Just Flush

January 1, 2022

Toilets and the entire plumbing, waste, and vent system are important parts of a home inspection. Home inspectors must always look for loose, leaking, or poor-flushing toilets.

Toilets and the entire plumbing, waste, and vent system are important parts of a home inspection. Home inspectors must always look for loose, leaking, or poor-flushing toilets.

Most homeowners just flush, giving little thought to the toilet’s design. Although we all take the modern toilet and waste treatment system for granted, it’s interesting to know how they developed.

Earliest Waste Removal Efforts

About 4000 BC, some cities in ancient civilizations used covered drains to remove human waste. Copper and terra-cotta waste pipes appeared about 2000 BC; waste was flushed downhill to the nearest river.

Around 1100 AD, William the Conqueror built the Tower of London (Photo 1) to demonstrate the power of his Norman invasion. The castle served as the royal residence and provided defense on the north bank of the River Thames. Like many castles, it was surrounded by a moat.

Photo 1. Tower of London

The Tower had a “garderobe,” a term that now refers to a castle toilet room. Photo 2 shows a sketch of the room and a photo of the discharge opening in the outer stone wall. Waste dropped into the moat, which also improved the moat’s defensive (offensive) nature.

Photo 2. Norman Garderobe

The Tower is a popular tourist attraction, and the wooden seat of the garderobe privy has been restored (Photo 3).

Photo 3. Garderobe Privy

Indoor Plumbing

Toilets built many years later used a mechanical flap/flush valve that often became fouled. By about 1500 AD, an early version of a toilet with a trap came on the scene (Photo 4). But still, nothing was done to treat human waste; it was just flushed into a river. The design was hampered by a lack of fresh water to enable the excessive water use of these early flush toilets.

Photo 4. Early Toilet with Trap

In 1900, only two wastewater treatment systems existed in the US. By 1925 there were 20 treatment plants, so even 100 years ago most human waste was not treated before being discharged from its source.

Today’s Toilets

Flush toilets have evolved exponentially since the year 1500; they now use a minimal amount of water and sanitary components. In most modern countries, human waste is treated before its release into the environment.

The modern toilet (Illustration P161C) is a simple marvel, designed to flush with minimum water usage.

Illustration P161C Toilet – Flush and Refill

Designers have calculated the optimum size of the “water spot”—the amount of water needed to provide good coverage in the bowl and lessen staining.

To prevent blockage, they have also enlarged the trap. The porcelain finish is sanitary and easy to clean. The trap empties and refills automatically with a flip of a handle.


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