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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/15/why-modern-bathroom-wasteful-unhealthy-design
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| Why the modern bathroom is a wasteful, unhealthy design | Why the modern bathroom is a wasteful, unhealthy design |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| For centuries, the people of London and other | For centuries, the people of London and other |
| big cities got their cooking and washing water from rivers or wells, | big cities got their cooking and washing water from rivers or wells, |
| limiting their consumption to pretty much what they could carry. They | limiting their consumption to pretty much what they could carry. They |
| dumped their waste into brick-lined cesspits that would be emptied by the night | dumped their waste into brick-lined cesspits that would be emptied by the night |
| soil men, who sold it as fertilizer or dumped it off Dung Pier into the Thames. | soil men, who sold it as fertilizer or dumped it off Dung Pier into the Thames. |
| Liquid waste might be dumped into gutters in the middle of the road. | Liquid waste might be dumped into gutters in the middle of the road. |
| And then in 1854, in the middle of a cholera | And then in 1854, in the middle of a cholera |
| epidemic in London, Dr John Snow mapped where victims died and found that the | epidemic in London, Dr John Snow mapped where victims died and found that the |
| deaths seemed concentrated around one of those pumps, at 37 Broad Street. When | deaths seemed concentrated around one of those pumps, at 37 Broad Street. When |
| he had the handle removed from the pump, the cholera epidemic stopped | he had the handle removed from the pump, the cholera epidemic stopped |
| immediately. He had made the first verifiable connection between human waste and | immediately. He had made the first verifiable connection between human waste and |
| disease. | disease. |
| After people realised that excrement plus drinking | After people realised that excrement plus drinking |
| water equals death, parliament passed the Metropolitan Water Act to “make provision for securing the supply to the metropolis of | water equals death, parliament passed the Metropolitan Water Act to “make provision for securing the supply to the metropolis of |
| pure and wholesome water”. Public pumps were replaced with pipes delivering | pure and wholesome water”. Public pumps were replaced with pipes delivering |
| water directly to homes. | water directly to homes. |
| This was perhaps the greatest, but now undervalued, convenience. Instead of carrying water, suddenly everyone had as much as they could | This was perhaps the greatest, but now undervalued, convenience. Instead of carrying water, suddenly everyone had as much as they could |
| use, all the time, with the turn of a tap. Not surprisingly, according to Abby | use, all the time, with the turn of a tap. Not surprisingly, according to Abby |
| Rockefeller in Civilization and Sludge, the average water use per person | Rockefeller in Civilization and Sludge, the average water use per person |
| went quickly from three gallons of water per person to 30 and perhaps as much as 100 | went quickly from three gallons of water per person to 30 and perhaps as much as 100 |
| gallons per person. | gallons per person. |
| The toilet was an almost trivial addition; it | The toilet was an almost trivial addition; it |
| had been around for a while (John Harington, a member of Elizabeth I’s privy | had been around for a while (John Harington, a member of Elizabeth I’s privy |
| council invented a flush toilet, but there is no evidence that she ever tried | council invented a flush toilet, but there is no evidence that she ever tried |
| it) but was pretty useless without a water supply. But it became incredibly | it) but was pretty useless without a water supply. But it became incredibly |
| convenient to just to wash the poop away. Except now there was more faecal effluence than anyone knew what to do with, overflowing the cesspits and flowing into the | convenient to just to wash the poop away. Except now there was more faecal effluence than anyone knew what to do with, overflowing the cesspits and flowing into the |
| gutters and sewers originally designed for rainwater that all led to the | gutters and sewers originally designed for rainwater that all led to the |
| Thames. The result was even more cholera and disease. | Thames. The result was even more cholera and disease. |
| The environmentalists of the day tried to stop | The environmentalists of the day tried to stop |
| this; they promoted earth toilets that would keep human waste separate, that | this; they promoted earth toilets that would keep human waste separate, that |
| would treat it as a resource. Rockefeller writes: “The engineers were divided again | would treat it as a resource. Rockefeller writes: “The engineers were divided again |
| between those who believed in the value of human excreta to agriculture and | between those who believed in the value of human excreta to agriculture and |
| those who did not. The believers argued in favour of 'sewage | those who did not. The believers argued in favour of 'sewage |
