The Flushing Water Closet And The Erosion of Our Civil Liberties

[Ayjay]

Thomas Crappers original "Thunder Flush" flushing water closet was originally designed with a 7 gallon cistern. The cistern was positioned about 6 feet above the closet, and of course with 7 gallons of water at this head discharging through an inch and a quarter lead pipe... THE THING WORKED EVERY TIME.. with no embarrassing remains left in the bowl..

Crapper did not invent the flushing water closet. However, he did invent and perfect the water trap seal that prevents sewer gas and odour from escaping into the home. We now call this the U bend..

Over the years the cistern flushing capacity declined in the following increments..

7 gallons ---> 5 gallons --> 3 gallons --> 1.6 gallons, which is the current standard. In addition to this, the closet bowl and cistern now form a single unit. The result of this engineering emasculation is that flushing the modern WC is very problematic.. The introduction large cistern flushing apertures and super glazes in the WC bowl have done little to mitigate the unreliable and problematic flushing performance of modern water closets.

Furthermore, the environmentally friendly 1.6 gallon flush has some very unfortunate and unintended consequences.

1. Several flushed are required to successfully clear the WC

2. A the hydraulic design of the WC improves, another problem is beginning to manifest itself. This is the obstruction of the sub main (typically 4 inches) that connects a domestic dwelling to the main street sewer. This is caused by insufficient water flow and velocity in the sub main.

The tinkering with our WC's over the years has gone largely unnoticed, similarly has the tinkering with our civil rights.

Both are now becoming obvious... and both need fixing..

AJ

[IainBusby]

I don't see the need to reduce the water capicity of the cisterns as the only real problem we have with water shortages in this country is down to the privatised water companies who won't spend enough money on the infrastucture to stop the enormous wastage caused by leaks.

Good water and sewerage systems are too important to be left to private companies who's first priority is profits for their shareholders and huge bonuses for their top executives. Before privatisation water and sewerage systems suffered from years of under investment under successive governments both labour and conservative and although the privatised companies have increased investment, it's only because they had a sweetheart deal which allowed them to increase their charges by 5% above the rate of inflation year on year.

IMHO, if water and sewerage had been left in the public sector and the water rates (as they used to called) had been increased by 5% above the rate of inflation each year, then all of that extra money could have been spent on improvements, but instead of all of the money being used for improvements to the systems, a large percentage of it has gone to the shareholders and fat cat executives of the privatised water companies.

Iain.

[Ayjay]

I don't see the need to reduce the water capicity of the cisterns as the only real problem we have with water shortages in this country is down to the privatised water companies who won't spend enough money on the infrastucture to stop the enormous wastage caused by leaks.

Good water and sewerage systems are too important to be left to private companies who's first priority is profits for their shareholders and huge bonuses for their top executives. Before privatisation water and sewerage systems suffered from years of under investment under successive governments both labour and conservative and although the privatised companies have increased investment, it's only because they had a sweetheart deal which allowed them to increase their charges by 5% above the rate of inflation year on year.

IMHO, if water and sewerage had been left in the public sector and the water rates (as they used to called) had been increased by 5% above the rate of inflation each year, then all of that extra money could have been spent on improvements, but instead of all of the money being used for improvements to the systems, a large percentage of it has gone to the shareholders and fat cat executives of the privatised water companies.

Iain.

Indeed, I agree with you comments. The real issue is the disconnect between both the environmentalists; the corporate desire to maximise profits, and the physical engineering constraints of the system.

The system is basically split into above ground technology; i.e. what we see and use every day, and the anonymous underground technology. The underground technology in many areas is of Victorian design, which were all based upon population density, cistern discharge flow, and rain water run off to sewer rates. Our Victorian ancestors were excellent engineers.

The ability to carry away waste from the flushing water closet to sewer primarily depends upon water volume and velocity within the pipe. Presently we are reducing water volume to sewer and the discharge velocity is insufficient to efficiently carry away the waste..

AJ

[bornatbirth]

Thomas Crappers original "Thunder Flush" flushing water closet was originally designed with a 7 gallon cistern. The cistern was positioned about 6 feet above the closet, and of course with 7 gallons of water at this head discharging through an inch and a quarter lead pipe... THE THING WORKED EVERY TIME.. with no embarrassing remains left in the bowl..

Crapper did not invent the flushing water closet. However, he did invent and perfect the water trap seal that prevents sewer gas and odour from escaping into the home. We now call this the U bend..

Over the years the cistern flushing capacity declined in the following increments..

7 gallons ---> 5 gallons --> 3 gallons --> 1.6 gallons, which is the current standard. In addition to this, the closet bowl and cistern now form a single unit. The result of this engineering emasculation is that flushing the modern WC is very problematic.. The introduction large cistern flushing apertures and super glazes in the WC bowl have done little to mitigate the unreliable and problematic flushing performance of modern water closets.

Furthermore, the environmentally friendly 1.6 gallon flush has some very unfortunate and unintended consequences.

1. Several flushed are required to successfully clear the WC

2. A the hydraulic design of the WC improves, another problem is beginning to manifest itself. This is the obstruction of the sub main (typically 4 inches) that connects a domestic dwelling to the main street sewer. This is caused by insufficient water flow and velocity in the sub main.

The tinkering with our WC's over the years has gone largely unnoticed, similarly has the tinkering with our civil rights.

Both are now becoming obvious... and both need fixing..

AJ

i read this,this morning and im still thinking

[GaryFifer]

Have you been for a poo in the Philippines yet? Conduct your study there. No Cistern at all. Just a bucket.Report on your findings. Mobile phones, but water closets behind the times.