Flushing out history of the commode

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November 18, 2009

With World Toilet Day coming up Thursday, it’s a good time to pay tribute to this modern convenience.

By TRAVINA COLEMAN The Tahlequah Daily Press Wed Nov 18, 2009, 09:29 AM CST

A toilet is just one of those things people don’t think much about on a daily basis. But this fixture is literally one of the most important hygienic conveniences that could save a person’s life.

In America, toilets are taken for granted. In many Third World countries, they’re unheard of.

Most people in the western world know how toilets look, but they probably aren’t aware of how their function has changed over the years.

One of the newest incarnations of the “water closet” is the water-free urinal. And Northeastern State University has one.

“I have seen them at other places, like the mall, “ said Brad Jones, electrical foreman for the NSU Physical Plant.

The urinal is the same shape as a regular one, but instead of a drain, a recyclable cartridge forms a barrier that traps odors.

And since there is no water, there is no water waste.

Thursday is World Toilet Day, and it’s a day to celebrate the importance of sanitation and raise awareness for the 2.5 billion people – nearly half the world’s population – who don’t have access to toilets and proper sanitation, according to worldtoiletday.com.

Mandy Littlefield, of Tahlequah, had no idea that toilets were still an issue today.

“I thought everyone had toilets,” she said. “And if they don’t, they should. That’s just a basic necessity.”

The first toilets on which an individual could sit appeared on the scene as early as 2500 B.C., according to a book called “The Comforts of Home,” by Merritt Ierley. Then in 1596, Sir John Harrington, godson to Queen Elizabeth I, took the liberty of re-creating a toilet he saw in Italy. He built the first flushing toilet; hence, the toilet’s slang name “John.”

Joseph Bramah of Yorkshire patented the first practical water closet, or W.C., in England in 1778.

Alexander Cumming, a watchmaker, was responsible for the next major advance in water closets. He created the S-trap or siphon trap.

This was capable of keeping sewer gas from backing up through the water closet and into the house. It’s been an essential part of plumbing ever since, according to the toiletinnovations.com.

And as for Thomas Crapper, he did not invent the toilet, as legend has it. Worldtoilet.org says he was a plumber who helped the device gain popularity.

Among the newest highly technological advances is a Japanese model built by the Toto Co.

The toilet lets users monitor their health. It analyzes urine samples, measures blood pressure, and checks body fat, according to worldtoilet.org.

It seems many areas and communities are also concerned with their water supply. That goes for the proper disposal of waste water as well.

Tahlequah Public Works Authority is looking to build a new waste water plant on Tenkiller Lake to help manage the amount of water that needs to be treated.

Every year, more people die from illnesses caused by poor water and sanitation than from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, according to worldtoiletday.com.

New products on the market are expected to be “greener” and more sanitary, and are already in use in a lot of public facilities. Many toilets – like the sensor-operated flushometers – are great to use because you don’t have to touch them, plumbers say.

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