Is it time to revolutionize the toilet?

[William769]

(CNN) — Consider the toilet — that humble porcelain bowl that spirits away our waste several times a day. It’s not a piece of technology that often gets flashy updates (though dual flushing, seat warming and electronic bidet features can certainly elevate it), nor is it a darling of the design world.

But toilets are in desperate need of an upgrade — as is our entire approach to sewage, according to the many designers, environmental engineers and sanitation experts hoping to bring about a paradigm shift.

Flushing our waste is, well, wasteful, accounting for nearly a third of indoor water use in US homes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In many parts of the world, the use of water toilets has become increasingly fraught as climate change ushers in extreme droughts and flooding, which backs up sewers and overflows septic tanks. In disaster zones, or places without access to running water, the need for innovation is even more urgent.

The designer bringing Italian furniture to one of Kenya’s oldest slums
Rethinking how we deal with waste may also present an opportunity: Our excrement can be converted into renewable heat, electricity and fertilizer.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/22/style/toilet-design-future-waste-design-for-impact/index.html

Please don't flush this food for thought down the toilet.

[PCIntern]

1. Here's an idea:

You can “go” inside your house into…let’s call it…what…got it! A chamber pot!!! Yes!!! Then you can take it outside and dump it in a hole which has been dug to receive human waste. In the “fine seasons” one might utilize a small structure out of the house…what to call it…hmmm..an OUTHOUSE! Where one might have some privacy while using….aha! Yes! The privy!!!

That’s what I call progress!!!


Or, you could just dump it into the streets like they did in the good old days.

On edit: there are many sound public health reasons why we flush sewage away in water. This is why we don’t have plague in the United States anymore.

[Sneederbunk]

2. Impractical, because Sears catalogues are no longer produced.

[Chainfire]

16. No, but they are still making corncobs.

If we run short, I am sure someone could make them from plastic.

[Mossfern]

3. Exactly what I was thinking

while reading the article!

[dpibel]

9. Composting toilets?

You do know about them?

I mean, you are seriously proposing that the people who are now critiquing the flush toilet system don't know about cholera?

[BadgerKid]

13. Shhh...don't tempt the Make Cholera Great Again crowd.

[harumph]

15. Sarcasm noted...but what about incinerating toilets?

There are a few - and they don't require much propane or natural gas.

https://incineratingtoilets.com/us/

TA-DA!

[Irish_Dem]

4. I have been surprised that the toilet and bathroom has not changed much in many years.

One area of the house that stays the same.

[NutmegYankee]

7. If it ain't broken...

One of the neat details in the Starfield game that takes place in the 24th century is that every craft and dwelling has a bathroom that looks familiar.

[Irish_Dem]

14. Yes that may always be the situation.

Bathrooms never really change.

[Chainfire]

17. Because modern plumbing works.

[Irish_Dem]

20. I would think there would be some significant changes at some point.

But maybe not.

[dsp3000]

5. Does it smell? Does it require more work?

if so? then I want nothing to do with it in my house, and i'm sure that's going to be the sentiment of many others.

[ret5hd]

6. .

[dpibel]

12. Why we are doomed

You've captured it perfectly!

Lowering carbon emissions would require me to drive less? Then I want nothing to do with it.

Solving poverty might mean I didn't have quite so much? Count me out.

You have stated the Darwinian imperative with precision. And that is why the prospects for survival are dim.

[dsp3000]

22. I know I did.

Look, i'm as liberal as most of you guys here and if i feel like that, can you imagine a red hat maga who thinks their basic potty rights are being infringed? or simply other non political types who just want a nice clean toilet that functions like they've known their entire lives? If this can be implemented so that it has minimal change to people's lives then it would be a go, but of course it will be a more expensive solution. Built in deodorizers ... i dunno?

[Talitha]

8. Ha! What movie was it that had the 'three sea shells' in the bathroom instead of TP??

Can't even remember who was in it.

Anyway, when we built our house 30 years ago, we looked into a composting toilet - Swedish design, IIRC. The details escape me but there was a drum of sorts that needed to be rotated every day - reminded me of that scene in Apollo 13 when they asked the astronauts to 'stir the tanks' and all hell broke loose. In the long run we weren't confident about getting something so unusual, and opted for a regular water system. But yes, I agree that using all that water is quite wasteful, especially if there's a do-able alternative.

[dpibel]

10. Are you quite sure?

The likeliest thing you're thinking of with Swedish composting toilets is the Clivus Multrum, which has neither drum nor requirement of a daily spin.

There are some backyard composting units (for food scraps, weeds. and such) that involve a drum that wants to be turned from time to time.

It occurs to me, respectfully, that you may be conflating a couple of different composting issues you were looking into 30 years ago.

[Talitha]

19. Yeah, it was a long time ago and all we saw was a brochure.

The concept was quite interesting, though.

[BannonsLiver]

21. That's all very lovely

But I’m sure you used a flushing toilet today, like everyone else.

[Ace Rothstein]

11. Demolition Man

Talitha, you are fined 1 credit for a violation of the verbal morality statute.

[Talitha]

18. Nicely done!