18
THIS IS PLUMBING
Loos from around
the world
By Eamonn Ryan
Some time back, a city bank put up a highly politically
incorrect sign in its staff lavatory, urging foreign staff to,
among other things, refrain from balancing on the seat squat-
style (and risking either falling off or destroying a perfectly
good toilet; to operate the flush mechanism with their hand
(“and not your foot”); and reassuring users that good old
British plumbing was more than up to the challenge of a few
scraps of toilet paper.
Plumbing Africa decided to evaluate traditional
toilet styles, and came to the conclusion that
South Africa toilets are best:
Squat toilets are a common sight in Asia, Africa,
the Middle East and parts of South America, and
even the less civilized pockets of Europe. It was
obviously not invented by a plumber, but no one
wants to take credit for the thing.
1. The French toilette: For the benefit of those
fortunate enough to have never had to deal with
this tragic miscarriage of plumbing design, a squat
toilet is not so much a toilet as a target. It consists
of a thick, contoured ceramic slab, usually about
one metre square, installed flush with the floor,
incorporating a drain hole in the back and two raised
platforms where you’re supposed to put your feet.
3. The African long-drop: When it comes to using
1
These are common all over the world.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
2. Japan: This 80-plus-year-old lavatory consists of
a single toilet installed in one corner of a 7.4m 2
room. It is tucked away in the Hyakudan Kaidan
(100-Step Staircase) pavilion, which is only
opened to the public when events are being held
there. According to the hotel staff, it was probably
designed for use by brides who needed an
attendant to hold up the trailing wedding gown.
@plumbingonline
@plumbingonline
2
The honourable Japanese loo.
@PlumbingAfricaOnline
March 2020 Volume 26 I Number 01
Here’s our evaluation of some of the loos around the
world: