When you look out onto the world, you notice a few trends. One of those trends is the acceleration of technology. There is ample evidence all around us, and if you’ve been alive for more than a couple of decades, you’ve almost certainly seen profound changes in the size and ability of electronic devices.
So what you’re saying is that for much less money, Elon Musk could’ve supplied the entire world with toilets instead of developing the cybertruck? I thought so.
A few years ago there was some buzz about self-cleaning public toilets in big cities, but I haven't heard anything about them since. Wonder why. I've been very interested in wastewater testing since the pandemic began. Great way to get de-identified data about the bugs going around, though it doesn't capture data for people like us who have a septic system.
The concept has a jot of horror for me because of a fun techno-thriller I enjoyed some years ago, The Grid by Philip Kerr. Someone got stuck in a high tech building's self cleaning restroom during its sanitation cycle. The results weren't pretty. 🫠
Not sure if you’ve come across this related topic but there are also potentially serious issues related to pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater. I think people imagine that the medications they take are entirely absorbed in their bodies but in fact a lot of it passes back out of the body. The result is that wastewater contains things like antidepressants, hormones, and antibiotics. The effects of this on the natural environment is not good and can, for example, contribute to problems such as the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
I think you’re right - and, unlike the problem of access to basic sanitation, this one tends to affect high-income countries more than low-income ones, because people in high-income countries take more medications and their waste is much more often collected together for (ineffective, in this case) treatment and discharge into rivers or the sea. (Unless, like Suzanne, they have a septic tank.)
Very interesting stuff! People laugh that I think so much about poop, but there are just so few people really thinking about this stuff, I feel like we can actually make a tiny impact on the world by raising a tiny bit of awareness. The day is very young with wastewater data study, for instance, and that's really exciting.
Your topic yesterday was interesting. It's something I have been thinking about since 2021 and I am happy you have reinforced it here. Pooping here is bushes is still a menace. Traditional toilets in towns may not serve us well. And well, with technologies, I believe AI can help us unravel open pooping and find solutions. I will dig further to check on the intersection between technology and toilets. The solution is here.
I was starting to worry we'd never see another classic Andrew "poop" post, but you didn't disappoint!
But man, these kinds of stats starkly highlight how privileged and disconnected we are in the Western world.
People probably don't think about toilets as among the best ways to help, too, but it's true. It's poo!
So what you’re saying is that for much less money, Elon Musk could’ve supplied the entire world with toilets instead of developing the cybertruck? I thought so.
Honestly, the toilets probably would have looked better, too.
Ooh, sick burn!
A few years ago there was some buzz about self-cleaning public toilets in big cities, but I haven't heard anything about them since. Wonder why. I've been very interested in wastewater testing since the pandemic began. Great way to get de-identified data about the bugs going around, though it doesn't capture data for people like us who have a septic system.
I love the idea. I bet it's a cost thing right now.
The concept has a jot of horror for me because of a fun techno-thriller I enjoyed some years ago, The Grid by Philip Kerr. Someone got stuck in a high tech building's self cleaning restroom during its sanitation cycle. The results weren't pretty. 🫠
Ohhhh yeah, definitely nightmare fuel. Poop is fascinating, but it's still scary and very, very gross!
Not sure if you’ve come across this related topic but there are also potentially serious issues related to pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater. I think people imagine that the medications they take are entirely absorbed in their bodies but in fact a lot of it passes back out of the body. The result is that wastewater contains things like antidepressants, hormones, and antibiotics. The effects of this on the natural environment is not good and can, for example, contribute to problems such as the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
Yes! This is a big problem, and almost certainly flying under almost everyone's radar today.
I think you’re right - and, unlike the problem of access to basic sanitation, this one tends to affect high-income countries more than low-income ones, because people in high-income countries take more medications and their waste is much more often collected together for (ineffective, in this case) treatment and discharge into rivers or the sea. (Unless, like Suzanne, they have a septic tank.)
Very interesting stuff! People laugh that I think so much about poop, but there are just so few people really thinking about this stuff, I feel like we can actually make a tiny impact on the world by raising a tiny bit of awareness. The day is very young with wastewater data study, for instance, and that's really exciting.
Your topic yesterday was interesting. It's something I have been thinking about since 2021 and I am happy you have reinforced it here. Pooping here is bushes is still a menace. Traditional toilets in towns may not serve us well. And well, with technologies, I believe AI can help us unravel open pooping and find solutions. I will dig further to check on the intersection between technology and toilets. The solution is here.
Edwin, please feel free to write a full piece about toilets in your region! I'd love to see that.
I will. I had started having a rough idea about it and I think I will research going forward.
A real smart toilet would filter out the valuable heavy metals. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32026636
Yes, but... unfortunately, it's just so prohibitively expensive to get it back out... for now, anyway!