This is my thought on the modern flush toilette:<p><a href="http://makeameme.org/media/created/skeptical-third-world-kid-so-you-have.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://makeameme.org/media/created/skeptical-third-world-kid...</a><p>I lived in what was essentially a rural cabin for 5 years. We had no indoor plumbing and stored water for cooking and bathing in barrels. We used a composting toilette (see "The Humanuer Handbook"). After moving back to a "real" modern house in the city, I am daily reminded of the tragic waste of potable water that modern plumbing endorses.
One of my professors, the late David Crane, FAIA, had a rule of thumb for determining the suitability of sanitary systems for poor communities on a global scale - suitability is inversely proportional to pipes.
The conventional flush toilet requires a massive water treatment system with pumps every few miles to push the wastewater through the pipe. But the costs are hidden from the payer, which makes everyone happy.
I like the way the world (seems) to be turning - towards putting effort into solving the worlds problems based on evidence and rational thought as opposed to bureaucratic incentives or popular votes.<p>One can hope
The only problem I have with these things is it teaches me that I don't need to flush. I've stepped away from many flush toilets only to be reminded moments later that I need to depress the handle.<p>Outfitting flush toilets with automatic flush devices is a decent stopgap ... unless the one on the sit toilet is misaligned and causes flushing every time I lean a little - then my butt cheeks get wet :-(
I would like to point out the subtle but present contradiction between the two statements endorsed by the article, namely <i>Everyone needs a toilet!</i> and <i>Decentralized waste treatment is superior!</i><p>In addition, this article didn't mention the long-recognized composting principle that separating urine and feces largely removes any bad smell.