What about the sanitation solutions we do have? What are the problems with those?
Water-borne waste sewage and sewers was an excellent solution in the 19th century. But infrastructure is pushed to capacity. The design itself is flawed. It's really silly to take clean drinking water, throw filth in it and spend millions of dollars as well as lots of energy cleaning it again, especially when water is becoming quite short in supply.

Most of these systems are combined systems. They take the rain and everything that goes down toilets. An inch of rainfall or less can overwhelm them and then they do a perfectly legal discharge into the nearest river or sea. In 1993 Milwaukee had an outbreak of cryptosporidium [a parasite that causes diarrhea and results from inadequately treated water supplies] and more than 100 people died. There isn't enough money to clean all this sewage.

Is there a way of alleviating pressure at the source? Ecological sanitation advocates have this dream of everybody having a composting toilet and putting safe compost out with their recycling. That's not realistic.

So what are some intermediate steps?
Low-flush toilets that use less water. Vacuum toilets, like the ones you get on a ship or a plane that make that shoop sound, are good. But so far they're not cheap. I don't have a magic bullet solution.

Anything else to add?
I have no particular fascination with the substance itself. I don't like it anymore than the next person. The thing about shit, the reason it smells, at least according to the London School of Hygiene, is because it can be so toxic and carry so many diseases. We're not going to be able to overcome that.

But the first step is to put the issue out there and talk about it. The conversational taboo is such a big impediment. With the flush toilet, we've been able to flush [sanitation as an issue] out of our minds as well.

6 Comments

1. 1. Walt129 07:08 PM 10/15/08

   Finally! A scientific journal has the forthrightness to say it "out loud." As a former resident of a home with the luxury of a septic tank and a wish to have a flammable gas producing system attached, I welcome this article and book. Add this proposed enhancement to our world quest for more fresh, drinkable water and we are well on the way to a brave new world indeed!

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. Aviatar 07:18 PM 10/15/08

   "The thing about shit, the reason it smells, at least according to the London School of Hygiene, is because it can be so toxic and carry so many diseases." Evolution is a probable factor in our malodorous perception. Humans who have learned to avoid shit, warned by its odor, will increase their chances of good health and longevity.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. Marshal-Green 07:56 AM 10/16/08

   I am uncertain why exactly composting toilets is not considered a viable solution. They really require much less maintenance compared to a water based system on the whole. Although expense could possibly become an issue with the 3rd world, economies of scale will help with that matter as composting toilets become more popular. Electricity isn't even necessary for some models
   
   Take a look at www.biolet.com for some examples of self contained composting toilets.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. Marshal-Green 07:56 AM 10/16/08

   I am uncertain why exactly composting toilets is not considered a viable solution. They really require much less maintenance compared to a water based system on the whole. Although expense could possibly become an issue with the 3rd world, economies of scale will help with that matter as composting toilets become more popular. Electricity isn't even necessary for some models
   
   Take a look at www.biolet.com for some examples of self contained composting toilets.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. creuynni 09:58 AM 7/15/10

   exactly - compost toilets! easy answer! they don't cost much to make- though have to have the space to make them, the flushing variety would have had to go somewhere
   and could help provide fertlisation for soil even...
   
   in a day and age where the 'west' is looking towards eco-ways of living, other countries can do so, often easier than the so called 'developed' countries....

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. mcphilosopher 02:13 PM 2/13/13

   Thank you for focusing policy makers's attention to simple public health issues that save more lives than the search for the silver bullet in the high-cost practice of for-profit medicine.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this