| farming', the practice of irrigating neighbouring farms with municipal | farming', the practice of irrigating neighbouring farms with municipal |
| sewage. The second group, arguing that 'running water purifies | sewage. The second group, arguing that 'running water purifies |
| itself' (the more current slogan among sanitary engineers: 'the | itself' (the more current slogan among sanitary engineers: 'the |
| solution to pollution is dilution'), argued for piping sewage into lakes, | solution to pollution is dilution'), argued for piping sewage into lakes, |
| rivers, and oceans.” | rivers, and oceans.” |
| But they never really had a chance to debate the | But they never really had a chance to debate the |
| issue; it was a done deal as people rushed to install convenient flush toilets. | issue; it was a done deal as people rushed to install convenient flush toilets. |
| Soon every contaminated stream and gutter was being enlarged and covered | Soon every contaminated stream and gutter was being enlarged and covered |
| over and turned into what remains today’s urban sewer system. In the Guardian, Blake Morrison described it | over and turned into what remains today’s urban sewer system. In the Guardian, Blake Morrison described it |
| as being “on a par, aesthetically, with the canal bridges | as being “on a par, aesthetically, with the canal bridges |
| and railway viaducts of the Victorian era.” But it was really just going with the flow instead of thinking | and railway viaducts of the Victorian era.” But it was really just going with the flow instead of thinking |
| about the consequences. | about the consequences. |
| Inside our houses, the architects and homeowners | Inside our houses, the architects and homeowners |
| of the late 19th century were as confused as the engineers about what to do. | of the late 19th century were as confused as the engineers about what to do. |
| People had washstands in their bedrooms, so at first they just stuck sinks and | People had washstands in their bedrooms, so at first they just stuck sinks and |
| taps into them, and put the toilet into whatever closet in the hall or space | taps into them, and put the toilet into whatever closet in the hall or space |
| under the stairs that they could find, hence the “water closet.” They quickly realised that | under the stairs that they could find, hence the “water closet.” They quickly realised that |
| it didn’t make a lot of sense to run plumbing to every | it didn’t make a lot of sense to run plumbing to every |
| bedroom when it was cheaper to bring it all to one place, and the idea of the | bedroom when it was cheaper to bring it all to one place, and the idea of the |
| bathroom was born. Since the early adopters, then as now, were the rich with a | bathroom was born. Since the early adopters, then as now, were the rich with a |
| few rooms to spare, they were often lavish, with all the fixtures encased in | few rooms to spare, they were often lavish, with all the fixtures encased in |
| wood like the commodes they replaced. | wood like the commodes they replaced. |
| As germ theory became accepted at the end of the | As germ theory became accepted at the end of the |
| 19th century, the bathroom became a hospital room, with fixtures of | 19th century, the bathroom became a hospital room, with fixtures of |
| porcelain and lined with tile or marble. These materials are expensive; as the | porcelain and lined with tile or marble. These materials are expensive; as the |
| bathroom became mainstream and accessible to all classes, it got smaller. The | bathroom became mainstream and accessible to all classes, it got smaller. The |
| plumbers lined everything up in a row to use less pipe. By about 1910 the | plumbers lined everything up in a row to use less pipe. By about 1910 the |
| bathroom is pretty much indistinguishable from the ones built today. | bathroom is pretty much indistinguishable from the ones built today. |
| Nobody seriously paused to think about the | Nobody seriously paused to think about the |
| different functions and their needs; they just took the position that if water | different functions and their needs; they just took the position that if water |
| comes in and water goes out, it is all pretty much the same and should be in | comes in and water goes out, it is all pretty much the same and should be in |
| the same room. Nobody thought about how the water from a shower or bathtub (greywater) is different from the water from a toilet (blackwater); it all just | the same room. Nobody thought about how the water from a shower or bathtub (greywater) is different from the water from a toilet (blackwater); it all just |
| went down the same drain which connected to the same sewer pipe that gathered | went down the same drain which connected to the same sewer pipe that gathered |
| the rainwater from the streets, and carried it away to be dumped in the river | the rainwater from the streets, and carried it away to be dumped in the river |
| or lake. | or lake. |
| It is hard to find something that we actually got right in the modern | It is hard to find something that we actually got right in the modern |
| bathroom. The toilet is too high (our bodies were designed to squat), the sink is | bathroom. The toilet is too high (our bodies were designed to squat), the sink is |
