6 Trails
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5 7
THIS IS PLUMBING
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This toilet has a tippy tap outside (a bottle of water
hanging on a string) for hygiene.
The long-drop has a long association with mankind.
a long-drop toilet, there are two rules: Rule one
has to do with timing. As far as possible, use
it early in the day especially if one is ‘nasally
challenged’. This is even more the case in
warmer climates. The hotter the day and the
more uses the long drop has had, the more
challenging it becomes. Rule two is – never, ever
look down.
4. Egyptian: This is a limestone Egyptian toilet
seat from el-Amarna, Egypt. It dates to the 18th
dynasty of Egypt's New Kingdom during the reign
of Pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BCE.
This object today forms part of the permanent
collection of the Cairo Museum of Egypt. This
photo was taken at the King Tut exhibition at the
Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington
State, US.
The great thing about these toilets is one can build
one’s own.
5. Papua: This toilet in Papua New Guinea was
actually funded by the Australian government.
6. Antartica: The polar caps introduce an entirely
novel factor in the business of toilets. Because
number twos take a little more time to complete
than number ones, this increases the risk of
one’s derriere sticking to the frozen seat. Good
poo buckets will have a nice wooden seat to
This toilet block is completely off-grid with rainfall
harvesting, solar power and dry sanitation.
perch on. It’s not exactly warm, but it’s not
freezing. These toilets also have a Golden Rule:
Don’t linger a moment longer than you absolutely
need to.
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An ancient Egyptian toilet.
March 2020 Volume 26 I Number 01
7. South Africa: This state-of-the-art toilet is
profiled in this month’s Project (page 30). It is
with toilets such as this that one wins Rugby
World Cups! PA
www.plumbingafrica.co.za