Shit Happens…
Editor’s note: OK, we’re usually not so potty-mouthed, but, as you’ll see, it’s perfectly (and literally) appropriate this time around. We’re pleased to have Simran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh join us as guest contributors, and share with you their series on the surprising journeys of everyday things. They will be posting previews on Green Options before launching the posts on Huffington Post. Here’s a sneak peek at bathroom fun.
What you may not realize, cherie, is that whatever you flush down comes back around. Our waste fertilizes our fields and is pumped back into the waterways that are our major sources of drinking water. Let’s take the journey from toilet to tap, shall we? Oui oui. (We’re affecting French here for a touch of sophistication in a post centering on fecal matter.)
Americans use about 70 gallons of water indoors, every day. About three-quarters of that is used in the toilette—shower, bath, sink, crapper—and over one-quarter is used whisking away our waste. You can cut this water usage by making sure your toilet isn’t leaking, using a composting or low-flow toilet or even displacing the water in the tank with a brick or container filled with sand . Your toilet is not a trashcan, so save cigarette butts, tissues and used condoms for the basket, not the bowl.
We don’t want to bum you out, but cutting water usage means a lot in an era when more than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. According to Claudia McMurray, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, “On any given day, approximately 50% of the world’s hospital beds are filled with patients suffering from water and sanitation related diseases. Each year 1.8 million children in developing countries die from diarrheal disease - the second leading cause of death after pneumonia.”
When aiming for more equitable water usage, hippie wisdom comes in handy: If it’s brown flush it down; if it’s yellow, let it mellow. S’il vous plait. (Our hippie is French.)
The crapper journals continue on Huffington Post.
Thanks to the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Lacey Johnston for research assistance.
Photo credit: gemsling at Flickr under a Creative Commons license
There are so many things we use in our everyday lives, and don’t question. We expect things to work for us, get very upset if they don’t. Thanks to S & S for making us think a little more.
I actually found your use of French realy appropriate. I just came back from a semester in France where everyone is acutely aware of water conservation. I think my time there has completely changed my personal awareness. Not only do toilets waste water, but so do long showers. I learned to turn off water while shaving, while lathering - it helps with your PERSONAL bill as well.
I grew up on a farm with a well. During the long dry summers, navy showers and mellowing were pretty common. Wash my hair or flush? A daily question.
Same deal for my life in the islands later where one fresh water shower (cold) per week was allowed and nothing safe to drink coming out of the tap. It changes your perspective, I hope things don’t have to get that bad before people make adjustments.
Fifty percent of the world’s hospital beds?? That number is unbelievable. I have wondered - if drinking water is getting so mucked up, why don’t we hear more stories about people getting sick? This number helps bring the seriousness of the issue to light. I’ll finish my degree and get to work on reporting those stories though so the issue is a little more tangible. And louder- I’m really surprised by that stat.
I just wonder is the life cycle of desks going to elicit such a rousing response? It is juicy! Stay tuned and thanks for loving on our little series…
Yep, thats the spirit… Let your excrement fester to save the planet
whilst your neighbor shops at the home depot for his “raincloud” shower head
water needs to cost more than gasoline and then I will do my part to save
why should I walk around on a 3 shower day a week so celine dion can use 7 million gallons of water?
rip away
I’m your straw target
Indeed it does, indeed it does. More often than not!
JT
http://www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com
This is naive. Water isn’t portable. Excess water in one location isn’t worth moving to another location (unless it’s Pellegrino water, in which case, I’ll take it). Many parts of the world have a surplus of pure, clean water, and the parts of the world that need it have no way to get it. So for most of us, saving water isn’t going to help anyone.
And you also need to face the fact that in most of the world, water used in toilets is a tiny fraction of total water consumption– a percent or two of the total. So get a low-flow toilet and use it when you need to, okay? All this bleeding-heart hand-wringing doesn’t mean shit.
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Sonya, how often do you hear of someone from Africa going to the hospital for flu? What about someone from China or India? What about Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, or Utah? Never? Ok then. That should answer your question on why we don’t read about it.
“If it’s brown flush it down; if it’s yellow, let it mellow.”
That’s disgusting. Not only will it leave rings and make your restroom smell, anyone that comes over is going to be grossed out. We have running toilet water for a reason… so we don’t have to smell our waste. Damn hippies.