| too low and almost useless; the shower is a deathtrap (an American dies every | too low and almost useless; the shower is a deathtrap (an American dies every |
| day from bath or shower accidents). We fill this tiny, inadequately ventilated | day from bath or shower accidents). We fill this tiny, inadequately ventilated |
| room with toxic chemicals ranging from nail polish to tile cleaners. We flush | room with toxic chemicals ranging from nail polish to tile cleaners. We flush |
| the toilet and send bacteria into the air, with our toothbrush in a cup a few | the toilet and send bacteria into the air, with our toothbrush in a cup a few |
| feet away. We take millions of gallons of fresh water and contaminate it with | feet away. We take millions of gallons of fresh water and contaminate it with |
| toxic chemicals, human waste, antibiotics and birth control hormones in | toxic chemicals, human waste, antibiotics and birth control hormones in |
| quantities large enough to the gender of fish. | quantities large enough to the gender of fish. |
| We mix up all our bodily functions in a machine | We mix up all our bodily functions in a machine |
| designed by engineers on the basis of the plumbing system, not human needs. The | designed by engineers on the basis of the plumbing system, not human needs. The |
| result is a toxic output of contaminated water, questionable air quality and | result is a toxic output of contaminated water, questionable air quality and |
| incredible waste. We just can’t afford to do it this way | incredible waste. We just can’t afford to do it this way |
| any more. | any more. |
| What could the bathroom of the future look like? | What could the bathroom of the future look like? |
| Tamsin Oglesby’s play The War Next Door opened to mixed reviews in 2007; | Tamsin Oglesby’s play The War Next Door opened to mixed reviews in 2007; |
| one critic said “the shoddy script and hammy | one critic said “the shoddy script and hammy |
| acting left me so bored that I contemplated impaling myself on my biro". However, one prop got worldwide attention, as noted in the | acting left me so bored that I contemplated impaling myself on my biro". However, one prop got worldwide attention, as noted in the |
| synopsis: “Sophie and Max are a thoroughly modern British | synopsis: “Sophie and Max are a thoroughly modern British |
| couple, cosmopolitan, open-minded. They’ve even constructed their own eco loo (well, it does save 30 | couple, cosmopolitan, open-minded. They’ve even constructed their own eco loo (well, it does save 30 |
| litres of water a day).” | litres of water a day).” |
| That’s seriously open-minded, having a composting toilet in a London | That’s seriously open-minded, having a composting toilet in a London |
| home. It also does a lot more than just save 30 litres of water; it | home. It also does a lot more than just save 30 litres of water; it |
| eliminates blackwater (contaminated with faeces) as distinct from greywater, what comes out of our | |
| sinks, laundries and showers, which can be reused in the garden. Lots of people | sinks, laundries and showers, which can be reused in the garden. Lots of people |
| are doing greywater diversion and using it to flush their toilets, but that | are doing greywater diversion and using it to flush their toilets, but that |
| just turns it black. A composting toilet is a much more grand gesture, that | just turns it black. A composting toilet is a much more grand gesture, that |
| people will resist; I was once told that: “No one will want this inside their house. I know this, because I | people will resist; I was once told that: “No one will want this inside their house. I know this, because I |
| still have a few teeth in my head and a few friends in town.” | still have a few teeth in my head and a few friends in town.” |
| Perhaps. However, if we are going to do | Perhaps. However, if we are going to do |
| something about the incredible waste of water that is the modern bathroom, | something about the incredible waste of water that is the modern bathroom, |
| radical changes may be required. A lot of Britons are proud of going net-zero | radical changes may be required. A lot of Britons are proud of going net-zero |
| or off-grid with their electricity and energy supply; it’s time to consider going off-pipe too. According to the Parliamentary | or off-grid with their electricity and energy supply; it’s time to consider going off-pipe too. According to the Parliamentary |
| Office of Science and Technology (Post): “Over 10bn litres of sewage are produced every day in England | Office of Science and Technology (Post): “Over 10bn litres of sewage are produced every day in England |
| and Wales. It takes approximately 6.34 GW hours of energy to treat this volume of | and Wales. It takes approximately 6.34 GW hours of energy to treat this volume of |
| sewage, almost 1% of the average daily electricity consumption of England | sewage, almost 1% of the average daily electricity consumption of England |
| and Wales.” You’re not net-zero if you are flushing your waste into the sewer. | and Wales.” You’re not net-zero if you are flushing your waste into the sewer. |
| Composting toilets are not yet flush-and-forget | Composting toilets are not yet flush-and-forget |
