cvengr (The violence of evil is met with the violence of righteousness, justice, love and grace.)
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To: Millee
systems did exist prior to the flushing toilet where human waste was collected within the cities and re-used in farming areas

Spreading human waste on cropland was outlawed around 1970, at least in Illinois.

10 posted on 07/30/2007 8:05:23 AM PDT by woofer (Some strive to soar like an eagle, but weasels never get sucked into jet engines.)
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To: Millee

Of course, the article doen’t mention the obvious: a dual plumbing system in each house/apartment.

Shower drains and bathroom sink drains that go into a tank, to be routed to the toilet system when needed to flush.

This relatively clean “gray water” could easily give double service.


11 posted on 07/30/2007 8:12:24 AM PDT by aShepard (Oh little Mohammad, Couchy, Couchy Coo; your momma is so proud, you'll be the cutest suicide bomber)
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To: Millee

And WE are the ones accused of trying to turn the clock back!


12 posted on 07/30/2007 8:13:43 AM PDT by NRA1995 (To Congress and Mr. President: This is OUR country, and don't you forget it!)
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To: dfwgator

Buy a Toto (Japanese Made)!!! One Flush works every time with 1/2 the water as others.


13 posted on 07/30/2007 8:16:06 AM PDT by golfisnr1 (Democrats are like roaches - hard to get rid of.)
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To: gov_bean_ counter
Yes they do dump it in the "Sine" and it creates quite a wave.
A Sine wave curiously enough.
14 posted on 07/30/2007 8:17:03 AM PDT by Brainhose (My name is Manuel. I am from Barcelona.)
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To: Millee

15 posted on 07/30/2007 8:23:35 AM PDT by Brainhose (My name is Manuel. I am from Barcelona.)
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To: aShepard

Campers and motorhomes use gray water for that very purpose, and it is a huge water saver.


16 posted on 07/30/2007 8:23:46 AM PDT by alwaysconservative (Eternal vigilance!)
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To: alwaysconservative

Gray water TANKS. When I type too fast, I omit key words, sheesh!


17 posted on 07/30/2007 8:28:46 AM PDT by alwaysconservative (Eternal vigilance!)
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To: Millee
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.

These people have such a dim view of humankind. We've embraced thousands, if not millions, of radical innovations in our history, why not now ? We love new stuff, it's human nature.

18 posted on 07/30/2007 8:29:07 AM PDT by Red Boots
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To: Millee

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

19 posted on 07/30/2007 8:29:55 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: golfisnr1
I agree with you that Toto makes the highest quality toilets and urinals as well as flush valves on the market. Their styling is geared more toward modern trends in design where Kohler and American Standard have much wider design ranges.

If you interested in the most environmentally designed systems available, this might interest you, http://www.thenaturalhome.com/clivusmultrum.htm There is an entire office building designed around one of these systems in Maryland that was built about 15 years ago. The building used gray water technology and solar power to offset utility costs.

20 posted on 07/30/2007 8:39:57 AM PDT by Dixie Yooper (Ephesians 6:11)
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