99% Invisible Pipe Dreams
May 25, 2021
Chelsea Wald, an author focused on sanitation solutions, discusses the overlooked marvels of toilets and the pressing global sanitation crisis. She reveals how traditional toilet systems struggle against water scarcity while innovative technologies promise improvements. Wald highlights the urgent need for better sewage management, tackling challenges like fatbergs, and suggests fresh toilet designs under the concept of Lutopia to promote equity. The conversation uncovers the taboo around discussing toilets and emphasizes the importance of evolving our sanitation systems for healthier communities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Gold Standard Paradox
- The gold standard toilet system, while effective, faces limitations in the 21st century.
- It involves the flush toilet, sewer system, and treatment plant, good at keeping cities clean and promoting health but has drawbacks.
Water Waste
- Flush toilets waste a lot of potable water, sometimes up to a quarter of a household's consumption.
- Despite low-flow innovations, increasing global toilet adoption exacerbates water scarcity, projected to affect half the world's population by 2050.
Alternative Toilets
- Dry and pressure toilets offer alternatives to traditional flush systems, some using innovative coatings or spatulas.
- These futuristic yet logical designs encourage thinking outside the box for waste management.