| like a conventional loo, but they are getting close. There are vacuum toilets | like a conventional loo, but they are getting close. There are vacuum toilets |
| that suck it all away to the composter using almost no water; there are foam | that suck it all away to the composter using almost no water; there are foam |
| flush toilets that are almost indistinguishable from conventional bowls. | flush toilets that are almost indistinguishable from conventional bowls. |
| Companies such as Clivus Multrum supply not only the toilet and the composter, but | Companies such as Clivus Multrum supply not only the toilet and the composter, but |
| also a service of emptying it, just like the night soil men did 200 years ago. | also a service of emptying it, just like the night soil men did 200 years ago. |
| Shower like the Japanese | Shower like the Japanese |
| The other source of waste and inefficiency is | The other source of waste and inefficiency is |
| the shower. They are designed so badly; the shower heads aim down, when really, | the shower. They are designed so badly; the shower heads aim down, when really, |
| like a bidet, they should probably aim up. The water runs constantly, even when | like a bidet, they should probably aim up. The water runs constantly, even when |
| you are applying soap or shampoo. You are usually standing in a slippery | you are applying soap or shampoo. You are usually standing in a slippery |
| dangerous tub or in a tiny stall where you cannot move out of the water stream. | dangerous tub or in a tiny stall where you cannot move out of the water stream. |
| People who care about water waste, either for cost or environmental reasons, | People who care about water waste, either for cost or environmental reasons, |
| take short showers or have miserable low flow shower heads. It’s just not fun. | take short showers or have miserable low flow shower heads. It’s just not fun. |
| In Japan, you sit on a stool and have a bucket, | In Japan, you sit on a stool and have a bucket, |
| sponge, ladle and hand shower that you only turn on when you need it. You can | sponge, ladle and hand shower that you only turn on when you need it. You can |
| sit comfortably for as long as you like, in no danger of slipping, use the | sit comfortably for as long as you like, in no danger of slipping, use the |
| ladle or the hand shower to rinse. It’s really a lovely experience. It uses 10% of the water | ladle or the hand shower to rinse. It’s really a lovely experience. It uses 10% of the water |
| compared to a normal shower. If you do follow up with a hot bath, at least the | compared to a normal shower. If you do follow up with a hot bath, at least the |
| water is shared among the whole family. | water is shared among the whole family. |
| When thinking about the bathroom of the future, | When thinking about the bathroom of the future, |
| we should look more closely at the Japanese bathrooms of the past. They kept their water supply and their waste | we should look more closely at the Japanese bathrooms of the past. They kept their water supply and their waste |
| management far apart, and rarely had epidemics of typhoid or cholera. They | management far apart, and rarely had epidemics of typhoid or cholera. They |
| would never think of putting the toilet in the same room as the tub. | would never think of putting the toilet in the same room as the tub. |
| Instead of treating bathing as a chore, they turned it into a truly | Instead of treating bathing as a chore, they turned it into a truly |
| enjoyable ritual. | enjoyable ritual. |
| The Japanese used to sell their excrement; the rich | The Japanese used to sell their excrement; the rich |
| got more money for theirs because they had better diets and made better quality | got more money for theirs because they had better diets and made better quality |
| fertilizer. They farmed more intensively and had fewer farm animals, (as we | fertilizer. They farmed more intensively and had fewer farm animals, (as we |
| probably should) and needed a lot of it. In China, the proverb said: “Treasure night soil as if it were gold.” It was valuable stuff then and still is today. | probably should) and needed a lot of it. In China, the proverb said: “Treasure night soil as if it were gold.” It was valuable stuff then and still is today. |
| In a world where we are running out of fresh | In a world where we are running out of fresh |
| water, making artificial fertilizer from fossil fuels and approaching peak | water, making artificial fertilizer from fossil fuels and approaching peak |
| phosphorus, it is idiotic and almost criminal that we pay huge amounts in | phosphorus, it is idiotic and almost criminal that we pay huge amounts in |
| taxes to use drinking water to flush away our personal fertilizer and | taxes to use drinking water to flush away our personal fertilizer and |
| phosphorus and dump it in the ocean. In the future, they should be paying us. | phosphorus and dump it in the ocean. In the future, they should be paying us. |
| Bathrooms and toilets - a history in pictures | Bathrooms and toilets - a history in pictures |
| Lloyd Alter is managing editor of TreeHugger. | Lloyd Alter is managing editor of TreeHugger. |
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